Bag Night Challenge 2018

[piper01]

Piper - I'm headed across Texas in a few months with time to burn. Aside from captock, palo duro, Guadalupe, and big bend parks, any must-dos or neat little areas in west texas/panhandle/hill countey?

I'm not familiar with west Texas/panhandle area, but if you're coming from Big Bend then Seminole Canyon is a nice stopover. If you can time it right, do one of their guided hikes into the canyon (only way you're allowed in them), but otherwise it has about a half day of hiking along the mesa top trails, taking you along the bluffs along the Rio Grand for a portion of it. There's also a short rock art tour available most days of the week, but it's not the same level of preservation you're accustomed to seeing out west.

Around Austin, the granite batholith at Enchanted Rock is a good half day to full day visit. It's extremely popular and closes when the parking lots reach capacity, so try to visit on a weekday. Pedernales Falls and Colorado Bend State Parks are also good. The most extensive trail system I've found locally was at Hill Country state natural area, you could fill up one or two days there. For lazier days, Blue Hole and Krause Springs are beautiful natural swimming holes.

 

[Nick]

2018 is done and that means this thread will be soon. Post up your final bag night tallies! We're giving away prizes this year but there's a kicker - no photos, no prize! Two categories: one for weekend warriors that hold down a full-time job and one for those of you that are more fortunate. I'm looking at you @LarryBoy and @Tipi Walter! Aaaand thee's two prizes per category - one for the winner and a random one just for playing!

 

[LarryBoy]

Here's the final tally for my 2018. What a memorable year. 190 nights

January 12-15 | Slickhorn Loop, Bears Ears National Monument | 3 nights
January 15-16 | Random camping outside Mexican Hat | 1 night
March 8-September 4 | Hayduke sections 10-14 and CDT | 152 nights
September 12-17 | Uinta Highline Trail (ish) | 5 nights
September 17-18 | Random camping near Vernal | 1 night
September 24-27 | Salt Lake County Lowest to Highest | 3 nights
October 10 | Wildrose campground, Death Valley NP | 1 night
October 11 | unknown campground (it was after dark and I didn't catch the name), DVNP | 1 night
October 12-18 | Lowest to Highest Route (Badwater to Whitney) | 5 nights
October 19-21 | Random camping outside Zion | 2 nights
October 27-29 | "Route X", CRNP & GSENM | 3 nights
October 30 | Random camping near Hanksville | 1 night
November 1-4 | Dark Canyon, BENM (don't tell it's not part of it anymore; I don't care) } 3 nights
November 5-6 | Random camping outside Hovenweep | 1 night
November 6-8 | Random camping near Bears Ears/Natural Bridges | 2 nights
November 9-11 | Devils Garden, Arches NP | 2 nights
November 11-14 | Random camping near Arches | 3 nights
November 15-16 | Random camping in NW Colorado | 1 night.

A couple photos from the year. These are probably my only bag night photos, as I'm pretty terrible at remembering to take pictures.

 

[John Morrow]

TOTAL: 48 Nights

August 31st and Sept 1 nights: In the Wenatchee Mountains, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA

View attachment 68573View attachment 68574View attachment 68575View attachment 68576View attachment 68577View attachment 68578

GRAND TOTAL: 78 NIGHTS

1 night: Night of Sept 22; Tired Creek Basin Alpine Lakes Wilderness
1 night: Oct 26; Lava Beds National Monument
2 nights: Oct 27-28: Convict Lake Campground, Sierras, Inyo NF

1 night: Oct 29; Little Yosemite Valley Camp, Yosemite National Park, CA

1 night: Oct 30; Lee Vining Campground, Sierras, Inyo NF
1 night: Oct 31; Bitterbrush Campground Bishop, Inyo NF
2 nights: Nov 1-2; Bishop Pass Lakes 11,300 ft, John Muir Wilderness


1 night: Nov 3; Bitterbrush Campground Bishop, Inyo NF
1 night; Nov 4; Grandview Campground, White Mtns Bristlecone Area, Inyo NF


