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What would be your ultimate backpacking adventure?


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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 35 total)
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  • #1307751
    Ryan Grayson
    Member

    @ryangrayson

    After hiking the AT in 2011, I got the hiking bug. I hiked another 1,000 miles of various trails in 2012 including the JMT, WT, and LT. This year is all about saving money for 2014. I've been planning on hiking the PCT, but now I'm thinking of taking a couple years off for one amazing backpacking adventure (or perhaps hopping around to multiple long trails). I've considered mixing in cycling trips and kayaking trips as well. I need to narrow down my choices and start planning. So, I was just curious, what would you do?

    #2025622
    Luke Schmidt
    BPL Member

    @cameron

    Locale: Alaska

    How about a packrafting/hiking trip somewhere in Alaska? Depending on how much money you have I'd consider a "warm up trip" in the northern Rockies or just a couple days in Alaska. You could work the kinks out of your system then go back for a big trip.

    #2025651
    Nico .
    BPL Member

    @nickb

    Locale: Los Padres National Forest

    I'd love to go back and do a long trip through the Sourhern Alps and Fjordland areas of the South Island, NZ. Amazing scenery, variable weather, and lots of opportunities for remote walking once you get off the Great Walks trails.

    #2025655
    HkNewman
    BPL Member

    @hknewman

    Locale: The West is (still) the Best

    Like to work my way up from a week and go for a week plus around the Wonderland trail, Tahoe Rim, Wind River Range, and similar areas. Then maybe do some foreign hikes (Switzerland and NZ), then maybe the long trails. Thought about waiting until my late 50's, getting a second civilian retirement, … but after slipping/nursing a knee sprain for the last 2 months, it may be time to take a little time off as some things (like knees) don't improve with age.

    #2025660
    Ian
    BPL Member

    @10-7

    I'd like to trek the Westfjords and the Laugavegur trail of Iceland. GR10 is on my bucket list too.

    #2025663
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    One that doesn't end.

    #2025692
    Phillip Tatti
    Spectator

    @realchemist

    Locale: Adirondacks

    Himalayas or Alps

    #2025751
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    I used to think it would be the PCT or another long trail. More and more though, I've really come to respect people who follow their passions and come up with their own routes. Like this guy:
    5000 mile canoe trek

    #2025804
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    >"How about a packrafting/hiking trip somewhere in Alaska?"

    Luke: It's been done (not a reason to not do it again) by BPL's own Erin Erin McKittrick, her husband and two kids:

    http://groundtruthtrekking.org/Book-Small-Feet-Big-Land/

    I'll let you do laundry and feed you sourdough waffles, too, if you came by like they did.

    Pre-kids, they did a 4,000-mile trip from Seattle to the Aleutians and she wrote a book about that as well: A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft, and Ski

    Jill Fredston's approach is to stick to the water more (but camping on land):

    http://www.amazon.com/Rowing-Latitude-Journeys-Along-Arctics/dp/0865476551

    She does more miles, over 20,000 so far, but all in reverse (she's rowing, so facing backwards).

    Edited to add: If you wanted to come to Alaska and use the Necky double kayak Jill converted to a rowing shell / 3-month food hauler, I could probably arrange that. Everyone up here is pretty darn supportive of cool trips (perhaps because we see so many people (local and tourists) doing really routine, boring things despite all the opportunities to really amazing trips).

    #2027694
    Ryan Grayson
    Member

    @ryangrayson

    Thanks for all your input. I have a route planned out that is huge to say the least. It has multiple legs, starting with the Pacific Crest Trail, then I'll be cycling south into Mexico. Might go further south to Central America, might not. Depends how I feel at that point. If I still have the health and money when I return to the US border. I'll be hiking the AZT to Hayduke Trail to CDT then either go the PNW trail back to the PCT, or start the next leg of the trip, kayaking the entire Missouri River.

    Hope I stay healthy and have enough money. I might take time off in between to work, rest, and heal if necessary.

    #2027904
    Daniel Collins
    BPL Member

    @diablo-v

    Locale: Orlando FL

    To follow the path of the two characters in "The man who would be king".
    Wearing a Freemasons pendant ……

    #2027950
    Worth Donaldson
    BPL Member

    @worth

    From the Northwest Territories to Nunavut, all 800 kilometers, on the Thelon esker.

    #2027972
    Steve Davis
    BPL Member

    @stevendavisphoto

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    how do you have the free time and money to do that??? :P

    #2027988
    Richard May
    BPL Member

    @richardm

    Locale: Nature Deficit Disorder

    Right now I'm working towards doing Panama's 'Camino Real'. It's the old Spanish land route to carry gold and goods between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.

