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Post by cupcakeinboots on Sept 26, 2015 8:22:32 GMT -8
Hello everyone! My name's Jo and back in my twenties, I was an avid hiker and backpacker. I'm trying to get back into the game, but things have changed so much (in terms of gear and technology), I'm a little lost. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to get started again. I've done lots of hiking and camping in the southern Utah/Northern Arizona area, some in the AT and a bit in the KC area. I'm trying to plan a big trip next May somewhere, but it's been so long, I'm looking for suggestions. Anywhere in the US, but preferably out west, somewhere that won't still be under snow cover in May. I have NO gear left -- the stuff in my basement is far too worn... So... Any suggestions for a former hiker? I appreciate any help! Thanks so much and I'm glad to be here!!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 9:23:25 GMT -8
Welcome Jo. Glad to hear from you. I'm sure you know that hiking and backpacking are not all about gear, but it is important. You don't have to spend a lot on gear as you get back into the activity. Later you can find what works for you and decide how much you'd like to spend on it. For me, there are two items that are really important from the start: Most people probably have more experience with footwear than with backpacks. Fabric boots, for dryer weather, often wear in fairly quickly. The more leather you add to the boot, to the point of getting all-leather boots, the longer it may take to break those boots in to fit your feet. As a rule of thumb, do not backpack in boots without first walking around in them for long hours at home or work, in your daily activities, and so on. Once you get out hiking and find the boots don't fit right, you can have problems. So it's really important to have tested, and broken-in boots before you take your first steps away from the trailhead. I'd suggest you go to an outdoor retailer (store) in person for both boots and backpacks. My favorite is REI ( store locations), but there are others. After boots and backpacks, some of your gear can be purchased online. But because of the need to have boots and backpacks fit to your body and size, it's best to buy in person from a store that offers good advice — above and beyond just trying to sell you something. Backpacks are generally sold by capacity, that is, how much room inside. Thirty years ago I put a thousand, rough-country miles on a backpack I bought for a mere $15. The prices are higher today, but you don't need to spend a lot of money the first time around. Experiment a little. One of the biggest problems I've had with backpacks has been with hipbelts. It is not the shoulder straps but the hipbelt that carries the bulk of the weight in the pack. If the hipbelt keeps on coming loose, it's a nuisance. Or if the hipbelt does not tighten to your waistsize, you won't carry the weight comfortably. So that's just an introduction to the first couple purchases you may need. There is much more information you can get about boots and backpacks from the Backpacker magazine website. There are videos there on both selecting boots and backpacks. Beyond those two items of course there are tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and so on. But I'd suggest you go straight to the idea of the " Ten Essentials." While not inscribed in stone, the list of Ten Essentials is an attempt to summarize the other items you carry backpacking. The list has been revised over time, but here is a quick summary, organized around the notion of "Ten Systems": And two more things I try to never leave out: my brain (such as it is) and a willingness to have fun. Good luck and stick around! |
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Post by cupcakeinboots on Sept 26, 2015 9:50:59 GMT -8
Wow Travis! Thanks for the list and the info. That's a great place to start. I think I started reading all the gear articles and blogs and go overwhelmed. There's an REI nearby, I will definitely have a look. Thanks again!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 26, 2015 11:01:00 GMT -8
Allow me to add a few things, if you will. Most people agree that the pack should be purchased last. That will ensure all of the other gear will fit inside. Just take all of your other stuff with you and put it inside any pack you are considering. If it doesn't fit inside, or it feels awkward or painful while carrying the load around the store, then that pack is not a good choice at this time.
As you gain more experience, you will find your gear getting lighter, or smaller, so that first pack will be a good choice if it has straps that allow it to be compressed down.
The Big 3 as far as weight is concerned, are pack, tent, and sleeping pad. Any good starter tent should be less than 4 pounds, or in that neighborhood. 5 is too much. Sleeping pad should be about 1.5 or 2 pounds. Pack can be anywhere between 2 and 5 pounds, so you would be looking at about 7 - 12 pounds to begin with. Keep in mind your entire load should be kept as close to 25% of your body weight, or less.
