Very VERY New!!

“Rei has a very liberal return policy, buy there, if you don't like it send it back and try another. You can try a pack out without getting it dirty.. Just load it with your stuff or with bags heavy enough to represent the stuff you think you will take. Walk around, up hills if you have them. Most packs will have a recommended load capacity, it is usually optimistic. If you think you will take 25lbs, buy a pack rated for 35.

I agree with hyway to buy light. A pack, however, is a possible exception to that rule. Comfort carrying the load you expect is the most important thing.”

“One bad thing about SNP in June is the motorcycles. It's hard to get a sense of solitude with that constant grumble. The park is narrow enough that you can't really get away from them. Nice if you can get a couple of rainy days, or just enough rain to keep them home.”

“Well,good time for the bikers but that kinda puts a damper on the image I had going.Course,I recon my hubby ain't gone be swinging from the trees and pounding his chest like I been picturing in my head neither.(sigh)I realized today that you live there.Maybe if you are out when we are there we could meet.Motorcycles you say.......Hmmmmm. matoday.Motorcycles......HMMMM.Do you use a bear bag?”

“I live in Virginia beach, so not really that close. I'll be at Old Rag on Saturday! My wife and I are preparing for a big backpacking trip in June to celebrate our 20th.. prolly can't make it then but I'll take a raincheck.”

“Oh, no bear bag, just hang food..”

“isn't hanging food the same thing as using a bear bag?”

“I have a duffle bag I can use .Rain check then. My husband said to plan the vacation and surprise him. Motorcycles....”

“Yeah, and before you know it you'll be just like all of us....150 lbs of untralight gear”

“Roamaround - "isn't hanging food the same thing as using a bear bag?"

"bear bag" to me would be one of those new fangled bear resistant sacks...like bear canister would be a bear resistant canister. Usually I just hang my pack or one stuff sack out of it depending on what I brought.”

“Most people thinking of bear bagging as hanging your food.”

“so my German friend decided to buy a tent and go backpacking with me... she's at Walmart right now looking at Ozark tents that sleep 4. someone tell her that she ain't backpacking with that tent...
it's lighter then the Coleman, that was her response..”

“Let her buy it. She will soon learn.”

“yea....about a mile in on the trail”

“lol...I can't do that...I would have to help carry, I just know it.”

“Then tell her not to do it!”

“Gem, friends don't let friends buy tents from Walmart for backpacking reasons.”

“I did! I told her stupid behind (opps) to step away from the walmart tents and buy some freeze dried ice cream instead.
last edited: 4/22/11 12:56:00 PM”

“that's right, priorities.”

“Walmarts! Walmarts! Walmarts! I can feel you all cringing from here...”

“I like Walmart. I buy my groceries there. I just wouldn't buy backpacking gear from there except for mountain house meals.”

“Ha! I did buy 2 of them. And A hiking Magazine,bug spray and compass.I looked at the tents and thought I remembered seeing good reviews for Coleman tents but we are still deciding.Thinking hammock or tent? My only problem with hammock is lack of privacy when dressing.I tell ya, This is beginning to feel like planning a wedding.I just hope all this planning pays off when we actually get to go on vacation.”

“1camper,did you watch her trying to hang the bear bag!”

“WalMart sells a coleman canister stove for about $25 that I almost bought. Would fit in a cook pot, probably weighs about 3-4ozs. It would be a great first stove for a beginner.



http://reviews.walmart.com/1336/4722923/coleman-peak1-micro-butane-stove-reviews/reviews.htm
last edited: 4/22/11 3:48:30 PM”

“Hey splash, don't think for a minute that two people can sleep in a double hammock...just sayin' I've found pretty good value with eureka or sierra designs tents. I'm sure you can find some good advice on tents in this forum once you get the hang of the search function..
Wal-Mart is steppin up with the iso-butane, still I'd pay a little extra and get a pocket rocket by msr. Don't forget eBay. I just bought a whisperlite international brand new for $40.”

“ I remembered seeing good reviews for Coleman tents but we are still deciding.Thinking hammock or tent? My only problem with hammock is lack of privacy when dressing.”
splashangel
3:13:30 PM
4/22/11

I'm not gonna lie, I absolutely love getting changed outside in the open in the middle of the woods with no one around. Very free-ing. Go with the hammock! However, I love my MH backpacking tent too, usually for the colder months.”

“Thanks 1 camper.I have a one burner already so thats one thing not to worry about.Well, Scorchfire,I got no problems with the changing outside but since it is such a tourist attraction you never know what weirdo might be hiding behind a tree.I just want to have a good time with the husband and am thinking I am overworking this.Or am I?I have read so much on hiking and camping.Followed all yalls conversations back to like 03.I have said when I lived in the woods I didn't do anything without preparation.But I swear I don't remember thinking this much.I read a few old Mother Earth magazines.That was really about it.Ahh well......”

“Hey Splashangel I took a better picture for your desktop.



”

“Thanks 1camper. I cann't wait to take my own pics.I had to take a break from vacation planning.My goodness!Fretting over attracting bears with bugspray and naked hikers from Washington!Geez... I hope yall had fun and Thanks for the pics,they keep me excited about the get away.We are taking 9 days but a couple will be driving and allowing for setting up etc.Where you off to next?”

“I hope to make the hike for Rich b, haven't been up that way in a long time.”

“I tried to find pics of it but no luck here or the other site you recomended. Is it in Virginia?”

“http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/56019.php

No stunning pics, just nice folks remembering a nice guy.”

“So Splashangel...you still going in June? I didn't make it on the hike for Rich, sadly. Work is just too busy.”

“Oh Ya'll we had such a WOUNDERFULL time! It was fantastic and now we are hooked.I just spent 9 days having the best time.Thanks for all the great advice. I am really glad I found ya'll. I, many times, put things I learned to use on the trail.I made mistakes in purchases( and learned my lesson) but for the most part I followed what I learned.We hiked for several days straight,in the back country of the Shenandoah. I never bargained for the sense of accomplishment I had every day as I removed the weight from my back and began to help my husband set up camp.We slept by some beautifull waterfalls twice. I hope that when I grow old these memories remain. They are precious. We have no regrets about the choices we made.It was the perfect vacation in every way.We plan to keep at the hiking.We hope to take the boys back with us as soon as possible but are for sure going to find places near to us to continue exploring this new and fun new way of life! Again,Thank you all so much.”