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What Is Your Favorite Thing To Do In Camp At The End Of The Day
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Home › Forums › General Forums › General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion › What Is Your Favorite Thing To Do In Camp At The End Of The Day
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Jun 18, 2008 at 8:30 am #1229654
I know there is related threads to this but this is a tad more specific.
When I get into camp, do all my chores, and have dinner, I really like to sit down and watch what is left with the alpineglow and sip some single malt scotch. Mind you, just enough to take the worries away and put a smile on my face. The combination of being in the backcountry and having some nice scotch makes the troubles all go away!!!!
Jun 18, 2008 at 8:45 am #1438899I'm a bourbon man myself, and I often try to get a bit of flyfishing in after dinner, otherwise I agree completely. Brightens up a miserable day or is the perfect cap on a glorious backcountry setting. A perfect attitude adjuster.
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:35 pm #1438930I like to make a fire and eat dinner sitting in front of it. Even if I only gather enough sticks to make it last 25 minutes–in fact, most of my backpacking fires last less than an hour and are pretty small–as long as a fire is burning while I'm eating dinner, I'm happy. (it helps distract from the taste and consistency of dehydrated meals…)
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:43 pm #1438932Sit down. And do nothing for a few minutes.
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:47 pm #1438933rest…eat…converse with tripmates
Jun 18, 2008 at 1:05 pm #1438938I like to have a small fire. I tend to get antsy just sitting around so gathering sticks and keeping the fire going keeps me occupied.
On trips where I have a partner I enjoy sitting around a small fire and talking or telling stories.
To be honest, I don't like being in camp much. I don't like being idle and sometimes it feels like I'm just burning time until bed-time, especially when I'm out solo. I get much more relaxation (mentally at least) from the walking aspect of hiking, not so much being in camp.
Adam
Jun 18, 2008 at 1:06 pm #1438940Yeah………single malt with a splash of water. Yah-hooooo!
Jun 18, 2008 at 2:02 pm #1438947If fires are allowed,then definitely a small camp fire to poke, with a hot cup of tea and if they are there, some good friends to discuss life, the universe and everything with. Watching a good sunset on stunning scenery rounds off a great day. Oh… and did i mention food and finally taking my footwear off!
Jun 18, 2008 at 2:28 pm #1438949– Enjoy the satisfying feeling that a nice warm cup of soup gives me as I watch the sunset or stars.
– Have a nip of something while talking with friends.
– Talk about the day's hike (or anything) with my son and daughter.
– Read the map to find out where I really was during the day.Tom
Jun 18, 2008 at 2:44 pm #1438950> To be honest, I don't like being in camp much. I don't like being idle and sometimes it feels like I'm just burning time until bed-time, especially when I'm out solo. I get much more relaxation (mentally at least) from the walking aspect of hiking, not so much being in camp.
Adam,
I couldn't have put it better myself. Anyone out there have tips for Adam and myself regarding relaxing at the end of the day, especially when alone?
Jun 18, 2008 at 2:55 pm #1438952Adam/Casey,
Try fishing.
Read a book.
Write a letter or document your journey and observations.
Take up amateur astronomy. Knowing constellations and when/where to look for them will also improve your navigation skills should you ever take on hiking at night.
When all else fails, sudoku!Jun 18, 2008 at 2:57 pm #1438953.
Jun 18, 2008 at 5:10 pm #1438985Have good long stretch and a toke.
Jun 18, 2008 at 6:39 pm #1438998I'm with Adam, Casey, and Dave. As a solo hiker camp time can be hard once everything is done. What I normaly try to do is hike as long as possible getting to camp around dusk.
Once I find a site I typically start with getting my water treated so it can set at least 30 minutes. Then I get to work on camp setup…tarp & kitchen area (some distance away). If fire is allowed I gather wood and prepare a place to sit. Next comes setting up the bear bag (just the line in the tree suspended by a rock in a mesh bag).
Now it is time for dinner. I rest a few while the stove is heating water. I get my food rehydrating and if it is cold I hug the pouch for warmth. I eat, enjoy tea, and when done hang my food and kicthen stuff.
