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horses vs back pack

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    Posted: 24 December 2005 at 07:22

Just looking for some thoughts.  Thinking (again) of a trip to Big Horn NF.  Lots of stuff pretty far back in I'd like to fish and just look at.

Sure I could contact my favorite outfitter and get some horses/mules and get a guided trip.

But I'm thinking if I go at it slow and limit myself to a 50# pack, I might see what I want without the hassle of a trail ride trip.  Sure no bacon and eggs in the morning, but instant coffe is OK.  Thought about a 3 night stay?  One day/night in, one day night at a lake, one day night out????

Thoughts?  Any of you guys over 50 (er, well 60) do any backpacking?

BEAR



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote waksupi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2005 at 10:38
I do some backpacking, but see no reason to carry fifty pounds. Thirty is more like it for me at the top end, and that is good for four or five days. Throw in some mac and cheese, and other dried goods, to keep the weight down. There are some incredibly light and warm sleeping bags available now. Ditto on sleeping pads. As much as I hate aluminum utensils, they pare down a lot of weight. I've gone so far, as to shorten my toothbrush handle, to eliminate even that small amount of weight. Sort through things you want to carry, and you will see many can be reduced in weight, some by drilling holes, others by filing off extra material. I have a flashlight I honeycombed, and put in Saran wrap to keep it dry. Cut down on any extras that you didn't use on previous trips, and get them out of your pack, aside from true emergency gear. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 December 2005 at 03:09

I do the same Waksupi, interesting.  The only thing I don't lighted up is my sleeping bag.  I sold the mummy down bags years a go.  I still carry a rectangular poly-fill bag with a canvas outside.  What I found as I got older is that without a good night sleep life sucks big time.  Those micro-sized bags are like being duct taped up by the taliban.Confused

So my weight concessions are to a tent that doesn't leak and that is big enough that I can dress in if it is raining and keep my boots dry at night.  Being a diabetic I can live easily on two meals of (bkft) oatmeal and  (3PM) minute rice with dried fish.

From what I see in the east few folks backpack overnight, seems like yuppies day trips are the popular camp/hike today.  And they all do it on crowded trails where you can talk to other campers periodically (helps it is the Appalachian trail and you can get to a 7-11 convenience store once a day).LOL

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote waksupi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 December 2005 at 03:33
Well, I don't pack a tent along. I use a sheet of plastic, about 8X8, to be rigged for a little shelter to keep of the rain, dew, or snow. Pretty versitile in it's use, actually. I imagine some of the new back packer tents are nearly as light. Around here, you can get in under an old fir tree in the worst of weather, and be dry.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 December 2005 at 03:56

When I go it is usually a set date.  So rain or shine I'm walking.  Spent 4  wet days in a two man tent one time, with two of us.  Had to cut holes in the floor to let the rain out, even had a poly tarp rigged over the tent to help.  It was going down to 30 at night.  My buddy's bag slid into a rain creek inside the tent.  He almost got pneumonia, couldn't stop the shakes.  We had to ring out the water like the old clothes washer to get the water out.  I let him use my dry bag to warm up.  It was a cold night sleeping in his wet bag.  So I tend to go for some extra margin against rain and temp.  Age has brought arthritis, but also nerve damage; mixed blessings at best.  Bones and joins ache, but can't feel other parts.

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote saddlesore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 December 2005 at 05:12

Camping/hunting, or fishing isn't much fun if you can't get out of the cold/rain, or even wind. I have never seen a back packer yet that looked 100% comfortable, had a good bed, and ate good. I'm past 60, and have no desire for that kind of camping or carrying.

 Contact the outfitter, and have him pack you in. Then you have the ability to hike around once you get there, not being all tired out from carrying and walking all the stuff in.

The line under my name says it all.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Muleskinner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 June 2006 at 12:57
Its my opinion that a backpack wouldn't stand a chance against a large animate object like a horse.  If the backpack could somehow get the horse's feet tangled up in its frame, it might just be able to pin the equine for the mandatory 8 count.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote soggyshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 June 2006 at 07:21
Bear, 50# seem a bit high for 4 day 3 nights. My outfit comes in right at
40# and that includes the clothes and boots I'm wearing. I only carry one
canteen worth of water as it is easy to come by out here. I do carry a PUR
Hiker water filter to clean out the bad nasties. You can go with a lighter
bag and also carry a fleece liner bag if temps drop. I go easy on clothes
taking only a minimum. poly prop long underware is good and light. I
used to haul wool clothing around but it is heavy and takes forever to dry.
I have switched to fleece. I take fleece top and pants. good to sleep in
also. I do carry extra socks. Them a rest has some great choices in pads.
Check out their ultra light models. Most of the time I carry a 10'X10'
silicone impregnated tarp. I set it up as a "diamond" style shelter. I use a
sheet of TYVEK house wrap for a ground cloth. My cooking utensils are
simple. Most of the time I carry a MSR dragonfly stove w/heat exchanger
and one fuel bottle. I have been experimenting with some home made
alcohol stoves. Jury still out on these, need to find the right set up for me
but does look promising. A STAINLESS canteen cup, and an MSR
ANODISED and coated aluminum fry pan, nylon spatula, and a spork. My
one luxery utensil is a lexan coffee mug. Keeps coffee hot. I spent to
many meals in the army waiting for the cantten cup to cool down enough
to drink from before coffee or tea got cold. A good wood walking staff. I
find it invaluable for going downhill with my fifty year old knees
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 June 2006 at 13:59

Soggy sounds like we do about the same.  I go lighter on some stuff; surprising if you shop over a period of years lots of very inexpensive stuff that is light weight.

