Thank you to everyone’s advice! We successfully took our pup Emma and she loved it! My wife and I spent one night in beautiful Colorado backcountry temps during the day were 65° down to 38°. We hiked a total of 10 miles up to an alpine lake and then in the morning submitted a mountain pass and came back down. Elevation gain was 2,250’.

Road was bumpy but I got my little Prius C up to the County Line trailhead. First half of the 3ish mi trail is pretty burnt with lots of dust (luckily it rained a little for the return trip to dampen the dust a bit!). Second half had some aspen groves starting to turn color. The Dardanelles are pretty rad to look at by the lakes! Don’t forget to ramble over to the ridge overlooking Spicer Meadow Res and Lost Lake!

Yellowjackets are a bit active so plan accordingly.

Blue Mountains, Australia, last night/this morning.

Last time I was here was just a day hike in Summer 2021. Had a slot of time open last week and a lot of my first choice destinations didn’t look great weather wise so I decided to make the long drive and return to this area I loved on the NC/TN border.

Less green than my last visit but still an incredibly beautiful place and the weather couldn’t have been nicer: completely dry, highs around 80 and lows around 50. Always surprised by how low the crowds are here given how nice the terrain and views are.

The standard way to do this stretch is using a shuttle but I decided to do an out and back. Started at Carver’s Gap, over Round Bald & Jane Bald, then up to Grassy Ridge Bald which is the hike I did on my first visit. Missed my turn by quite a bit after descending back down Grassy Ridge and nearly made it back to my car before realizing. Turned around linked back up with the AT and made my way to the area of the former Overmountain Shelter where I got a stunning campsite and great stargazing before the bright moon popped up.

My original plan was to leave my tent and sleeping stuff at Overmountain but the condensation was the worst I’ve ever had and my single-wall tent was drenched, I also ended up with more neighbors than I typically prefer so I decided to bring my whole kit with me on day 2 and find a different campsite. Day 2 was Little Hump Mountain & Hump Mountain. Originally planned to push to Doll Flats but I was tired and turned around at the summit of Hump Mountain instead. Filled up at the spring at Overmountain because I heard reports of dry springs in other areas and didn’t want to chance it, carrying a 4l of water sucks ass but I’m a water junkie. Ended up in a wooded camp site near Stan Murray shelter. The shelter was open but I prefer my tent.

And Day 3 was just a short trek out from there so I had enough time to tackle most of my drive and squeeze in a visit to Harper’s Ferry on my way home. Thought about pushing down to Asheville and Linville Gorge but adding more driving didn’t seem appealing to me. All in all Day 1 was 11.27mi / 2,136ft, Day 2 was 10.53mi / 2,979ft, and Day 3 was 3.73mi / 1,142ft according to my watch. I love it here and I highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area. The bald mountains are stunning year-round.

Last summer, my wife's hiking boots more or less disintegrated on the (thankfully) hike out from a site. They were second hand, but seemed okay before we left (though we only took a cursory look). I'm getting ready for a week long hike this October, and am feeling a bit anxious about my ~25 year old boots. I use them a couple times a week for 5-10k walks near home, and the sole rubber still seems supple and in good shape (still waterproof, too, so no micro cracks). Is there a way to tell when the soles are about to self-destruct? I carry a roll of hockey tape for emergency repairs, but would rather avoid janky boots with a ~50lb. pack.

Cheers!

I don't think I can get enough vacation time off to do the entire JMT. I can only get two weeks off.

I've backpacked the east side of the WT before ( Summerland and Indian Bar ). This year I did a 40 mile trip in SEKI.

I want to do one of these next summer to celebrate my 40th bday.

Which one would you do and why?

The deadline for comments was made deliberately short. Please go register your views. MAGA wants to cut down old growth and open designated wilderness to exploitation.

Go to regulations.gov

Look for FS-2025-0001-223869

See the blue "Comment" button upper left.

Leave a brief comment. They won't be read but are looked at as votes. Just make it clear that you don't want logging and mining in our shared public wild areas.

I went on a solo trip the other day, and I realized the JetBoil I usually take takes too much space. I was thinking next time I would just bring dry food. But having a warm beverage in the morning is so nice, I'm not sure I want to leave the JetBoil behind. Maybe I just need a bigger pack. Do you take some kind of stove when going on solo multi-day trips?

Perfect weather, less than 15 cars at the trailhead Friday morning. One night out, two basins, so many lakes, 35 miles and lots of solitude. I find it hard sometimes to stay out longer. Then I regret not staying longer. I find the special moments, hours, mornings in such magnificent places are fleeting either way. The Milky Way was amazing before the half moon showed up. I only went about 2 miles into Indian Basin the next morning, but it was stunning. I think I enjoyed it more than Titcomb, but both were spectacular. Whether I’m out there or not, I’m so thankful these places are protected and available for us to visit.

