Backpacking is the art of knowing what not to take (picture)

Why are those people wearing knee high gaiters? I see people doing that all the time, and it’s not like they are stomping through fresh powder or bushwacking.

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“Why are those people wearing knee high gaiters? I see people doing that all the time, and it’s not like they are stomping through fresh powder or bushwacking.”

Why do people wear black ties with their tuxedos?

 
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Yeah!  and why would they have ice axes???  There’s not even any snow!?!  noobs!

They must think there is some mountain nearby.

Maybe they think the knee high gaiters are sexy, kind of like leg warmers were back in the day (Jane Fonda), or like the knee high socks rugby players wear (I’m straight, really, I swear to God).

The ice axe reminds me of the rich guys I used to see cruising around Scottsdale in their top of the line Range Rovers with shovel, pick and gas can secured to the roof racks, when in fact about all they really did was frequent Valley bars. The idea is to look the part of the outdoor adventurer… the gentleman on safari if you will.

They might be doing an approach to a technical climb.

Photo of me too many years ago on the approach to Shuksan, wearing plastic boots with shorts.

Backpacking is the art of going uphill slowly at great expense.

Skiing is the art of falling downhill gracefully at great expense.

Sailing is the art of going nowhere slowly at great expense.

Gaiters and shorts can sub for long pants, cold mornings, wet brush and “if you got ’em wear ’em.