Hiking, Backpacking, and Camping

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Does anybody here enjoy going hiking or backpacking?

I started to love it earlier this year, and was fortunate enough to do a lot when doing some volunteering in Arizona and Utah this summer. Next year I'm hoping to hike the South West Coast Path, but need to save up more money, get fitter, and try and sort out a long standing knee injury.

I love walking, being in my own thoughts, seeing beautiful countryside, and the intrinsic challenge of walking a challenging trail to see some of the beautiful natural landscapes and wonders our world has to offer. The idea of living outside with only the basics, instead of all the clutter you get in the house makes me enjoy the simple things in life, which gives me greater fulfillment than almost anything else.

Also, I like meeting and chatting with strangers for short periods of time. Hiking is really helpful as I find it easier to chat to someone for between a few minutes and up to 15 minutes, than being constantly social with the same person for very long periods of time. Plus reaching a destination gives me a great reason to stop a conversation if I think it is about to start getting socially awkward.

I love the idea of it but unfortunatly the law here makes camping almost always illegal. I would love to be able to live in a world where we can be one with the earth legally. To be able to go walk about like the aboriganals whenever we need to find ourselves would be amazing. To live in a log cabin in the forrest, chop our own fuel and be free to wander the land. It is the dream to me.

I'm in Ireland. The word campsite has many different meanings but if I were to ask a stranger on the street here its definition is I would hear the definition of a place to park a caravan or campervan in a well controled community hosted by a business. I do not consider caravan holidays as nature or camping but there is about 30-50 in the country.
Hunting game here must be done with a shotgun or rifle (getting a license is not easy or cheap) and another license must be had for deer. Hunting by bow, slingshot, traps or anything but a gun is illegal. Lighting a fire within one mile of a wooded area that is not your own land is illegal. There really is little to none in regards to no mans land and wild camping is not permitted. Carrying any tools for camping that are sharp or pointed in any way is illegal. I could go on but would be here all day, sure even log cabins and wooden homes are almost impossible to own here and are actualy illegal to build in my area.
Basicaly what I am allowed to do is walk up and down a mountain without a swiss army knife and leave before it gets dark.
I think society has just adapted to living in a shoe box in a city surrounded by concrete and to do anything different is barbaric, filthy, and redneck. We have just left behind anything of ourselves that is natural.

YES! One of my favorite hobbies, I love it! Unfortunately I don't like in the best area for hiking so I don't go as often as I'd like (not to mention there's snakes all over the place down here). In 2 weeks I'm going to go hiking in the Appalachians though, I'm super-excited!

absolutely! I love the **quiet.**

I love hiking. It's one of my favorite things to do, although it's often hard for me to manage to talk anyone into coming with me and I avoid going to secluded areas by myself, so I don't go as often as I like. I'm going hiking in a state park tomorrow, though, and am looking forward to it. We're finally supposed to get some nice weather in my area tomorrow

Revertigo, that's a shame the laws are so strict and ridiculous in regards to camping and the outdoors in general. I can't believe that!




I love hiking, camping, and backpacking...the only time I feel 100% at ease and free and clear is when I am immersed in nature. Fortunately I live where there are many different climates, geographies, land types, & ecosystems. From the pacific coastline, to the Sierra Nevada mountains, to the Mojave desert, they're all a relatively short drive from where I live....and Yosemite is practically in my backyard.


This past summer I did a 3 day backpacking trip with a few friends. It was pretty easy going for a backpacking trip. It was 40 miles, cumulative elevation gain of 2800 feet, and a cumulative loss of 5100 feet, all with 40 pound packs on our backs. It started along a ridge in the Santa Cruz mountains and meandered through old growth forests all the way down to the ocean. It was quite a beautiful trip. Here are some photos from the hike....

[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00006.jpg[/img]

[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00026.jpg[/img]

[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00028.jpg[/img]



[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00039.jpg[/img]



[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00047.jpg[/img]

[img][800:768]http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/alucidfog/Skylinetosea00050.jpg[/img]

My hips and knees are shot to hell, so, no more hiking for me (walking is hard enough some days).

However, I have some great rivers and lakes close by and I still do a lot of kayaking/paddling, fishing and camping on sandbars/islands...

There's nothing like having your own island in the middle of a big lake... At night the sky is velvet black and the milky-way blazes...

Over the past 35 years I've hiked and backpacked all over the American West. Lots of great experiences, lots of great memories. If nothing else, as a result of all the years of "trail time", I have an enormous respect for the Earth and its power.

I have encountered grizzlies, rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, assorted other wild critters of all size and shape, not to mention flash floods, lightning storms, single-digit temperatures, howling winds, and the occasional desert haboob. I once ran out of water hiking in the Utah desert one blazing summer day and by the time I made it back to my camp I was staggering like a sleepwalker. Lost a few brain cells no doubt, but I learned a pretty good lesson from it.

I still hike a fair amount, but I'm a day hiker only these days. I just can't keep up the physical demands of backpacking like I used to.

Hiking, backpacking and climbing are among my true passions in life. I discovered the beauty and serenity of the outdoors about 20 years ago and have incorporated regular mountain travel into the substance of my life. Spent about a month out west this summer, visiting mountains in Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Montana. Hoping to return to Oregon next year for what will be my third attempt of Mount Hood. This mountain has proved more challenging for me than some more difficult peaks. Go figure. I love the challenge of it though.

Be careful on Hood! It has eaten more than a few hikers and climbers just in my short life next to it.