Intro

Hello everyone new to site also. I know ulhiker met him on the trail a couple of weeks ago. He was carrying 10lbs and I was carrying 30 + and I was jealous and now I am converted over to the UL side. My name is Dustin and I live in Greebrier. I have bacpacked and hiked all over AR. I love to car camp with my wife and three girls but I also love to get away from it all and do some backpacking. Like the site so far.

Lew,

Glad you are here! Name here is Tom, live in Dierks. My stomping grounds are just north of here in the Caney Creek Area.
The wife, Janet, and I are working on clearing up the trail there. Any way have been hiking of and on since the 70's. So
to say I am "old school" would be a understatment! Have lightened up my load quite a bit in the past years. Any way glad
to have you on board.

Hey Dustin, glad ulhiker dragged you over here!

First of all, do you have to sedate your girls to get them to go camping with you or do they actually go voluntarily? I have a 14 year old in my house and she wouldn't be caught dead without instant access to her hair straightener, xbox, tv, cellphone, pc...the list goes on and on. You must reveal your secret!

Secondly, I, like you, carry a real backpack, jammed full of essential doo-dads, gadgets, thingies, and stuff. Those guys with 10 lb backpacks are KOOKS! Lewis and freakin' Clark carried more stuff than those guys. They're crazy I say!

No really, I have found that there is a certain "balance" to be found for everyone in the backcountry. I personally find it worth it (usually) to carry some extra pounds to ensure a certain level of comfort at the end of the day. The loads don't bother me. For fellas like ulhiker, their obsession goes the other way. I think that's one of the coolest things about the people I've met over the years: Everyone has their own way of doing things and we can all learn something from each other.

Anyway, welcome to the site!

Dustin:
Glad to see you made it. Yeh, we'll have you cutting off handles of toothbrushes before you know it. LOL!

Well Jay I do maybe have to say leave that stuff at home. They are allowed one small bag when we go camping anything pertained to personal hygine they can bring I don't care. I am not going to say we always go somewhere that they will be able to plug them in. I started them off young and the way to get girls to go camping is make sure they are WARM and comfortable. They can't bring any electronic that plugs into there ears or they play witht their hands it is all nature. Once they get out there they would'nt even mess with that stuff they love it out there. My girls start asking me around March when we are going camping. I believe it is one of the best ways to get away with your kids. Do it man unplug them for a weekend and take them out but make it fun.... . I am hoping to get them into backpacking eventually. By the way I have 14, 11 and 6 week old. And yes the 6 week old is suprise. So are car camping will be over until October my wife says.

lew1043 wrote:Do it man unplug them for a weekend and take them out but make it fun.... .

I'm working on a plan for that. All I can say is that you're doing it right. One of the first things I gotta do is convince her mom to come out camping with me. She's not real "outdoorsy" either. I'm working on taking them somewhere on a real easy hike with super beautiful scenery and try to get them hooked. We'll see how it works out.

I'll keep you updated.

And congrats on the new addition! SURPRISE! LOL..