I retired almost two months ago, and keep wanting to go backpacking somewhere. I live by Yellowstone, and am hoping someone can give me some suggestions of places that I could backpack in the next month or two, south of here. I don’t mind backpacking down to about 25*, but don’t want to contend with snow. I’m hoping someone can suggest someplace pretty (doesn’t have to be the best camp spot in the lower 48, just pretty), and maybe 3-4 miles out, and then back. I’m hoping to take a road trip to New Mexico and Arizona, which also means I’d drive through Utah and possibly Nevada. Any suggestions? Similarly, I backpacked for 12 nights in Yellowstone this summer, most were within 3-4 miles of the trailhead. I considered posting pictures, but didn’t because they’re not the longer distances that Scatman and friends post… do you want to see short, weekend trips, too?
One of the reasons that I want to actually GO backpacking, is that while I’m at home, inside, I look online and start buying things. (My house is like a no-kill shelter for gear.) I pulled the trigger on a backpacking hammock set—the Hammock Gear Wanderlust set. It has hammock, quilts, tarp and things to make it all work without having to tie knots or choose between a whoopie or a zinger or a stinger or a gazillion other things. The only real choice is what color of a tarp and what color of a hammock. That was relatively easy. I have camped a few times with a Hennessy Hammock, but never had an underquilt and I never got the hang of using a pad to keep me warm. From reviews and reputation, I trust that with some fiddling, this will work well. I have a couple of hammock questions, though. I remember a little about tying a “tail” on the hammock suspension, so water that flows down the lines drops off the tail, rather than flows right on into the hammock. Will a shoelace work for that? Does it go just inside the tarp coverage? Do I need these for the tarp’s line, too? Where do you put your pack? In Yellowstone I worry about curious creatures like raccoons and bears. Should I hang my pack? When tenting, my pack always comes in the tent with me.
Thanks for any suggestions. Now that I have so much time and so many options, I’m rather blinded by the opportunity. Soon, I’ll start choosing and doing.
Pringles
One of the reasons that I want to actually GO backpacking, is that while I’m at home, inside, I look online and start buying things. (My house is like a no-kill shelter for gear.) I pulled the trigger on a backpacking hammock set—the Hammock Gear Wanderlust set. It has hammock, quilts, tarp and things to make it all work without having to tie knots or choose between a whoopie or a zinger or a stinger or a gazillion other things. The only real choice is what color of a tarp and what color of a hammock. That was relatively easy. I have camped a few times with a Hennessy Hammock, but never had an underquilt and I never got the hang of using a pad to keep me warm. From reviews and reputation, I trust that with some fiddling, this will work well. I have a couple of hammock questions, though. I remember a little about tying a “tail” on the hammock suspension, so water that flows down the lines drops off the tail, rather than flows right on into the hammock. Will a shoelace work for that? Does it go just inside the tarp coverage? Do I need these for the tarp’s line, too? Where do you put your pack? In Yellowstone I worry about curious creatures like raccoons and bears. Should I hang my pack? When tenting, my pack always comes in the tent with me.
Thanks for any suggestions. Now that I have so much time and so many options, I’m rather blinded by the opportunity. Soon, I’ll start choosing and doing.
Pringles
