What is a dirtbag hiker?

[Monte Masterson]

I’ll start by saying that trust fund babies are able to alleviate a lot of the deprivations involved with the dirtbag hiker lifestyle because obviously they don’t need to worry about money.

But for most others it means having to forgo many traditional things in life and be willing to make sacrifices in order to spend the majority of their days out on the trail. A dirtbag hiker lives to hike and everything else takes a backseat.

1) No home ownership, spouse, children, pets or long-term job. Short term rentals and only when required to do a month or two of work. No leases.

2) Minimalist lifestyle to the extreme. A dirtbag hiker may or may not own a car but if he/she does then most nights (when not on the trail) will be spent camping out in National Forests or BLM lands for free. Perhaps once in awhile pay $15 to $25 at a cheap campground with showers. Some dirtbaggers now get Black Card memberships at Planet Fitness so they can shower at any of their hundreds of locations nationwide for about $30 a month.

If the dirtbag hiker has no car hitchhiking and Greyhound buses will be the mode of transit and Greyhound isn’t so cheap anymore.

3) Frugal food hacks. Lots of dried potatoes, instant rice, peanut butter, beans, instant coffee, tuna/chicken pouches, etc. Of course when not on the trail and car camping the choices can be much better. A savvy dirtbagger can eat for $7 to $10 a day.

4) Not too worried about saving a lot for retirement because most of your days will be spent out on the trail. But then again all the decades of intense cardio and maintaining a low weight might mean your health could end up being much better than someone who spends their whole life working 40 to 60 hours per week at a stressful job where proper exercise is lacking, diet is poor and weight’s kept high.

5) Romance is probably going to be greatly diminished or non-existent, especially if you’re a guy. There are exceptions to be sure and I don’t doubt some Chad’s might do better than expected, but living a poor dirtbag existence where showers are few and far between doesn’t really make most women interested….can’t blame them. Its’ much easier for women to find romance on thru hikes (if they are so inclined). There’s an endless supply of thirsty simp guys out on the trail.

 

 

[Bill in Roswell]

Having a number of friends who Long Distance Hike, including a few Triple Crowners, you covered it pretty well Monte. I’m on the AT much the time talking with Thrus and giving rides to town. But in my mind, besides obvious lack of shaving, bathing, etc. by both sexes, the one thing a true Dirt Bagger does is wear the same hiking clothes day after day after day in heat and humidity, wet or not. Salt lines like a beach. Of course cool weather hikers can hide under an outer layer, but the smell of old sweaty clothes lingers on their jacket. JMTCW.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I kind of lived a dirt bag frugal life except that instead of spending all my time hiking I held a job and saved for retirement. And then I got handed a trust fund and got married at age 59 and now have all the free time in the world to hike, so it’s kind of a wash.

[Thom]

I guess you are referring to me !

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