camping/hiking/backpacking

Will51

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Anyone else here do any of these things regularly?

My wife and I go hiking almost every weekend, with a couple backpacking trips a year. Right now we're planning week long trips to Smoky Mountain national park in November and Glacier National Park next June.
 

Timmbo

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My wife is totally into it. Camelbak, poles and the whole nine yards. She can knock out 15 mile day hikes no problem. Lots of good inclines here in TN, especially east TN. She's trying to get me into it. I'm somewhat interested. Luckily I exercise on a semi regular basis and my stamina is decent so I don't fear the experience. Probably going to pick up a pack and hiking shoes this weekend. I'm always up for something new. I'm hoping I enjoy it. It's getting too nice out to be in the gym.
 

Will51

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My wife is totally into it. Camelbak, poles and the whole nine yards. She can knock out 15 mile day hikes no problem. Lots of good inclines here in TN, especially east TN. She's trying to get me into it. I'm somewhat interested. Luckily I exercise on a semi regular basis and my stamina is decent so I don't fear the experience. Probably going to pick up a pack and hiking shoes this weekend. I'm always up for something new. I'm hoping I enjoy it. It's getting too nice out to be in the gym.

Yeah, we have all the equipment like that as well. What pack are you looking at? I just picked up an Osprey Talon 33, really comfortable pack, lightweight, hydration compatible, lots of useful features, lifetime warranty for about $130. Although I'm pretty partial to Osprey Packs, my large backpacking pack if the Osprey Atmos 65 AG, without a doubt the most comfortable pack I've ever owned the anti gravity suspension on the pack really distributes the weight well.

Our trip to the Smokys in November (in East TN) will be focused around the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Lot's a cool looking trails around there.
 

slackinoff

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You are gonna love Glacier.
I used to do allot of backpacking, multi night type trips. Now I do long day hikes then cook a feast and drink beer that the "base camp". Those day hikes are more enjoyable to me because you can pack allot less weight, travel far (15-20 mile day) so you get that deep exercise type of experience, then my favorite, we cook and feast at camp that is already set up.

But hey its all fun out there! I love it.

R.M.
 

Will51

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You are gonna love Glacier.
I used to do allot of backpacking, multi night type trips. Now I do long day hikes then cook a feast and drink beer that the "base camp". Those day hikes are more enjoyable to me because you can pack allot less weight, travel far (15-20 mile day) so you get that deep exercise type of experience, then my favorite, we cook and feast at camp that is already set up.

But hey its all fun out there! I love it.

R.M.

We're definitely looking forward to it. This is our proposed itinerary with some alternates in case the trails in the Many Glacier area are closed due to bear activity:

Arrival: Sunday afternoon

Night 1 (Sunday): Stay at Rising Sun Motor Inn http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/lodging/rising-sun-motor-inn-cabins/

Day 1 (Monday): Take shuttle to Siyeh Bend, Hike Siyeh Bend to Many Glacier (Piegan Pass - 17.9 miles)
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/siyeh-pass-loop.htm
http://thebigoutside.com/5-perfect-big-days-in-glacier-national-park/
Set up camp at Many Glacier
alternate: Drive to Lake McDonald, Hike the Gunsight Pass Trail

Night 2 (Monday): Camp at Many Glacier http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/camping_detail.cfm?cg=many glacier
alternate: Camp at Lake McDonald (Apgar Campground or Sprague Creek Campground)
http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/camping_detail.cfm?cg=apgar
http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/camping_detail.cfm?cg=sprague creek


Day 2 (Tuesday): Hike Many Glacier to Logan Pass (Swiftcurrent Pass and Highline Loop - 15.2 miles) http://thebigoutside.com/5-perfect-big-days-in-glacier-national-park/ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/swiftcurrent-pass.htm http://www.hikinginglacier.com/highline-loop.htm
Take shuttle from Logan Pass to Rising Sun, set up camp at Rising Sun Campground
alternate: Take shuttle from Lake McDonald to Logan Pass, hike Highline Loop, shuttle back to Lake McDonald

Night 3 (Tuesday): Camp at Rising Sun Campground http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/camping_detail.cfm?cg=rising sun
alternate: Camp at Lake McDonald

Day 3 (Wednesday): rest day - Drive to Two Medicine Campground, set up camp
Drive the Going to the Sun road
Restock food supplies

Night 4 (Wednesday): Camp at Two Medicine Campground
http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/camping_detail.cfm?cg=two medicine

Day 4 (Thursday): Hike Dawson Pass (Dawson Pass to Pitimakan Pass through Dry Fork Valley - 14.8 miles) http://www.hikinginglacier.com/dawson-pass.htm

Night 5 (Thursday): Camp at Two Medicine Campground

Day 5 (Friday): Stay at Two Medicine and rent a canoe
alternate: Drive to Lake McDonald, rent a canoe

Night 6 (Friday): Camp at Two Medicine Campground
alternate: Camp at Lake McDonald

Departure: Saturday morning


We've been looking for some day or weekend hikes in the eastern Texas area since we're right over in Louisiana. We've also been looking at Big Bend for a shorter 3-4 day weekend type of hike. Have you ever been there?
 

slackinoff

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We've been looking for some day or weekend hikes in the eastern Texas area since we're right over in Louisiana. We've also been looking at Big Bend for a shorter 3-4 day weekend type of hike. Have you ever been there?