1 night; Nov 5; Texas Spring Campground, Death Valley National Park
1 night: Nov 6; Summit of Telescope Peak 11,049 ft, Death Valley National Park
2 nights: Nov 7-8; Emigrant Campground, Death Valley National Park
1 night: Nov 9; Ibex Dunes backpack, Death Valley National Park
1 night: Nov 10; north boundary Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
4 nights: Nov 12-15, Boulder Campground, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV
3 nights: Nov 16-18; Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ


1 night: Nov 19; Hole in the Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve, CA

3 nights: Nov 20-22, Lost Burro Canyon, Death Valley National Park


1 night: Nov 23; Stovepipe Wells Campground, Death Valley National Park

1 night: Nov 26; Coso Wilderness, Upper Centennial Canyon overnight, CA

 

[Tipi Walter]

My total tally comes to 141 Nights after pulling two recent trips in the NC and TN mountains. Below are some pics of these backpacking trips---


A 21 Day trip into the Citico Creek wilderness of TN.


My McHale pack on the Pine Ridge trail.


First backpackers seen after 15 days.


Coming down the Jenkins Meadow Trail.


Coming out on the Jeffrey Hell Trail.


Next trip was a 20 day December thing and started in cold temps at 5,300 feet.


Frozen spring for a water run.


Cold dusk on Hangover Mt.


Backpacking along Seven Mile Ridge.


A North Carolina Snow Event.


Cold Morning on Bob Bald.

All my bag nights are strickly Backpacking bag nights---but I wonder if I should count my Backyard Bag Nights? See pic of my outdoor porch camp behind the house below. If I count these nights---every night---my tally comes to about 350 nights a year---as I sleep outside all year and let the Wife have the house. It works!!

 

[Artemus]

2018 is a wrap!

Geesh, I used to think I was hot shit. But now with several members with such huge numbers and my friends here that I used to compete with that are now doubling their days I am now just middlin'. No matter it. It is all about the adventure and the striving and the enjoying. Well done folks! Let's do better in 2019.

2018 - 45 Nights

2 - Walked my loop from Squaw Flat in the Needles District CNP 2/2
1 - Uintas MLH 4/1
2 - Silver Reef in Dixie 4/6
3 - Escalante backpacking with @Nick, @neiloro and @Jen 4/19
2 - White Horse Mountains, eastern Nevada 5/4
2 - Cliff Dweller Flat in the San Rafael Swell - 5/18
2 - Boulder Mountain and Pleasant Creek @Michael and Heike - 6/8
2 - Wasatch wilderness camp checking out the new wheeled-tent - 6/29
4 - Sawtooth Wilderness loop backpack with @lostlandscapes, @AustinCronnelly and Don 7/6
1 - Uintas backpack to Teal Lake 7/28
4 - Yellowstone backpack and Electric Peak summit with @scatman and others 8/9
1 - Wasatch wilderness camp again - 8/18
3 - Wind Rivers backpack to Lester Peak - 8/31
2 - Crack Canyon service project, San Rafael Swell - 9/15
3 - Burr trail camp for Thanksgiving - 11/22
11 - Lake Powell camps, Gold Butte National Monument with @Nick, @audraiam, Luna and Skylar - 12/22

In the heart of Gold Butte National Monument with @Nick and @audraiam and my family and friends for New Years.

 

[Artemus]

2018 Bag Night Leaderboard

My summation of results. Apologies if I messed anyone above 40 or missed a latest entry. PM and I will fix it.

Those more fortunate:
141 or 350 if you count the porch - Tipi Walter (what did he do on the other 15 nights anyway?)
190 - LarryBoy
166 - metalbackpacker
----------- wow ----------

Those that hold down a full time job:
You guys are my heroes. You have your priorities lined up correctly to do be weekend warriors and still make these bag nights.
80 - IntrepidXJ - Randy, where did this come from ?
78 - John Morrow
70 - Nick
51 - 3d3vart
49 - Bob
47 - George_Washington_Hayduke
45 - blueeyes
45 - Artemus
28 - Udink - (honorable mention because it seems like you really bumped up your game this year, Dennis!)
3 - Titans (but the first three in 23 years)(this qualifies as the greatest year over year percentage increase ever seen since 3/0 is infinity % )

 

[Nick]

@Artemus, don't forget that we need to break these into two classes - the weekend warriors (full time day jobs) and the 'others'. For the prizes, ya know... Pretty sure all the "wow" guys are in the 'other' category. Anyone in the other list not in the weekend warrior category? Two prizes per cat, so your chances could be better by getting in the right list. Also, we're definitely missing some people on that list. Can I help?

