Ahh the joys of having a stomach bug 10ish days after backpacking

>>>> Food poisoning is just part of backpacking. > What utter rubbish!!!! +1 Also please tell us where you go hiking so we can stay at least a 1000 miles away…..

Sometimes it's the food place you get food from just before Sometimes restaurants in remote places aren't as careful with food safety? I can only think of one time this has happened to me in years

You guys must not stay out long. If a guy lives outdoors 6 months of the year and does so for 10 years, well, stool splatter, stomach cramps, colon blasts, sharting and all the rest are just part of the mix. Ergo just part of backpacking. Mountaineers commonly suffer from such digestive upsets—often due to altitude, location (third world), time spent out, food choice or whatever else. My buddy John Quillen went to Broad Peak for a climb recently and spent the whole bus ride to his drop-off point puking. It's normal. Have you guys never eaten dehydrated beans or chili on a backpacking trip and not gotten the Colon Heaves or Bilious Gas Flummoxed with Tertiary Cramps???? Or after drinking a million gallons of water from 10,000 sources (even using a filter), you're bound to get the Butt Cheek Percussive Silly Slaps. Thing is, experiencing such events is fairly normal and doesn't mean a trip has to be aborted. Hang in there, take a zero in-tent day, bring extra wiping paper, pop a couple tums, fast from food if necessary, hole up and try to sleep. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FART! Turn on your radio and listen to Alabama get beat by Ole Miss.

I'm 70. My longest trip was 3 months continuous. That enough? Do you get this sick at home? (I hope not.) It's simple lack of personal hygiene when walking. Nothing more. Soap and water are all you need – like at home. Most walkers never have those problems. Cheers

LOL @ Tipi. What an awesome Troll.

Ah, Dave's internet hysteria. Any critical comment or counter-argument he finds challenging he calls a Troll. It's a catch-phrase for weak minds.

This is backpacking light. You criticise those that backpack light while your baseweight is north of 30 pounds. You have never posted a gear list even though many have requested it. There were some, originally, that actually wanted to educate you. Now we simply find you an amusing play thing. I am sure there is a forum specific to your gastro needs and hygenic inadequacies but this forum likely isn't the place. To use your terminology, you are full of shat. I would place all of my stock on Roger's experience since he actually backpacks.

Roger asks: "Do you get this sick at home?" "This sick" sounds overblown, like full out food poisoning. I'm talking about indigestion, pure and simple, which I equate to mild food poisoning. Have none of you eaten a meal at home and got indigestion? Too much pizza? Too many beans? The same thing happens on a backpacking trip though it feels worse because you're stuck at night in a tent and it's 0F in a blizzard. All physical ailments seem magnified when outside in such conditions. And simple indigestion often results in Colon Blowouts and the Midnight Squirts—all perfectly normal when that wonderful $8 dehydrated meal doesn't sit right. Every once in a while it gets to Ian B's level: Fever, chills, puking, projectile shatting etc. But a case of bad gas is also tough, especially when trying to sleep. So Roger, in all your backpacking travels you never had all-night indigestion or gas-induced squirming?

I got nauseated just reading this thread. Hey Tipi, have you ever thought about going to see a gastroenterologist? I'd suggest a colonoscopy, endoscopy and complete stool sample testing (Epstein Barr, Giardia, C Difficil, H Pylori and others). It could also be IBS or Crohns disease. No joke, Giardia can stay in the system for years.

dude, I hate to pile on but you got some problems you need to work out. If the majority of folks had the problems you describe living in the wilds the Native Americans, and European explorers would all have been running around with diapers on. Just not buying it.

Wow, what over-reaction. No one ever gets indigestion?? So I guess no one ever buys or uses tums or rolaids or antacids or alka-seltzer or maalox or mylanta or prilosec etc? Why do these products stay in business? We've got perfectly healthy people out there eating all sorts of crap with no ill effects.

It a perfect world I love irony Cast iron digestive tract here. Never had heartburn or have ever taken anything of indigestion as I don't get that sort of trouble. I'm more like Doug in that we cause it.