Dude you have an awesome itinerary! I love planning it out like that. So much fun.

The trails here in East Texas are ok. The woods are so dense here that you never get to see much. But maybe if you lived in some place flat it would be an experience to see all the large pine trees.... The 4C trail is about 20 miles. I have done that one quite a few times. The abandoned saw mill is super cool to check out if you can find it.

Been to Big Bend 3 times now, made my first trip about 6 years ago. It is such a special place. I absolutely love it. You do a ton of driving, but the roads are top notch and you get the feeling you have the place to yourself....Like you are the last people on earth......
Serious, it's ridiculous how big that park is. South rim is a great hike, and so is Emory peak. We day hiked both in one day......ouch, but worth it.
 

slackinoff

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If you go to Big Bend, get a campsite in the Chisos Basin for at least a night. That's our favorite campground. Incredible views right outside your tent. They also have a beautiful restaurant and bar if one night you don't feel like cooking. (sounds kinda wimpy, but it's cool, and the staff hangs out there.... and they are very friendly )

You are making me want to go back! I was just there this past November.

R.M.
 

Will51

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If you go to Big Bend, get a campsite in the Chisos Basin for at least a night. That's our favorite campground. Incredible views right outside your tent. They also have a beautiful restaurant and bar if one night you don't feel like cooking. (sounds kinda wimpy, but it's cool, and the staff hangs out there.... and they are very friendly )

You are making me want to go back! I was just there this past November.

R.M.

We'll, it'll probably be a year or so until we go there. Maybe you'd like to plan a trip? Sadly, I'd be driving my wife's Subaru or my truck, most likely not the Mustang.
 

Will51

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Went a 12 mile day hike yesterday, saw plenty of wildlife, a few water moccasins including this guy. He was so well camouflaged in the shade, I didn't even notice him until I was about 3 feet from him.

20160320_152131_zpsbvyzue4s.jpg



You can see just how bad the flooding was here just last week, the white on all the trees and brush is silt deposits from the flood water. The line is about a foot over my head.

20160320_163557_zpslh3ujfnh.jpg
 
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slackinoff

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Nice pics. Looking like fun! I would like to plan a trip back, but the group i go with to places is really pushing for another place. I think they want to do some canoe trip. Devils something... Sounds sinister

R.M
 

Timmbo

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Yeah, we have all the equipment like that as well. What pack are you looking at? I just picked up an Osprey Talon 33, really comfortable pack, lightweight, hydration compatible, lots of useful features, lifetime warranty for about $130. Although I'm pretty partial to Osprey Packs, my large backpacking pack if the Osprey Atmos 65 AG, without a doubt the most comfortable pack I've ever owned the anti gravity suspension on the pack really distributes the weight well.

Our trip to the Smokys in November (in East TN) will be focused around the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Lot's a cool looking trails around there.

You'll love the Smokys. Check out Clingmans Dome while your there.

Couldn't find anything I liked when we went to Academy Sports so I haven't picked anything up yet. That Osprey Talon looks nice. We have an REI store about 30 minutes or so from us so I may go and look there. Definitely looking forward to getting out before it gets too hot and humid.
 

Will51

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You'll love the Smokys. Check out Clingmans Dome while your there.

Couldn't find anything I liked when we went to Academy Sports so I haven't picked anything up yet. That Osprey Talon looks nice. We have an REI store about 30 minutes or so from us so I may go and look there. Definitely looking forward to getting out before it gets too hot and humid.

We are going to do Clingmans Dome and Chimney Tops. Probably a couple of less challenging hikes with my father in law (he's in his 60's and not the best of shape) like Rainbow Falls.

REI does carry Osprey, so they may have it there. We are going to check out that REI store in Knoxville while we are up there as well. Closest one to me is in Houston, which is about 4 hours away.
 

Timmbo

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My wife (back left corner hiding) did a 14 mile hike last Saturday. This is at Big South Fork in east TN on the Cumberland plateau. I went to a Cars and Coffee event and didn't go. Beautiful scenery for sure. Might wanna check it out while your in the area.

https://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm

bigsouthfork_zpsdllrgtin.jpg
 

Will51

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Did a 20 mile hike around Chicot State Park yesterday. Pack weighed in at 22.5 pounds. Not bad, took me 8 hours including about 30 minutes for lunch. Ran into a decent amount of wildlife including a speckled king snake.
 

slackinoff

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Dang yall did work! Im super sore from changing the trans and diff fluid yesterday.

Looks like fun time!

R.M.
 

kranaux03

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You are gonna love Glacier.
I used to do allot of backpacking, multi night type trips. Now I do long day hikes then cook a feast and drink beer that the "base camp". Those day hikes are more enjoyable to me because you can pack allot less weight meubles design, travel far (15-20 mile day) so you get that deep exercise type of experience, then my favorite, we cook and feast at camp that is already set up.

But hey its all fun out there! I love it.

R.M.
You are really lucky. I do not celebrate because I'm too busy at work.
 

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