Dan's Outside

I go, I see, I do, I walk, I think, I like…

It Must Be Backpacking Season

On yesterday’s Castle Rock hike I saw many backpackers heading out to the somewhat dismal trail camp 3 miles from the trailhead. I talked to a few of them – I think that people are starting to get in shape for their summer pack trips to the Sierra.

I’ve also started to see those folks who ruin a perfectly good day hike by carrying a backpacking load, hoping to hit the trail in good shape when the real backpacking season begins in a month or two.

Personally, I subscribe to the Two Days of Agony school of preparation for carrying backpacking loads: Do a lot of day hiking ahead of time, and then suffer a bit on the first couple of days of the first high-altitude trip of the season. Better that than suffering through a dozen day hikes carrying 30-pound loads.
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May 1, 2005 - Posted by | Commentary

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