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Post by oldbill on Nov 27, 2023 9:17:23 GMT -8
Just 7 nights on the trail, close to 24 bag nights. Joshua Tree was just car camping. A month in the Wind Rivers had 3 short backpacks working around a really wet season. 1 was cut short due to recurring digestive issues. Had an accident on another so wound up in the ER instead of camp.
No good excuse for not getting more other than getting old and not liking multiday trips in the rain. Solving stomach discomfort and not falling off of boulders would help too!
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schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452
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Post by schlanky on Nov 27, 2023 9:45:19 GMT -8
I think I'm at 11 or 12. I hope to get one more single nighter in before the end of the year.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 15,032
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Post by driftwoody on Nov 27, 2023 10:27:48 GMT -8
since it was a longer drive to the mountains. Try working full time while living in Chicagoland. I'm a 10+ hour drive from any real mountains in the Southeast, and 14+ heading west.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 27, 2023 22:05:52 GMT -8
since it was a longer drive to the mountains. Try working full time while living in Chicagoland. I'm a 10+ hour drive from any real mountains in the Southeast, and 14+ heading west. That sort of thing really messes with the ability to get to the mountains. One reason I never really considered living in the midwest
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 15,032
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Post by driftwoody on Nov 28, 2023 3:23:50 GMT -8
Try working full time while living in Chicagoland. I'm a 10+ hour drive from any real mountains in the Southeast, and 14+ heading west. That sort of thing really messes with the ability to get to the mountains. One reason I never really considered living in the midwest I've done a lot of hiking in Shawnee National Forest, IL (5.5 hours); Red River Gorge, KY (6.5 hours); Big South Fork, KY & TN (7.5 hours); Porcupine Mountains, MI (7.5 hours); and other places within that radius. Also weeklong trips to destinations ranging from southern Utah to the Adirondaks in NY, but those don't happen often. I'll probably retire at the end of 2024 when I'm 67. Mrs. Driftwoody says with my job I could easily work to 70, but I. Don't. Want. To.
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walkswithblackflies
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Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,952
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Nov 28, 2023 6:31:03 GMT -8
Zero. Woe is me.
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Post by bluefish on Nov 29, 2023 4:01:19 GMT -8
30 bag nights, but only 10 on the trail. 4 of those were on FS logging roads on my gravel bike. My nights on trail would increase significantly if I could find somewhere in the NE with saltwater fly fishing as a backpacking destination. With the exception of some nights at Gila Hot Springs and Cliff Dwellings, and a few on the Bay of Fundy, car camping was all on the coast of Ma. and RI. Next year is very, very sketchy as I'm about to have a stem cell transplant and will be quarantined for a long period and in recovery for what will seem like ages. Cancer, as we all know, sucks. Getting outside has saved my life over and over.
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 29, 2023 4:40:21 GMT -8
Getting outside has saved my life over and over. Its good to hear from you. Just a couple of weeks ago I was wondering how things were going for you. So its good to hear that you're still fighting. And to your point that I quoted the outdoors is more healing than most realize. Sounds like you had an active summer.
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Post by ecocentric on Nov 29, 2023 8:27:51 GMT -8
My backpacking days are over unless they perfect spine transplants, but it has improved enough to travel again. I spent 4 months car camping on a road trip that took me into Alaska and the Yukon and down the coast to Northern California. I put nearly 20,000 miles on my car, mostly because it rained so much in Alaska this summer. There was so much I wanted to see, and I was making up for 4 years of lost time. I did get to visit with some of my friends on the forum. I still hike, but I walk very slowly and have to sit down for a break every quarter mile. It turns out that is a good way to see a lot of wildlife.
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Post by bluefish on Nov 30, 2023 3:16:49 GMT -8
"Dancing lessons from God". eco, Sounds as if you are doing the maximum that your body allows, absorbing beauty and moving in grace. Though I hate to hear the impediments and infirmities, I Love the resilience and determination.
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Post by ecocentric on Nov 30, 2023 8:27:40 GMT -8
Thanks Bluefish, I've drawn a lot of inspiration from people on the forum, including yourself. Being immersed in nature brings me so much joy. I hope things are going well for you.
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Post by Sleeping Bag Man! on Nov 30, 2023 8:57:49 GMT -8
I did get to visit with some of my friends on the forum. I'm still quite bummed that we missed so narrowly... I wanted to hear about all your adventures.
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TrailElder
Trail Wise!
Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed
Posts: 507
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Post by TrailElder on Nov 30, 2023 9:25:37 GMT -8
This thread reminded me to do my annual count. Since 2020, I've had a goal of spending at least the number of "nights out" as the last two digits of the year in action. I've been able to do that each year since, but looks like I only hit 21 this year. Not complaining. For me, this includes nights on the river. My Alaska river trip accounts for 10 of those, and also took a big hunk out of my trail season.
I'm a full-time consultant, so my schedule, though full, is pretty malleable. In a couple of years, as my wife retires and I hit 65, I'll back off my consulting practice and up the number of nights out....That's the dream anyway.
Maybe I'll set a goal of sleeping-out my age...while I am still blessed to be able to do so.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Faber. The forgotten Ivy!!
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Nov 30, 2023 13:04:33 GMT -8
About 25 days on 3 weeklong trips. West coast states. Shorter ones don’t do it for me (driving to hiking ratio), though may try some ultralight madness to make them more interesting. Some other camp days, some associated with the above trips (hit a campground, shower, and wait for transport the next day).
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 30, 2023 20:46:57 GMT -8
Definitely need a sad-face button in addition to the thumbs up button. Can't thumbs-up this.
Same about several others here. I'm sorry to hear about the multiple physical problems. It's a reminder to me to get out as much as I can, while I can. Hope for more backpacking nights next year--maybe two trips of at least 6 nights.
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