Your sleeping bag will weigh from 1.5 to 3 pounds, or more if you plan on cold weather. Your stove, pot, and food, will add up quickly. Research all you can on dehydrated food, or commercial freeze dried food, which will allow you to keep your food to about 2 pounds per day. FBC is a common cooking system, and is covered in a section in the food section here. (Freezer Bag Cooking) This will make meal prep as easy as boiling water, with the added benefit of no clean up.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 26, 2015 12:24:55 GMT -8
Welcome! One thing as well: that "big trip" is best not your FIRST trip since getting back to backpacking. Head out on couple of weekenders to shake out your using your new equipment and sort out whatever rough spots (literally and figuratively) there may be. Those might be a good option for taking with some group out of that REI even if, as with I, solo is more your preference. Some things can be simulated by backyard "camping" (always the best way to sort out how to assemble your shelter for instance) but others really need to be experienced on the trail, though it can of course be on just about any local state park or other open lands nearby.
How long were you thinking of being out on the May trip?
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speacock
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I'm here for the food...
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Post by speacock on Sept 26, 2015 15:11:07 GMT -8
Plan on a 20F down bag for summer travel in the western mountains, a fleece layer of 200 P equivalent, with hooded rain protection on top of that - perhaps as light as a Marmot Precip or a heavier Mountaineering jacket for early and late season, or higher altitude. A hood is needed at night mainly for mosquito abatement before going to bed. Unless you plan on a constant friend with you, get a smaller tent rather one that fits two. Your gear goes outside anyway. Have a long sleeve shirt for UV and insect protection. Under that a base layer you are comfortable with. Probably will only wear everything once or twice at night when it really does get down to 20F. A brim hat, sunglasses, lip and skin UV protection, a jug of Deet and you have the upper half taken care of. Long pants or shorts at your discretion. You don't need spares. I have a Alpine Lowe Sirocco 70+15 if you need a free women's pack to try out.
In middle of June, most of the trails in the Sierra are usually under snow above the 11,000' level. Most consider the eastern Sierra better fun than the western approach. Fortunately (or not) most of the trailheads on the eastern Sierra start at over 9,500'. The western side are considerably lower and take awhile to get to over 10,000'.
The entire length of the Rockies are still under heavy snow until well into June or July. Most of the hikes seem to start over 9,000'.
The Cascade trails above 7,000' will probably have snow cover. On Rainier there is significant snow above 6,000 in September.
Probably in May you might want to consider Southern Utah again a place you know. The western Sierra, toward the end of May have snow covered slopes but it is relatively easy walking on the 'Sierra Cement' of consolidated snow. Out of Sequoia (Wolverton or Lodgepole up to Alta Peak area, for example.
mapper.acme.com/?ll=36.59999,-118.68959&z=14&t
The problem in the mountains in May is a possibility of significant snow melt, making stream crossings an adventure. In the Rockies there still are chances of avalanche in May as the snow softens and slumps.
Along the entire west coastal area west of the mountains there will be beautiful May hikes.
My favorite time is late July early August. But then I like mountains and the vistas they provide.
You might read up on the trip reports here and at other web sites that are mostly centered around the Sierra, Rockies, Winds, Cascades/Washington, and Canadian Rockies.
The Sierra Club has planned excursion hikes almost everywhere. I'm happy to have you tag along with me(and others may also from here) if you don't mind slow plodding.
Welcome back to more fun than you can ever have time for.
