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Post by skschrip on Mar 7, 2016 17:07:07 GMT -8
Hi everyone! Just introducing myself. I'm Sara. Too young and not spry enough. To be honest... I've never been backpacking for reals. Done plenty of day-hiking though! I'll be taking some overnight trips hopefully this spring/summer. I HAVE, however, ridden my bicycle self-supported across America, so that has to count for some sort of "experience". I'm just honestly probably a little bit too nonchalant and easy-going in my planning, which might be okay when you're cycling between little towns on the back roads of America, but probably not quite as much when you're cross-country trekking through a desert with rationed water.
WHY I'M HERE THOUGH- I'm planning a tentative long trip for this fall. I'm hoping to hit Grand Canyon, Zion, Great Dunes, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley. Advice on desert travel, solo female hiking (honestly I'm not that worried, I could probably write my own guide to solo female travel- I just still find it difficult to explain it to my family!), etc. appreciated! I'm sure I'll be around asking specific questions here and there. Google searching is a true love when it comes to *dreaming*, and a dreadful monster when it comes to *planning* for me personally...
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Mar 7, 2016 17:16:07 GMT -8
I HAVE, however, ridden my bicycle self-supported across America, so that has to count for some sort of "experience". You bet your sweet bippy it does. That's nothing to sneeze at. I'm just honestly probably a little bit too nonchalant and easy-going in my planning My engineer brain makes me do the opposite - I tend to overthink, overplan. Late last year I spent a month in South America trying to turn the damn thing off. I was successful, but the downside turned out to be that I didn't do as much as I could/would/should have. It's all about finding the right balance, and that's different for each and every one of us. rebecca, desertdweller, and others live/hike in the areas you're planning to hit. I'm sure they'll chime in with welcoming remarks and suggestions. Now, on to the important stuff. What are your positions regarding: Beets Kilts Bacon Single malt whiskey Orange shoes Brussels sprouts Okra PAM v butter
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Post by skschrip on Mar 7, 2016 17:38:23 GMT -8
Ah, but of course. Beets: take 'em any way you serve 'em, but especially pickled. Kilts: I mean, is this a wedding? Or are you clearly Jewish and wearing one on the street? Bacon: Sure, but I don't see the hype. Single malt whiskey: I'm still recovering from my 21st birthday, let's not talk about alcohol. Orange shoes: neon orange shoes carried my pedaling feet across country, so I'm quite partial, especially if I can wear them with my stripy neon orange stretchy pants. Brussels sprouts: Absolutely. 100% yes. All day. Okra: Never had it. Recommendations? PAM vs butter: Oo, tough. Pam, but only because I'm watching my girlish figure. However, spraying that crap on bread is going too, too far.
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Post by hikerjer on Mar 7, 2016 17:44:21 GMT -8
I HAVE, however, ridden my bicycle self-supported across America Hey, Sara. Welcome from the Big Sky country. If you want to backpack, this is definitely the place to learn stuff. Great knowledge from great people. About your bike tour. Of course, it counts for something. A great deal, in fact. I've taken a couple of four and six week trips on a bike myself and am planning on a cross country tour this summer - Seattle to Savannah. My 24-year-old son did it last summer and had a great time. How old did you say you were? He could use a little light in his life right now. Anyway, have great trip this fall nd stick around the forums. Glad to have you aboard.
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Post by trinity on Mar 7, 2016 17:44:49 GMT -8
Welcome, Sara! Sounds like you bring a great perspective to these boards, we're glad you signed on. I find your bacon answer a little troubling, but what the hell, HYOH....
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Post by Lamebeaver on Mar 7, 2016 18:00:06 GMT -8
Bacon: Sure, but I don't see the hype. You passed with flying colors, except this one....... :( Howdy! Just north of the Sand Dunes is one of the greatest backpacking destinations in Colorado
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 7, 2016 18:23:32 GMT -8
Welcome! Youngs around here are few and far between. Stick around. I have some experience in the Grand Canyon, so drop down to any of the Regional forums and ask away. I have also hiked in Zion and Death Valley. Desert SW is one of my favorite haunts. I hope you enjoy your own trek there.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Mar 7, 2016 19:12:09 GMT -8
Welcome Sara! You're going to have to be on probation because of your bacon answer and for sanity's sake, just use less butter. Pam is of the devil.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 19:50:55 GMT -8
I'm sure I'll be around asking specific questions here and there. Please do, Sara. We can learn from you also, and answering questions is a welcome challenge. (But I have to admit that I like to hear myself talk — until Reuben interrupts me to claim that I put everyone to sleep a half hour before. What does he know? ) Never mind me. There are folks here well-attuned to hiking the Southwest deserts. I'm sure they'll be glad to share their experience. Seriously, you have some good things going for you. That bike trip across the country says a lot about your abilities and persistence. And the fact that you're not really worried as a solo female is right on target. As difficult as it may be to explain to family, you seem to understand for yourself. Now about the bacon: You got it right.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Mar 7, 2016 20:07:26 GMT -8
Hi Sara, glad to have you! And I kind of agree about bacon. My suggestion about okra is to stay far, far away from it, but some other folks here will tell you how to cook it to make it edible. I've spent time in all the parks you name. We haven't backpacked a lot in most of them (partly because we are often in the SW in the summer, which is limiting). A bit of planning might not go amiss. Pay attention to elevations and typical temperature ranges on given dates. Oh, and drop in and add some zing to our Road Bike thread. I haven't done any touring since I was your age (um, a few years ago), but I love my bike and have been doing lots of Centuries in the last few years Orange and neon yellow-green are colors that make me look ghastly, but I am very fond of them when on my bike And last summer I got hold of some pink sneakers to use as camp shoes...totally out of character! Oh, yeah--we have a Women's Forum, too, that can really use some life. We're all happy to answer any sorta gender-specific questions there, including the unending "how do I persuade my family members that I'm not going to die out there?"
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Post by tipiwalter on Mar 7, 2016 20:36:59 GMT -8
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idahobob
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Post by idahobob on Mar 7, 2016 20:51:24 GMT -8
Welcome! Backpacking has complimentary skills to any kind of camping or traveling. You will have great fun on your desert hikes. Bob
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jj
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Post by jj on Mar 8, 2016 3:45:32 GMT -8
Welcome. Afraid you are visiting the places that we are looking forward to going to so be sure and give a review when you are done If you ever come up North to PNW, we can help you out! We are much more schooled on damp, cold hiking than desert.
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Mar 8, 2016 6:18:53 GMT -8
We'd better watch out, the noobs are taking over! It's really good to see. Welcome to the fray, skschrip. And hell yeah, biking across the US counts for a lot. Join in, let us all know where we went wrong from time to time.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Mar 8, 2016 6:45:14 GMT -8
Welcome to the community. Glad to see some more of us young folk finding the place (and not just the young at heart).
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