    The little bit of research I've done indicates that a few tour companies will take you, carry your stuff, cook for you, etc. In other words, take out all the fun and charge for it. :S

    I'll have to find another way. I don't mind going with a guide or small group. I just don't want to go on a five star expedition.

    #2028242
    Ryan Grayson
    Member

    @ryangrayson

    I have time because I don't have a wife or children. As great as that might be, it really does open up your schedule. I also have no interest in building a career, so I don't waste any time with it. I have the money, not because I make a lot, but because I live very cheaply on and off the trail. I don't own much of anything. I don't date. I have roommates, so only pay $100 a week for my living expenses.

    It costs about a dollar per mile to hike a long trail, so if I think of buying something I don't need, I think of the miles I could hike instead. When I'm in a town, rather than spend $80 for a hotel, I'll just find a free inconspicuous place to sleep: parks, baseball field dugouts, behind abandoned buildings. I'd rather hike another 80 miles than have one night in a hotel.

    I've used couchsurfing.org to get free places to stay also. And I've had people invite me into their homes without me asking. They like hearing the stories and being a part of your adventure. Fellow travelers have invited me to sleep on the floor of their hotel, and once someone offered to buy me and my friend a room at a hotel and a steak dinner (nothing creepy, he just gave us a hitch after I finished hiking the AT and handed us $150 to celebrate.) I used to turn down stuff like that, but I know how good it makes me feel to give someone something, so now I just take it and tell them how much I appreciate it.

    Also, when you have the time and you live out of a backpack, you can hitch wherever you want to go, for free of course.

    To me being rich is all about having more than you need. I've never been motivated to make a lot of money. I find it a lot easier and a lot more rewarding to just need less.

    I'm going to see if I can continue to reduce my expenses while traveling. When I've gained more experience, I'll post about it at ABackpackersLife.com.

    #2028352
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    "One that doesn't end."

    Like Mamma always use to say, be careful of what you wish for, just might come true.

    #2028492
    Jennifer Mitol
    Spectator

    @jenmitol

    Locale: In my dreams....

    Ryan Grayson, I want to marry you……

    #2028542
    Dean L
    Spectator

    @aldoleopold

    Locale: Great Lakes

    A month long excursion to the Four Corners area. Some multi nighters, some day hikes, long drives to Toroweap or up the Kaiparowits Plateau. Zion, Grand Gulch, Dark Canyon, Arches etc. Throw in a river trip and few nights relaxing in Durango or Moab.

    #2028572
    Dean F.
    BPL Member

    @acrosome

    Locale: Back in the Front Range

    He doesn't date…

    #2028595
    Larry De La Briandais
    BPL Member

    @hitech

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    Do you have to date to get married?!? ;^)

    #2028603
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    >"Ryan Grayson, I want to marry you……"

    I knew a woman who always said if there was someone she thought she wanted to marry, she'd hike the AT with him. She figured anything and everything would come up on such a trip, you'd see them at their best, and at their worst. So, if they were still talking to each other 2,200 miles later, she'd have found and thoroughly vetted the right guy for her.

    >"Do you have to date to get married?!? ;^)"

    Not in some cultures.

    #2029333
    dave e
    BPL Member

    @hipass

    Locale: Los Angeles

    i dont have a career or children and am living comfortably and thats my problem.Time is flying by but i am just working and saving.In the 90s when i made a good living in the stock market,i could and would get up and go whenever i wanted to,on big road trips to the 4 corners or colorado.I guess the biggest problem now is do i dump my apt. and have no known home to return to when i get sick of travelling?I probably need to just jump and live by the seat of my pants and live a little.

    I want to explore italy,turkey/mideast and the karakoram valley in n pakistan.I dont know if i should do all these destinations in 1 giant trip or seperate ones.

    #2029375
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    "I want to explore italy,turkey/mideast and the karakoram valley in n pakistan.I dont know if i should do all these destinations in 1 giant trip or seperate ones."

    If I were you, I'd do some serious research and give the idea even more serious consideration before going just about anywhere in Pakistan these days. The natives are restless, and Americans are seriously at risk when traveling there, particularly in areas where the central government's writ is tenuous at best. The Taliban don't pay much attention to national borders, nor do they differentiate between American civilians and our military.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/06/23/pakistan-mountain-climbers-shot/2449809/

    #2029385
    Hiking Malto
    BPL Member

    @gg-man

    For a single extended BPing trip I would seriously look at a PCT/CDT loop. I think Skurka did this, Great western loop. I have looked at his route down south but there have been a number of hikers such as Dirtmonger that have strung together some pretty cool routes.

    #2030160
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    A 3 month North and South Islands trip would be my ultimate.

    It would have to also include North Island sea kayaking and South Island skiing and deer hunting.

    OK, make it 4 months

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