"No one ever gets indigestion??" This doesn't sound like indigestion: "stool splatter, stomach cramps, colon blasts, sharting and all the rest" "Colon Heaves or Bilious Gas Flummoxed with Tertiary Cramps" "Butt Cheek Percussive Silly Slaps" "puked or sharted; or having to run out of the tent with an explosive Turtlehead." Yeah, I am thinking a Tums should help you just fine.

Hi Tipi First of all, no, I do not get indigestion at home from over-eating, let alone all those explosive bowel actions you describe so vividly. This is partly because we do not over-eat, and partly because we practice adequate hygiene. Simple hand washing (and some care with food expiry dates). Equally, we do not get any of those symptons when walking. Same reasons. I did once get a short bowel problem in Nepal, but that is because I was so monumentally stupid as to order a salad from a cafe outside the hotel. I really should have known better. That was 25 – 30 years ago. I did once get Giardia, but the Parks Ranger was not surprised. Where we got water from was notorious as a source for Giardia. Too close to tourist-land. After that I was more careful. I do agree with OP: I think you need to have a full medical examination. What you are describing is not good! Cheers

You guys must not stay out long. If a guy lives outdoors 6 months of the year and does so for 10 years, well, stool splatter, stomach cramps, colon blasts, sharting and all the rest are just part of the mix. Ergo just part of backpacking. Mountaineers commonly suffer from such digestive upsets—often due to altitude, location (third world), time spent out, food choice or whatever else. My buddy John Quillen went to Broad Peak for a climb recently and spent the whole bus ride to his drop-off point puking. It's normal. Have you guys never eaten dehydrated beans or chili on a backpacking trip and not gotten the Colon Heaves or Bilious Gas Flummoxed with Tertiary Cramps???? Or after drinking a million gallons of water from 10,000 sources (even using a filter), you're bound to get the Butt Cheek Percussive Silly Slaps. Thing is, experiencing such events is fairly normal and doesn't mean a trip has to be aborted. Hang in there, take a zero in-tent day, bring extra wiping paper, pop a couple tums, fast from food if necessary, hole up and try to sleep. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FART! Turn on your radio and listen to Alabama get beat by Ole Miss. I copied this entire, classic post so that it could not be deleted by Tipi… although perhaps a Moderator might edit/delete this post, as I have had happen to a couple of other of my posts in the past. This typical for Tipi, making some outrageous, over-the-top post about severe digestive distress and then feigning surprise, downplaying it to "indigestion" when called on it. But when your typical hike consists de-camping, doing a 4-mile "nutbuster" hike humping 80lbs to your next encampment, "pinned down" for days by 3 inches of snow, well, I guess you gotta find your drama anywhere you can. (Originally I had a paragraph here, addressed directly to Tipi, expressing a genuine desire that at some point in his life he is able to hike with a truly light load and experience the liberation it brings. But Tipi is solidly ensconced in a prison he built for himself and where he prefers to live, like the caged bird that dares not leave when the door is left open; no one can talk him out into the fresh air.)

I lived in Asia and the Middle East from 2002-2008, traveling to well over 20 countries (Thanks Uncle Sam). I ate street food on an almost daily basis. I have never been sick from that. I have been hiking since I was 13 years old (now 35) I have never once been sick from poor hygiene or water while hiking. I have however mistook the symptoms of AMS for food poisoning. I have since taken precautions to understand AMS and to better acclimatize so this does not happen again. A few years back I got some serious stomach problems that after every test in the book turned out to be stress related (My grandparents died 3 weeks apart) and I was in charge of their estate which was a gigantic mess. On another note this entire thread is hilarious. I'm sticking around for the comments.

