the point??

Not sure. Just a bit about me.

I got interested in the site here as my 10 year old son is showing interest in hiking. Not sure about overnights on the trail. We are more branch out from base camp from the boat or car. My other is only 4. Maybe a bit young for too far from the car. Many items, water filters and other things we have been talking about cross over. Just trying to think ahead and not get items I might need/want that will have to be replaced if we start more trail hikes.

The boy scout and boater in me smiles as I read your light as possible position. We carry lots of junk when we go, extra clothes, toys, just in case stuff, first aid, more water than I think I will need. Like boat rescue ropes and gear. Be prepared. Quite an alternate mindset from ultra lite. I find all this extremely interesting and informative.

Another reason I got in here was looking for those neat, out of the way, spots that we love going after. The parking lots and paved pathways to the guardrails show us some wonderful areas. But so does following a creek bed down to a waterfall, small cave or other amazing rock outcrops. Spending the night in one of these tucked away spots would be sooo cool tho.

So thanks again for the welcome... and the ribbings, poking fun is a 2 way street, right. Laffin is one of the best parts of life. Thanks too for the input on my questions and putting up with my attempts at humor. The only thing that would keep me from jumping at a chance to trail with any of you is my lack of equip. Ready for those day hikes tho. Being very active in our small church, boy scout involved, a boating fan, and owner of a home and 150 acres kinda uses up just a little of my time tho. Not to mention... work... is that word allowed here?

Happy trails to all, if it's ok, think I might stick around a bit.

Clif,

I to am not the light type of hiker. All though I would like to be. With a knee replacement and more aches and pains than you can count I need to be. My backpacking for the most part has been hike in and base camp, explore a bit and come out. I physically can't do more than that. Right now I have a pain in my left foot that has slowed me down. I do trail work, mainly because I love it! Please don't take my comments the wrong way on the previous thread. We need all types of folks on this forum. I love to float, even though I haven't done it in years.

In other words stick around and mix it up with all the guys.

OH

Clif,

I feel that this is not just a backpacking site. It is a place that folks with an appreciation of the outdoors can get together to share ideas and experiances. I usually spend my spare time during the spring in a canoe or kayak and all summer in a pontoon boat camping and scuba diving. Since backpacking is "typically" a fall / spring sport, I think you will find that some other folks have interests similar to yours. You just happened to come along during the height of the backpacking season so that is the focus.
When I canoe camp I typically use alot of my bping gear such as the water filter and the stove so they are dual purpose to me. When I car camp or camp from the pontoon it is a more traditional set of gear and the comfort level is elevated.

If you want to join me on the trail I would imagine that I can scrounge enough gear to let you and your son do just fine. I have an extra pack and 2 man tent, if you go with a group you can share a stove and water filter. That basically leaves a couple of sleeping bags to come up with.

let me know and you are more than welcome to go with me.

Welcome, and like OH said, stick around.

HBH

Clif,

That is a great idea the hilbyhiker had! Come on down the the Ouachitas, Caney Creek Wilderness is a great place to get started. Heck, in fact I started three in the 70's and I keep going back there! I need to go to other places but I just love the place. By the way I have a Deuter childs backpack that if you like to come down this way. Also I have just about spares of everything. Just not the lightest stuff around. On Feb. 7th I and a bunch of other guys that love the Caney area are going in to do some trail work from the West side. You could come down and camp, in fact you could car camp if you want to at the West trail head. All depends on the weather. Just ask ED, he is still a heavy, has gone into Caney twice and now we are going in Sun. to cut out trees! It gets in your blood.

CU on the trail!

OH

Clif,
I'm going to echo what someone else has already said. If you want to go hiking, just hook up with one of the groups and barrow stuff. Thats the best way to figure out what you like, what you don't like, and what you need. I did it a ton when I started backpacking. I've got plenty for you to barrow if we can ever get a trip together. Work is the main thing that keeps me off the trail. Anyway, glad to have you here, and hope to see you on the trail soon!

