Heading out with some non-UL folks…..gulp…..

[DAN-Y]

Talk it over with your <(my JMT companion from a few years ago) and decide how to handle the situation. Maybe cut short the distance out and amount of days. We learn by experience ;)

[Roger Caffin]

Nah, make the climbs bigger.

Cheers

[Kelly G]

I spent a lot of backpacking time, researching time, and money refining my UL gear. I’m not going to give up the benefits that I’ve earned. I would offer the use my spare 1P UL tent, or spare down sleeping bag, to salve my own conscious a bit – but I wouldn’t agree to carry any of her weight.

Kelly

[Jerry Adams]

I think this topic has generated more responses in such a short time as any topic : )

maybe don’t agree to carrying community gear because you don’t need to use it, and you have a lighter tent she could try if she wants to, but don’t tell her what to do?

but you have to balance being efficient with friendship?  you have to work with her

lightweight backpackers can be intolerable

I hiked by Deer Lake in the middle of nowhere in the Trinities.  I had lightweight gear.  Somebody there came up to me and started complaining about how intolerant lightweight backpackers were.  He must have viewed BPL or something.  I was friendly but just continued on my way.

 

[Bob Moulder]

I’m following this thread for the entertainment value. ;^)

But I’ll be damned if I’ll carry some schlubbo’s gear. As Kelly G said, I’ve worked too hard to hone my UL kit and skills just to give up my benefits.

 

[John S.]

She is just used to a different type of trip where people share their shelters and have community gear maybe. Just be honest with her about the type of trip you have organized and your expectations of who carries what, mileage per day, rest stops or none, etc.

I met some NM people who gave no expectations and they never sat down all day ; ). I was used to sitting down for breaks.

[Paul Magnanti]

This won’t end well.

I used to lead trips for an outdoor group. I learned to screen and tell people that perhaps my trip was not for them.

Some bruised feelings at first will prevent b some very strained relations later.

Sounds like your colleague is used to group camping trips that involve a little bit of backpacking.

That can be fun. But does not look like it is compatible with *your* trip goals. The fact that she is trying to take over *your* trip is setting off many alarms.

I’d politely say that perhaps a different trip in the future might be an option. But not this one.

Time off is far too precious to spend it miserably.

[Jennifer Mitol]

see…isn’t this fun?

I’ve been away for a while and it’s nice to be back.  you guys are awesome.

I did convince her we didn’t need the expedition FAK. I will refuse to take a radio.

I just spent about 3 hours going over gear and clothes and packing with the two noobs, who couldn’t have been more appreciative, loved everything I said and left feeling really excited about the trip.

The holdout is a known control-freak in our company, so i’m pretty much just letting her flail about as much as she wants, and we’ll all hike our own hikes. I have put my foot down about all of us being independent – which honestly is a safety issue in a place like Big Bend.

I’m actually kind of excited about showing up with a 9# base weight and a tiny little pack…

[Jennifer Mitol]

and by the way – i do like Roger’s suggestion of making the route a bit tougher………

This girl is a crossfit coach and will never, ever quit.  So I’ll enjoy watching her suffer a bit.  And suffer she will with 60#s, 9L of water and who knows how much food/fuel/duct tape she’ll be bringing

[Gary Dunckel]

I’m following this thread for the literary value. I mean, “schlubbo?” Really, Bob, is that an actual word? One we might use in polite company? Or is that a back street Bronx word reserved for when some doofus asks if we would carry his/her 3# FAK?

There is a lot of good advice here, and I do hope this trip will go well, Jen.

[Catherine Harley]

I’m so looking forwards to the post trip report. :-)

 

[Bri W]

Yes, PLEASE please please post a trip report of your experience with this person. I’ll be waiting patiently with a bowl of popcorn. :)

[Roger Caffin]

I am sure she will suffer with a pack that heavy. That’s fine :)

Um … does the route involve any scrambling or really rough stuff over talus and scree? With a pack that heavy, plus my assumption of heavy boots, one might just possibly consider a PLB (for HER to carry!) for when she has an accident and needs a heli extraction.

Cheers

[Bruce Tolley]

+1 to what Paul said above. If this is going to be a group hike and you are the group leader, each participant needs to acknowledge your leadership.

Otherwise the probability is high that this person will hike their own hike and make the trip a lot less fun for your newbies.

[Kattt]

“+1 to what Paul said above. If this is going to be a group hike and you are the group leader, each participant needs to acknowledge your leadership.”

Only if there was an understanding at the beginning that this was a hike with a leader. It seems to me that at least for this one lady that was not understood or maybe she knows and does not care. Either way best luck Jen , that is not an easy situation to navigate. Group hikes that involve high mileage or other challenges are definitively easier if people are of similar mindset and physical shape.

OTOH I sure appreciated how nice everyone was when I had knee pain on our Trinity trip ;)

[Paul Magnanti]

The holdout is a known control-freak in our company,

OK…Why is she on this trip again???

I was too polite: Kick her off the trip. And have fun with the friends who seem more agreeable. :)

Life is too short to spend your time bank funds on people who will make the use of your time bank funds miserable.

 

 

[Bob Moulder]

re “schlubbo”

I googled it and got 466 hits, so yes, it is a word, lol.

Probably not used frequently at Oxford, though. :^)

But yeah, plenty of good advice here, and I’m already brimming with anticipation for that trip report.

 

[Bob Moulder]

I was too polite: Kick her off the trip. And have fun with the friends who seem more agreeable. :)

The only consideration is the potential for a heaping helping of schadenfreude.

[Jennifer Mitol]

yeah, i’m seriously regretting saying “yes” when she asked if she could come, too.

Sending a “bail out” email now….i’ll keep you guys posted.

 

[Roger Caffin]

I wonder whether this has the potential for a good Reality TV show?

Cheers

[Steven Paris]

Kat: “OTOH I sure appreciated how nice everyone was when I had knee pain on our Trinity trip.”

It was easy to be nice when it didn’t seem to slow you down AT ALL!

And Jen: Good luck and calmly explain your preferences and that you don’t mind if the others want to share gear but that a big part of your enjoyment while backpacking is being self-sufficient and moving lightly through the world.

[Ken Thompson]

True Steven, so true.

[Kenneth Keating]

If it was me I’d ask her to carry a couple bottles of wine to enjoy at dinner.  I’d point out to her that if she’s a halfway decent cross fit trainer the difference between 60 pounds and 66 pounds really isn’t that much!  : )

[Katherine .]

If you’re still drafting the email you could say something like..

“Because I value our working relationship so much and our approaches to backpacking are more different than I realized when you first asked about the trip, I think the most responsible thing to say is that we aren’t going to be a good match for this situation..”

[John S.]

We did an Outer Mountain Loop trip a few years back and I thought two wanting to go were not capable at the pace we would be traveling. I was not the organizer but the guy who was had to tell them and neither was happy. Our trip was brutally hot (April is a bit late) on the Dodson Trail and I am glad for all of us that those two skipped that particular trip. Have a great time.

[Author]

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