You might ask for specific May hike information in forums here that cover the west
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 20:11:18 GMT -8
Zeke wrote: Zeke offers an alternate perception, which certainly has merits. But ultimately we don't know what "most people" do, and most people could be a small majority of 51% or a vast majority of 95% — leaving each of us to decide whether we can tolerate being among the 49% or 5% minorities. Most backpackers do not post to these forums or answer surveys on exactly how they time their gear purchases. And it may well be that most backpackers fall somewhere toward the middle — collecting some items before and some after the backpack purchase. In contrast to a worthwhile consideration of Zeke's advice, I'll say more. Simply stated: You cannot backpack without a backpack. (I think that is right, anyhow.) And your first pack, for one or two nights, may not be the pack you use for multiple-night trips after you gain more experience — whether your first pack is large enough for multiple-night trips or not. Similarly, your first sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent or tarp may not be your best choice after you refine your knowledge and preferred "style" of backpacking. You do that by getting experience. With the possible exception of camping out in your backyard, you cannot get that experience without a backpack — even if that pack is not the one that ultimately suits you best. You have to start somewhere to get that experience that will condition all your other choices of gear — including the bulkier or heavier items like sleeping bag and tent. It is important to get your first backpack large enough to handle your gear. But it hardly makes sense to buy a large, expedition-sized pack for weekend trips while refining your choices and technique. Having all that extra capacity can be a distraction if you find yourself trying to fill it all with gear you don't need and can't carry comfortably. But in the end, we are each individuals. If you really get active in backpacking and make several trips each year, you may purchase another pack a mere year after getting your first. Or you may keep your first pack for some occasions but prefer a second pack for special or longer trips. You have to start somewhere, and you really can't get backpacking experience without any backpack at all. Backpacks are rated according to capacity, which is often indicated in the name of the pack. Names may include: In the examples above, the two-digit number generally represents the capacity, in liters, of the backpack. The packs may come in three sizes, with the small size slightly smaller in capacity and the large size slightly greater in capacity than is indicated in the model name. Occasionally, you may see the backpack model name including cubic inches rather than liters. So a Kelty Redwing 3100 has a capacity of 3100 cubic inches, or about 51 liters. Smaller numbers are for single-day hikes. Larger numbers are for single-night trips. And the largest numbers are for multiple-night or extended trips — all, of course, dependent on your body size, carrying capacity, climate, time of year, and so on. REI groups backpacks according to the following capacities: (You may be surprised at how small even a 65-liter pack can seem, but even so, that may challenge you to not take gear you don't need.) Since you may see the capacity represented in cubic inches, below are the equivalencies: Any attempt we make to simplify this process for you will leave out details and risk oversimplification. These forums are a study in contrasts and varied opinions. But I haven't learned much in life by doing everything right the first time. (Not much of a risk, in my case.) And (just between you and me) I've occasionally had a lot of fun doing things a bit wrong.  |
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tarol
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Post by tarol on Sept 27, 2015 5:17:42 GMT -8
Welcome! Where do you live? Some of us, well probably most of us, have extra gear you can borrow or try out. I found that helpful when I was just beginning.
I've done a handful of trips in various California locations in May. May and June are transitional months, so depending on the year there may or may not be snow in certain areas. I'd have a few alternatives in mind and keep an eye on the weather when it gets close to your trip.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2015 7:33:59 GMT -8
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 27, 2015 11:30:16 GMT -8
Welcome, CCIB! There's some great advice here, and I don't have much to add, though I'm happy to talk about it all day I would recommend dropping around the women's forum here, too. It's not as full of helpful advice yet as we'd like, but you'll find some--and ask any questions to help it along. Though since you did it all before, you may be good in that area. What we have found in the last 8-10 years is that tent and sleeping pad technology changed, a lot, and allowed us to carry less weight than we ever thought possible, which is good, as we are not getting any younger. The other thing that really changed compared to my backpacking in my 20s (which was a lot more than a decade ago) is how I manage the food. I learned about Freezer Bag Cooking from the peeps on these forums, and that has helped drop pack weight too (I, at least, also eat less now than I did when I was 25). |
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Post by cupcakeinboots on Sept 27, 2015 11:34:48 GMT -8
Wow, thanks for the great info, everyone! I've got some reading to do!