Now I start my fire. I usually enjoy some whiskey or everclear in lemon drink to settle me down and play with the coals. Next I write about what happened that day on the back of my photocopied map. I try my cell phone to let the wife know I still live (8/10 times it does not work). Then I might snaps some pics of my site and wander around a bit and maybe shoot some short video clips for my kids. They like to call me "Survivor Dad".
If I have planned well it is now pitch dark and I go to bed watching the fire die eager for morning to come and start a new day. I absolutely love the early morning.
The worse times are in the winter. January alone can be hard. In a valley darkness starts to settle in around 4:30 so it is time to find a camp. It is absolutely black around 5:30 pm and if you are not allowed fires it can be a bit lonely.
But even for those brief moments asking myself…am I really having fun sitting alone in black woods at 7:30 pm with nothing to do…something always happens the next day to make it all worth it.
Jamie
Jun 19, 2008 at 4:04 am #1439057You know, by the time I have
* found a tent site
* pitched the tent
* got water
* cooked and eaten dinner (3 courses)
* washed up
* cleaned my teetha) it is quite dark
b) I am very tiredSo guess what: I go to sleep!
Cheers
Jun 19, 2008 at 6:20 am #1439068Lay in the hammock reading and listening to my radio. I love the early fall when there is football games on in the evening.
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:01 pm #1439123Whiskey (Bourbon, Scotch, or Irish) and cigars around a campfire are my favorites.. If light/safety allows I might also fish some though I usually do that on whole days that I don't hike.
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:00 pm #1439180Aside from things like taking a nip, journaling, conversing with friends, and camp chores, I really like to introspect and sort out things. Solo hiking is a great time for it. I also like to take camp time to activley appreciate and observe nature. I would have to say that warming up my belly with some brandy with my buddies tops the list though.
Jun 19, 2008 at 6:12 pm #1439189I don't have much expierience solo backpacking. Its usually with a good friend or other, sometimes with a dog. I have gotten into a warm cup of yogi beadtime tea :) and a couple sips of whiskey before bed. I love the way that that little bit of comfort will help me quell the small anxieties of being out and allow me to really deflate. If I'm being honest 5 of the last 5 overnights I've done start after dark. I like night hiking and backpacking a lot. 70% of my nights out are spent away from bears and predators so I enjoy the peace of mind that comes with not worrying about my food. Then I will usually answer natures call, then once back in my bag I can just lay and think and talk, but I'm ready to sleep whenever I feel like it. Looking up at the stars I let the tea and whiskey do its thing. I really like waking up and only seeing stars, I think outside with no shelter is when I get my most relaxing sleep.
Jun 25, 2008 at 6:36 am #1439993sex
Jun 30, 2008 at 12:42 pm #1440851I'm with some of you who do not enjoy the down time of camping – I'd like to keep going but camp I must.
I take a ton of photos so my favorite thing to do is lay back and look through them. 2nd favorite is to clean up and change my shirt especially.
Seems a lot of folks take a nip – I need to try that….
Jan 25, 2009 at 10:39 am #1472776Enjoy some good tequilla or whiskey and a good english blend tobacco with a pipe. Mmmmmmm. A fire adds at least 10 points to the enjoyability factor as well. :-)
Jan 25, 2009 at 11:08 am #1472779Sleep and eat a chocolate bar. Chocolate is awesome in the backcountry, anytime, anywhere. I don't remember the last time I had a campfire when I was out hiking. I kind of despise using them for anything but cooking, and I cook over a wood fire so infrequently that it is a non-factor.
Jan 25, 2009 at 11:35 am #1472791when out solo:
look through photos, take new photos, check out exactly where i traveled during the day on the map, plan where i will be heading the next day on the map (i luv maps), nap, read, eat, ponder the meaning of life, write in a journal, listen to music (i don't do this often), watch the sunset, look at the stars, make a fire where appropriate, etc.when out w/ other people, i do the above plus:
talk, make jokes, tell stories, play frisbee where possible, play cards, etc.Personally, I like camping about equally as much as the hiking part of backpacking – especially when you are camping at a nice, remote backcountry spot w/ good friends.
Jan 25, 2009 at 11:45 am #1472796If alone, then Tai Chi and stretching, botanising and bird-watching if it's light enough and not raining, reading (especially if it is raining).
With others, I enjoy their company. A bit of whiskey or wine never goes amiss.
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