To Bob Moulder— Let's talk about Ultralight elitism and UL identity politics. According to your post, long mile days are apparently better and more genuine than short mile days. Here is UL elitism at its core. Bob says it would be good if I was "…able to hike with a truly light load and experience the liberation it brings." Totally off topic from the gastrointestinal thread and just a kneejerk attack on the messenger. Bob (and Dave) must be in the same fan club. But since you want to change the subject, let's quote Martin Rye. He talks about such behavior by this segment of the UL community when he says— "The end is to go outdoors . . . not to identify as an UL elitist who somehow does more than others." "What is UL? The pursuit of an identity in backpacking for the sake of claiming some stupid pre-defined base weight as the goal rather than seeking the real aim—to go outdoors." He almost seems to be talking directly to Bob Moulder. And in regards to a 3 inch snowstorm, well, Bob forgets my other trips and doesn't mention some of the -10F temps. See— http://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/keyword/blizzard/i-pC4Vz68 Above link are some trip snow pics. Bob's definition of "Three inches". And the 4 mile nutbuster you're talking about happens to be considered the hardest trail in the Southeast—Upper Slickrock Trail 42. See— http://www.backpacker.com/trips/wyoming/twelve-toughest-trails/ Please come here and do this trail with your 10 lb pack or an 80 lb pack, I don't care which, and then we'll talk.

Sounds like the OP needs to buy a pack of TUMS.

"Here is UL elitism at its core." Correct. This is Backpacking LIGHT(!!!) Wow – what an amazing winter picture. You talk about 3 season treks, Bob mentions 3", and you post a winter pic. Seems reasonable for Tipi. Those are summer conditions in my parts (-30C and feet of snow is not unusual in the winter) and I still don't crap my pants at high altitude.

I have done the Slickrock trail you mention. Its really a pretty hike. And it's a difficult hike. There were many large trees covering the trail when we went through and you had to walk on the trees for parts. My pack was at about 8.5 pounds + the final days food and water. We did that trail plus about 11 additional miles in Slickrock. It was a pretty walk, and I really enjoyed it. The Slickrock trail would have seemed much more difficult with a heavy pack.

"The Slickrock trail would have seemed much more difficult with a heavy pack." Especially if you had the Shats.

ok…once again, with all due respect, which in my case is dwindling quickly…what the hell does UL have to do with elitism? There is nothing in the universe linking elitism with any activity what so ever. Elitism has to do with attitudes of individuals and their arrogance. I'm saddened that you have to throw stones like that around in general terms as from my experience the UL crowd has been an enlightening and incredibly informative bunch. I will say it again, I simply couldn't BP if it wasn't for the weight dump that I was able to achieve credited to the folks here. I haven't seen elitism on the trail either. Granted I don't see to many light loads out there but the few I have were all being carried by very decent folk. I followed an AT thru hiker this summer for several miles after asking if it was ok if we could have a chat, as he walked, about some gear he was carrying. He dragged me along quite willingly and was more than happy to talk. There are serious butt heads in all walks of life, no doubt. But when you start throwing stones at a group of people like ULers in general your gonna loose respect really fast. Then its only you that sounds elitist in some reverse discriminating way. So if you have frequent IBS symptoms, hey fine, but don't shart on the crowd if they don't. Edit- I couldn't finish this post without backing Bob M. He is one guy here that was kind enough to help me more than once. I owe him for that.

Sorry Tipi, some noobs on whiteblaze might be impressed with your “exploits” but you will not get a whole bunch of ooooohhs and aaaaaahhs here. I did a lot of those trails down there (among them the one you mention, IIRC) at Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock/Shining Rock in 1981, not long after my hiking buddy and I got out of the military. That really is some beautiful country, but the trails aren’t that difficult… unless you want them to be. Is Martin Rye aware how you cherry pick a few of his words from one essay to make it sound as if he’s anti-UL? He’s “anti-label” and he’s “anti- arbitrary weight goal”, but he advocates for lighter packs that permit more hiking. “Current Plans: “Hike more; hike lighter and hike enjoying it. Scotland is so big I have a lifetime of plans there.” Check out Martin Rye’s Youtube page — he’s far from being the heavy hauler you insinuate every time you invoke his name as your lord and saviour. Edit: To Add link for Martin Rye’s youtube page

3….2….1…… [Ken T] grrrrrrrrr…. sorry for feeding the troll! :-(