I have a total of 2 weeks off at the beginning of May, and am leaning toward two 3-5 day trips versus one long one. I would love to hit up Escalante (is it even still called that?), but I'm less familiar with the BLM lands and better acquainted with the parks. I'll be heading out myself, so I was thinking National Park land might be safer... Though I'm not entirely sure. I did do the Virgin River Narrows myself way back when and had a great time.
I'm in the Kansas City area now. I've been looking at the discounted gear at Sierra Trading Post, but I'm willing to pay a little extra for quality lightweight stuff this time. I remember my bulky old external frame I used to use and it was a bit difficult to deal with.
I'll be checking out the links too. Thanks!
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speacock
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Post by speacock on Sept 27, 2015 12:57:08 GMT -8
I've often suggested a 'buffet' approach to the eastern Sierra. It is based upon a base camp motel (camp ground) and different day hikes each day returning to a bed, meal and shower. Rough it during the day and enjoy civilization at night. There are more than a half dozen relatively non strenuous (it is 10,000' people, pant pant) 5-7mile one way hikes that will get you to near 12,000' passes to the National Parks, awesome scenery, lakes and lunch spot with plenty of time to explore. Each of these would be a first night back pack otherwise. Two early spring (late March and April) hikes are usually snow free or still available to do with snow cover. The first is the trail up to Sheppard Pass out of Independence, CA on US-395. It is a long dry 4 miles (after crossing Symmes Creek a few times) up over a sun exposed ridge and then a drop of 500' that surely looks like it is going to get to water. Surprise, (that creek is not approachable) but a bit more up the trail crosses a creek just before Mahogany Flats and first water. It has a waterfall not far away. In the Spring there are large temporary cascades fed by snow melt that leap from vertical rock just off to your left. As you continue up you see two 14,000' peaks (Williamson/Tyndall) do a slow strip tease as you get closer. You can make a day of it up against the headwall of a long gone glacier (and another waterfall) or continue up a long switchback that takes you above the watefall and to Anvil Camp. Then you have the treat of repeating that 500 foot dip in the trail on the way home. mapper.acme.com/?ll=36.69306,-118.30992&z=14&t The other is north about 40 miles on US-395 to Bishop and the trail head at South Lake. From here the trail to Long Lake (3 miles about) will probably get you into deep snow. Usually the snow is firm enough to continue walking on it up where the trail might be (check the map) toward Bishop Pass. Usually the pass is a snow scramble for the adventurous. There are snow fed waterfalls coming off the high ridges in front and to the right of you. Lots of lakes within different drainages. Nice part is that the open forest cover makes it difficult for a savvy observer to get lost. mapper.acme.com/?ll=37.14639,-118.54780&z=14&t Further north is Mammoth, the ski area and lots to explore on foot - including a part of the John Muir Trail. Check on snow conditions just in case - it is the location of the worst weather in the Sierra. Its why people ski there. You won't be able to get over to the other side of the Sierra until usually end of May when Tioga Pass is opened. For the rest of your time you can zoom up and down US 101 and Hiway 1 hugging the west coast, redwoods and funky small gentrified hamlets. |
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leafwalker
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Post by leafwalker on Sept 27, 2015 13:11:57 GMT -8
From KC - Not far from the Ozark Trail in MO. About 12 hours from the Smokys. Early May in either is great.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 27, 2015 13:54:21 GMT -8
Welcome aboard from the Big Sky Country. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained from these board from some of the most experienced people in the field. Hang around and you 'll learn a lot as has already been evidenced. Good walking to you.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 27, 2015 21:17:31 GMT -8
May is good for the higher parts of the Colorado Plateau. We have usually gone in April/late March (or else in mid-summer, which takes a special approach), and have experienced everything from scorching hot to snow. Haven't done a lot of backpacking in there, because of limited water, etc. But there are some nice hikes out of Escalante, off the Hole in the Rock Road (which I gather is a great deal more driveable than it was 18 or even 12 years ago when we were last there).
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