Clif,
You and I are similar in that we both probably carry more than we need to. I grew up using an external frame backpack with pots and pans hanging off, clanging and banging down the trail! Gear has sure changed since then (and it honestly wasn't all that long ago when I was a kid.)

The thing I'm learning to appreciate more and more when it comes to packing lighter is the ingenuity that comes with it; one simple item can serve the purpose of three or four pieces of gear if you put your mind to it and maybe perform a couple modifications.

The thing that I keep in mind is that I hike and backpack for the enjoyment of it, so I carry enough stuff to truly enjoy myself as I go. If I slim things down too much, I lose some of the enjoyment; however, I do enjoy taking trips occasionally in which I take only the bare essentials just for the challenge.

I'm sure glad to have you here, and it sounds like these guys are too.

And no, we don't allow the word "work" to be used around here!

Clif, you and I found this site at about the same time for similar reasons. I still can't beleive how friendly and helpful everyone is. I ask a lot of stupid questions and make alot of stupid jokes and no one seems to mind.

Time spent with your sons is so special and I am sure you already know this. My daughters are getting older now and growing away from dad a little bit and I sure am glad that I have spent all the time that I have with them. I still plan family hikes and outings and get a little complaint out of them at first but they always seem to come around when we are out on the trail(as long as they can get enough cell phone signal to text their friends out on the trail).

I look foward to getting to know you and your sons and everyone here someday.

I think that we should plan some group backpacking trips (the whole web site) the
team thing is fun but I would like to hang out with everyone.
We could plan a spring trip and a fall trip or maybe yall already do that

anyway Clif you definately get the point and thanks for bringing it up


P.S. oh yeah and I tried not to hijack your thread

ED wrote:
I look foward to getting to know you and your sons and everyone here someday.

I think that we should plan some group backpacking trips (the whole web site) the
team thing is fun but I would like to hang out with everyone.
We could plan a spring trip and a fall trip or maybe yall already do that

Let it be know any organized team event for The Intrepid Explorers. Any user on this board is invited and I agree it is time for another AB event.

Lew

see you guys.... I need a tissue..... Ok.. over it

I got some sleep bags. Prolly too heavy but they didn't cost me 200 bux neither. And packs. From there it starts getting limited. A cookset, but my stove is too big. A trip would be cool.

And on the flop side.. I can float 7 or so folks in my fleet, so if things ever go that way the invite comes back. IF it ever rains.

Uh.. did I miss something? Man.. gone a day and feel like I have been gone a week lol. Board sure is active as of late. I like it like that... Clif the only real troublemaker is no longer around so no need to worry about that kind of stuff. Hell we did not have him kicked out so no need of you feeling bad about nuthing lol. EVERYTHING here is in good fun and about the social atmosphere. Good having someone around to ask questions and keep the rest of us on toes. Keep them coming lol.

I'm with you TM, had a busy day and missed almost everything. i clicked on new post, and then had to leave, so now I am tracking them all down.

Cliff, I love it when the site has a lot of posts and questions, because I learn a lot too. This Spring I will have to do a lot of base camp hiking because the whole family is going, yep, all 7 of us. I will echo the borrow gear thing too, because I hate buying something that I will later not like, and then it does me no good.

Dwight

Well heck guys, bet you haven't had a day like me! My computer crashed, no plm. right I have my files backed up on Nortons web site but we can't get them back on the computer. This has been a very frustrating day. Wanted to get out, I have lots of places to walk, hike around this campground. Just when we could get out the smoke rolled in from gosh knows were?? Guess some one south of here was haveing a controlled burn. Any was on line for over three hours and still no files!!! Well Ed and I are going out Sun. to do some trail work on the Caney Trail.
I will be glad to get out after today!!

OH

Tom,

sounds like you had a rough day, my kids crash our computer all the time.
We will make up for it tomorrow.

Sounds like you need to make a trip by a Circut City and get one before they are gone LOL

ED wrote:Tom,

sounds like you had a rough day, my kids crash our computer all the time.
We will make up for it tomorrow.

Yep I feel real sorry for those downed trees!! CHOP CHOP!! I will take out my frustrations in the wilderness..

Anybody else want to come along? Plenty of room..

OH