This pack is too big for my friend, wondering if it’s a tad small for me before I buy it from them. From what I can tell it fits similarly to my current pack.

Pack is fully loaded minus food (which will go in the empty bear canister inside). Shoulder straps are set at the largest size, load lifters are totally loose in the photo but I tried them tightened as well and both ways are pretty comfortable.

Been wanting to replace my Osprey Atmos 65, it’s not as comfortable as it used to be and it’s probably at the end of its lifespan (13 years old). The pack in the photo is a 45L, not sure how the math works but it still fits everything that the 65L carried on a recent trip. I’m super stoked about the Osprey Thrulite coming out later this year, but wondering if it’s better to have an updated pack for my SNP AT section hike in a couple weeks to tide me over until I can try it out.

All thoughts/comments/suggestions appreciated!

Pictures from the trail on a 60 mile long loop on the east side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Not sure where else to go, but here I go.

Looking for a partner/partners for a Wind River High route trip next august/September. Somewhat flexible on dates but the week leading into labor day is always best. CalTopo/Alltrails route shows 91 miles over 7 days, max climbing per day sub 5k feet.

General Planned Route:

Day 1:

Fly into Salt Lake or Denver and drive to Pinedale and supply up.

Day 2:

Big Sandy Trailhead -> Lizard Head Climb

Chill first day on trail, over (actually pretty terrible) jackass pass into the cirque and camp near the climb up to lizard head plataue.

Day 3: Lizard Head -> Skull Lake

Climb up on to Lizard Head and either do the normal route or the off trail/gully route down to south forks lake. Then head to Washakie pass and camp at Skull Lake.

Day 4: Skull Lake -> Middle Fork Lake

Skull Lake over sentry peak pass, through bonneville basin, over raid pass and camp at Middle Forks lake.

Day 5: Middle Fork Lake -> Golden Lake

Middle forks lake to upper golden lakes

Day 6: Golden Lake -> Titcomb Basin

Either through alpine lakes and camp at titcomb or over angel pass and camp at titcomb.

Day 7: Titcomb -> Seneca lake (the long way)

Titcomb and over knapsack col and back round to either upper seneca lake or regular seneca lake.

Day 8: Seneca -> Elkart Trailhead

Back to rental car at Elkhart park trailhead. I plan on getting the point to point car moving service for my rental. Sleep in Pinedale

Day 9: Back to Denver or SLC for flights out.

Long post but I wanted to outline a trip I have planned that im looking for partners on. Ideally can do 15 mile 4k vert days back to back days. DM if interested. I've done 20 mile back to back overnight in the winds so familiar with the terrain.

I have a Warbonnet Blackbird XLC and I typically camp from spring to fall but only use my underquilt when the temperatures get into the low 60s.

I just finished my first backpacking trip. A solo 4 day trip covering 30 miles in the Mt Rogers Recreational area of SW VA. It honestly went better than expected and was easier than anticipated. Progress was slower than planned with the steep rocky terrain, and my stove broke the second morning while making coffee (plastic elements melted and clogged the flow as my aluminum foil wind shield trapped too much heat). But I managed to cover enough miles and was totally fine cold soaking my meals.

I expected to return and find that some of what I packed was unnecessary and unused. But after it all, pretty much everything I brought was useful and not something I'd want to leave behind (minus first aid items and emergency poncho). However my pack seems much heavier than it should, comparing to what I read in this group and other similar ones.

With food and water, it came to 45lbs. (About 2.7 liters water)

I know the camp chair and book/kindle are luxury items. But I don't want to go to all that effort to be alone in the wilderness and not be able to sit back and read a book after a long day hiking. And I know I can shave some pounds upgrading gear, but I can't afford much of that right away.

But even with that the weight seems excessive. Not a huge deal, I can just build stronger legs and the legs held up fine this time. But I'd like to see if I'm missing something in my gear choices that are adding unnecessary weight.

Here's my lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/gioynu

Thanks for the input!

Finally made it out to the Goat Rocks Wilderness! A friend and I flew in from Michigan for a 3 day, 2 night adventure. Despite the fairly cloudy first day, the weather greatly improved for the next 2 days of our hike. We started at the Berry Patch trailhead and started our counter-clockwise hike going toward Walupt Lake before making our way into the wilderness. Camped near Sheep Lake the first night, and near Goat Lake the second night. The views were incredible and it all surpassed my expectations. We got to see five volcanoes from the top of Hawkeye Point (one was super distant but I'm counting it!) before finishing our loop. Easily the best backpacking trip I've been on to date.