 

[Bob]

Hopefully more next year . .... House is getting wrapped up finaly

 

[Artemus]

Don't forget that we need to break these into two classes - the weekend warriors (full time day jobs) and the 'others'. For the prizes, ya know... Pretty sure all the "wow" guys are in the 'other' category. Anyone in the other list not in the weekend warrior category? Two prizes per cat, so your chances could be better by getting in the right list.

I was studiously avoiding categorizing anyone as anything . Always gets me in trouble. I was kinda hoping they would self identify.

 

[blueeyes]

2018 Bag Night Leaderboard

My summation of results. Apologies if I messed anyone above 40 or missed a latest entry. PM and I will fix it.

------------ Wow --------------
141 or 350 if you count the porch - @Tipi Walter (what did he do on the other 15 nights anyway?)
190 - @LarryBoy
166 - @metalbackpacker
----------- just Wow ----------

The rest. You guys are my heroes. You have your priorities lined up correctly.
80 - @IntrepidXJ - Randy, where did this come from ?
78 - @John Morrow
70 - @Nick
51 - @3d3vart
49 - @Bob
47 - @George_Washington_Hayduke
45 - @Artemus t
44 - @blueeyes
28 - @Udink - (honorable mention because it seems like you really bumped up your game this year, Dennis!)
3 - @Titans (but the first three in 23 years)(this qualifies as the greatest year over year percentage increase ever seen since 3/0 is infinity % )

@artemus I hit my goal of 45 nights (not 44) for 2018.

I know it is only one more night than what you listed but that was the coldest windiest sandiest night I have ever slept in a tent out there in Gold Butte. Had to sleep with two Buffs pulled over my head to keep the sand out of my eyes and mouth.



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[Artemus]

@artemus I hit my goal of 45 nights (not 44) for 2018.

I know it is only one more night than what you listed but that was the coldest windiest sandiest night I have ever slept in a tent out there in Gold Butte. Had to sleep with two Buffs pulled over my head to keep the sand out of my eyes and mouth.



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Got ya covered, C. I made the update and that means we tied. Great work. Sorry I missed you at GBNM- that would have been cool to finally meet. We got there a day later i think.

 

[blueeyes]

Got ya covered, C. I made the update and that means we tied. Great work. Sorry I missed you at GBNM- that would have been cool to finally meet. We got there a day later i think.

Thanks!

It would have been nice to meet you. I was sick and couldn't take the cold anymore. I bailed and got a room in Mesquite.



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[IntrepidXJ]

80 - IntrepidXJ - Randy, where did this come from ?

It just was a good year! I doubt I will repeat it.....probably end up at my normal 50ish nights this year...but we'll see...

 

[DuneElliot]

March 19 - April 19 Washington and Canada Roadtrip (31 nights)

April 26 - May 15 Oregon Road Trip (19 nights)

June 2-10 PCT Hike and Washington to Idaho Road Trip (8 nights)

June 13-15 Travel from Idaho to SLC UT (2 nights)

June 18-28 Colorado Trail Section Hike, Road Trip to Ft Collins CO (9 nights)

July 1-3 Roadtrip back to Idaho (2 nights)

July 5-16 Wyoming, truck camping (11 nights)

July 21-28 Uinta Highline Trail and pre-hike camp in truck (7 nights)

August 9-11 Backpacking trip Bighorn Mtns (2 nights)

August 11-19 Wyoming truck camping (9 nights)

August 20 - 27 Wind River North Loop backpacking trip (2 in truck + 6 nights in tent)

There will be more but I think that puts me at 100 nights camping/truck camping by the end of next week. I still have another 7 days in the Wind River Range from August 20-26 with a couple of truck nights before and after. So by the time I am finished with the season I'm guessing I'll be around 110nights.

Should have included (and somehow forgot) Kingman, AZ to Death Valley trip, plus roadtrip up through Nevada, over to California and Oregon and up to Washington 14 nights

Total for 2018: 122 nights