I usually use a Sterno aluminum stove for trips of 3 days or less, weight.  I cook fast.

that extra 10 # is stuff that avoids Saddles comments "...isn't much fun if you can't get out of the cold/rain, or even wind. I have never seen a back packer yet that looked 100% comfortable, had a good bed, and ate good."  I always sleep dry and always eat good.  I also carry some just fun stuff like good binoculars, my bamboo flyrod. and my Smith model 17.  I've hike with some Sierra guys over the years...too much emphasis on ultra light and maximum miles for me.  Don't get me wrong i have a tooth brush with the handle cut short and holes drilled into it too lighten something that is minimal to start with.

Eating good means I carry lots of freeze dried but also a midnight brandy bottle and fresh ground coffee.  I like to live good while backpacking.  Too many articles on how to carry ultra light.

 

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote soggyshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 June 2006 at 08:53
Bear, I have an ancient sterno stove, steel. I like them for boiling stuff but
kind of hard to regulate temperature. Only way I've found is to use the
sterno can lid as a damper. Sort of the problem I have run into with the
home made alchohol stoves. The extreme ultra light-max miles crowd
just isn't me. I like to enjoy the journey. At my pace. I learned along time
ago not to get very wet. Most times I have my army surplus nylon poncho
with me, not the heavy vinal coated one, but the silicone one. I do have a
gore-tex rainsuit, but I seem to perspire alot when In it. If it looks like it's
going to rain hard for a while, I just pitch my diamond shelter and get a
small fire going and sit it out. I do like my rustic comforts. Patron Gold
tequilla. Perfect for sipping during a storm. Mules and horses are great,
but I've no time or place to keep them. Food for me is simple but good.
Instant oatmeal, boiled coffee, tea, some freeze dry meals but the salt
gives me grief. Do carry FD veggies and FD diced chicken. Dried fruit ,
nuts, hard candies (jolly rancher) We make our own jerky and it is the old
fashoned dried out kind. So dry that it won't pick up lint out of your shirt
pocket. Can be shredded, simmered, add dried onion, garlic, pepper
sauce makes a great topping for rice. If we fish we have that and sort of
forage as we go. Berries and the like.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 June 2006 at 12:09

Sounds great Soggy.  I find that instant mashed potatoes and dried pasta are good starters to "add to" for a good meal in the field.  Lost a lot of hunting/camping buddies, some to "too old" some to that place in the sky.  So camping has become a solo activity for me.  At 60+ with diabetes/heart problems and blind in one eye I have to think everything twice.  And I usually do.  I quit carrying a canoe into remote wilderness lakes for a week camping trip.

I've supplemented my diet with hares, ducks, loons (terrible) all shot with a 22 revolver in very, very remote spots.  finding/killing/cleaning/fire building and cooking a large hare can take half a day.  Makes the sun-downer taste that much better.

Yep, I use the lid the same way, partial cover.  For longer camps I use a campfire and gather wood at least 2 days a head and cover in case of rain.  I have "Kool-n-Dri" rain gear, super light weight and keeps me dry on even the heaviest rain days.

 

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 November 2006 at 08:29
Bear I tip my hat to ya, I am in much the same boat as you health wise, just now trying hard to get my endurance kicked up some, have not hiked camped in years, hmmm since I also suffer from severe sleep apnea I wonder how I could deal with my CPAP.....Rick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dm1333 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2006 at 11:53

Bear,

     I am only 41 but I think you have a lot of good walking years left in you.  Some consider me weird but I like the feeling of having walked a good distance with a pack on.  I have also done some horse packing in the past but I don't have the time, space or truck for owning a horse.  I think if you take to walking on a daily basis with a day pack loaded with some weight, and take some pains with lightening your load even more you will find it more enjoyable.  Big Agnes makes some really good llight weight rectangular bags that are warm.  Instead of a tent try researching a good tarp.  Over on paddling.net I read about one that I will try to find for you.  Big enough to make a useable tent with but also very light.

 

For most trips I have dumped the tent in favor of a Mountain Laurel Designs Super Tarp. $125 bought a 10.25' X 10.25' silicone impregnated nylon rectangular tarp that weighs 17 oz and features 11 reinforced tieouts.

 

That was from a post over on THR.  I have always been guilty of over packing but have learned to trim back lately.  One pot that will also hold my stove, a spoon, soap that will do for washing pots and myself, a good light bag and a thermarest pad.  I used to pack way too much food, now I use Idahoan instant mashed potato mix along with some dried vegetables, beans and lentils, and some rice.  I also pack along a very small pole and tackle kit(it fits in a small plastic box that is pocket sized) along with a small plastic bottle of olive oil for frying fish if I don't roast it over a small fire.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stinky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 September 2007 at 17:04
The perfect pack animal is the goat.  He doesn't throw you and I have two of em that will carry easily 40#...they will go places that a horse won;t...across rock flows and etc. 

Also, you don't have to carry food or water for them.  w/two of em...you can carry a tent, cot...wait a minute, you can have them carry that stuff.

They will follow you, w/o being led and have a ton of personality. 

I also prefer the cat-stove, made from a cat food can.  They burn alcohol, are light, and quiet.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote saddlesore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 September 2007 at 02:23

  A few fellows around here tried goats. Seems the mtn lions liked them even better. Most had to end up packing thier stuff back out on thier backs.

Try one of those Pocket Rocket stoves by MSR. Sure is lightweight enough. I carry one in my sadde bags

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