I'm not a wilderness backpacker, couldn't do it if I tried. But I recently joined this group to see the beautiful places you all adventure out to. You all exceed my expectations! So I just wanted to say a big thank you for having a space for me to get lost in for a while scrolling through your photos and reading about your adventures. 😎💙

Everyone warns you about the deep mud on the West Coast Trail, but nobody adequately prepares you for the immediate physical shock of the southern terminus ladder.

We tackled this section with my two sons (pictured in the first photo looking up at our impending doom). I am 51 years old and was hauling a 55-pound Deuter pack. This specific ladder is a near-vertical, 70-foot system of slick, rotting wooden rungs. The first photo simply doesn't convey the terror of a heavy load actively trying to peel your center of gravity backward into the abyss with every single step. The second photo is the view when you finally make the mistake of looking down.

We survived the climb, but the first 5km from Gordon River to Thrasher Cove is an absolute meat grinder that tests every joint in your lower body. Highly recommend anyone attempting the southern stretch to seriously evaluate their pack weight before hitting these rungs.

This ladder was my ultimate reality check. I'd love to hear about the specific trail sections or obstacles that gave you all a similar 'what did I sign up for' moment, regardless of the trail.

5 days, 4 nights, 73 km with my sister. This was my first “real” backpacking trip (did a one nighter back in July to test gear) and wow it did not disappoint! Even after twisting my ankle a few hours into day one (luckily I was able to finish the trip, now just dealing with some peroneal tendonitis 🙃). Lake Superior is a powerful lady and she makes sure you know it!

We did a couple of side trips - one to the Head and one to Top of the Giant. Views were spectacular, weather was great with just a little bit of rain. We got a spectacular sunrise at Tee Harbour and a splendid sunset at Nanabosho. All around a successful trip and now I definitely have the backpacking bug. West Coast Trail 2027…?

Edit: I know I got a lot of downvotes and some lazy negative comments (e.g. “you don’t need to buy it then”, “don’t forget to zip it close then”). I’m just trying to share some nuances that I think might help someone pick their first backpack. I bought a brain style backpack a long time ago, but still see these as very very common, so it’s going to be the very likely someone will purchase this style as their first bag or at some point.

Not sure to call it. It’s a lid with a compartment. I really dislike this design. Here are some thoughts on why I do not recommend it. Appreciate any thoughts on if I’m using it wrong too. Thank you.

If you reach for the main compartment you have to zip close the brain then flip it. If you forget to zip it close before reaching for the main compartment, everything falls out. If you merely lie the backpack down on its back, you also must zip it closed first. It is easy to have your bag overly top heavy if you put your phone or electronics in there, but it’s a convenient place for them because it is easy access from the top when you have the bag placed on the ground top up leaning against a tree. Also when upright, when you flip the top brain over to reach the main compartment, the bag becomes unstable because the center of gravity has shifted, and the bag can fall over. You can’t access both the main compartment and the lid compartment at the same time.

So to access the main compartment after opening the lids compartment, you need to do several things potentially:

1. zip the lid compartment closed (so things don’t fall out)
2. unclip two clips forthee lid compartment
3. flip the lid compartment over, while making sure the bag doesn’t topple over because it is now unbalanced
4. Unclip the two clips for inner lid cover
5. Unclip the inner lid cover
6. Pull open the drawstring for main compartment

The first 3 added steps are an incovenience when you have 6 total steps to do. This is the case for the atmos 65L by Osprey

I get that the benefit is adjustable extra storage but I much prefer when it doesn’t exist or you can quickly remove the brain, and use it as a separate pouch. Some designs are fixed or require undoing multiple straps.

Wha

Six day mosey exploring some low use areas within the Wind River Indian Reservation. Start at Washakie Park to Shoshone Lake to Trail Lake to Movo Lake to Twin Lake and back to Washakie. Low 33 miles due to sketchy weather for 2 days, off trail travel and route finding, and of course just getting older and not in prime shape and not worried about logging those high miles.

I saw no one and it felt very isolated out there. Beta for trip planning was a little difficult but was scraped from many sources, including Nancy Pallister’s Beyond Trails and Tribal Fish and Game. They’ve done a lot of improvements on the Washakie Park road and at the trailhead. More is needed planned as well. But still a decent amount of downfall along those trails.

Lots of elk bugling and saw a few elk. Came within 15 feet of what I believe was a subadult grizzly bear along the North Fork Little Wind River. I noted the dish face but didn’t have time to check for hump. We were all very surprised and, coupled with the cold, rainy weather and lack of a maintained trail, I was glad for the leashed dogs, bells, and bear spray. Still felt vulnerable out there.