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Post by Oregonian on Jan 1, 2017 20:39:07 GMT -8
So, for those of you who are living among us mere mortals who work 40 hour (or more) work weeks, how do you get your hiking/backpacking fix? Do you work four 10's, with a three day weekend each week? Do you simply plan on a dayhike each Saturday or Sunday? Do you plan a weekend overnighter once a month? Or something else?
Currently I work M-F and put in a 40 hour work week. There is some talk of moving me to a four 10's type of schedule, with Fri-Sun off, but that is just talk right now. So for the time being, I am doing day hikes. It's winter and I don't have the gear for winter camping.
For any of you who, like me, work full time, how do you get your hiking fix?
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 1, 2017 21:21:28 GMT -8
I start my hike on Friday night with a headlamp and go out a few miles and make camp. I do the main hike on Saturday and then loop back out on Sunday, usually home by 4:30 or 5:00 pm. Mind you, I have gear for every season.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jan 1, 2017 21:34:32 GMT -8
Weekends and vacations only, but I get in plenty of miles.
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Post by fifeplayer on Jan 1, 2017 22:44:40 GMT -8
I work 60-80hr weeks (usually...90+ on a bad week), some nights, some days, and no set days off. But I get 2 wks paid vacation a year! And sometimes 2-3 days off in a row! So those 2-3 days off in a row get hoarded and pre-planned and last year I managed to make it to the Cascades and Olympics, Death Valley, a couple state parks in PA and TX and the Atchafalaya for overnight hikes. It just takes some planning and willingness to make night-time drives or take red-eye flights. And a high tolerance for sleepiness. And a patient driving partner.
Good luck!
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RumiDude
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Post by RumiDude on Jan 1, 2017 22:50:23 GMT -8
Many times I simply drove to the trailhead on Friday night and started an overnighter on Saturday morning. I often did this when I had two teen boys at home. When I went to four tens, I got my days off in the middle of the week, which changed everything. I really did enjoy it though. I maxed the time off. It isn't easy balancing all the balls in the air. Sometime you have to remove one ball before putting the backpacking ball in. With family and other obligations, whatever your situation may be, just prioritize your backpacking and it will be there.
I am retired now and so I get to go more often.
Rumi
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talus
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Post by talus on Jan 2, 2017 3:59:55 GMT -8
A general hint is to have your gear and food ready to go for a quick overnighter or weekend. If you can get your stuff together quickly you are more likely to do a short trip. Sometimes just doing an overnight with a short out and back to a nice campsite helps clear away the stress of the workweek. Not every trip needs to be epic.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 5:42:12 GMT -8
My work is similar to that of fifeplayer; long weeks, much overtime (salaried, so no OT pay), often including weekends. But I did manage to get out for a week+ to the Cloudcroft, NM area, where I did a sequence of a few 1-2 night backpacks and some car camping/day hiking, and a 7 day/6 night backpack in New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness (the longest duration backpack I've been on in 25 years!). Was really grateful for those! Bottom line for me is that I don't get to backpack very often. Great thread, BTW.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jan 2, 2017 6:04:43 GMT -8
Living close to the mountains helps. I try to maximize my trips by including weekends, So I'll often head out on Friday afternoon and come back Monday.
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Jan 2, 2017 7:12:30 GMT -8
All of the above works...but make sure that you plan ahead and schedule your trips. If you wait for them to happen--they won't!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 7:35:41 GMT -8
My wife is the worker. The first 3 years at her job she took minimal vacation time to let her vacatin time build up. By Feb of each year she sits at the point of use it or loose it and, with her work being at a University, summers are m a very slow time for her. For us it's a bit of luck with her getting a university job.
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Jan 2, 2017 7:54:07 GMT -8
Become a high school teacher! Beside the job security, great pay, and the immense respect received..(well OK, maybe not so much) - You do get summers off.
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Post by cweston on Jan 2, 2017 8:11:18 GMT -8
I'm a professor, so while I don't really have summers "off," I do have much more flexibility with how I use my time in the summer. During the academic year, it's dayhikes here and there, occasionally a trip during spring break (not a good backpacking time, weather-wise). There's nowhere close enough to my house that I'm very interested in BPing, so no weekend trips for me.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jan 2, 2017 8:25:53 GMT -8
Most of my adult life has been MF 8-5. Key is living in an area with natural areas close by. My mountains are 3+ hours minimum away so only weekends. Drive up Friday evenings and free disperse camp then am out Saturday at sunrise. Sunday pm drive home. Also most hi tech companies have had relatively generous time off/vacation benefits for decades as a carrot. Mine currently 5 weeks per year. Then local region has much within an hour's drive.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 2, 2017 9:41:56 GMT -8
I'm a professor, so while I don't really have summers "off," I do have much more flexibility with how I use my time in the summer. During the academic year, it's dayhikes here and there, occasionally a trip during spring break This is us. My spouse is the prof, and I've stuck to part-time work so I can take extended vacations. We don't do winter camping, or we could do some in January, but we nearly always head to the desert at spring break, and can do extended trips in summer. During the semester, the spouse can't afford to take the whole weekend as a general rule, so we stick with biking or hiking on Saturdays so he can try to get some work done on Sundays. Back when I was single, I did a lot of 1-night trips. I was living in Seattle, so it was easy to go out Friday night or Saturday morning and do a good overnight, get back in time to head to work or school Monday morning. It was tougher for a few years in Santa Barbara--much longer drive to "real" mountains. I learned to like dayhiking in the dry coastal range, which is also what we do all winter here in SF, where there are ton of great open space areas (and a few you can backpack in).
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jan 2, 2017 9:56:24 GMT -8
With a six year old son, I don't spend much time away. I typically do a long weekend in CO (3-4 nights) with my bud in Fort Collins.
Before the kid, we'd spend a week or more at his place in Summit County, and in some years work in a long fall weekend in the Shawnee. Ah, the good ole days.
Hopefully soon enough, I will have a second backpack partner.
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