Couldnt find many threads about hiking/backpacking that werent at least a year old so figured I'd start fresh. I'm curious how many hikers we have here, and more specifically those that do multi day backpacking treks in the mountains. I grew up hiking, and after a long break I'm trying to get back into it. Hiked many of the high peaks in the Adirondacks and the Whites. In recent times I've hiked in Dolly Sods of WV. I dont think I could go bf, especially on the very rocky trails like Dolly Sods (boulder fields hundreds of yards long at times, full of rail road ballast and chuncks around grapefruit size). I'm debating next year trying a hike in my VFF Komodosports. But only if my feet are in really good shape at the time. On my last trip my pack weight was around 40# without water, and at one point I had a 6L bag full and two 1L bottles full. That was a 5 day trip, and was a blast. I'm thinking a shorter trip would be good for a first attempt at minimalist backpacking, maybe 2 days, which would also cut down on food and other weight.
And I cant talk about hiking without some visuals so here is some from my last trek at Dolly Sods...
Here I am, yep big clunky boots:
Red Creek had lots of nice little falls:
Home for 4 nights:
My ~20yr old Kelty external frame pack, still going strong:
'The Forks' of Red Creek:
One of the two vistas of the trip that had great views:
And I cant talk about hiking without some visuals so here is some from my last trek at Dolly Sods...
Here I am, yep big clunky boots:
![IMG_1101-1.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2FIMG_1101-1.jpg&hash=40b0d867b439f27164f5d6689d1bd525)
Red Creek had lots of nice little falls:
![IMG_1147.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2FIMG_1147.jpg&hash=a196bfaac340a4cef5ef1cdc8a693935)
Home for 4 nights:
![alps2_800d.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2Falps2_800d.jpg&hash=279aabac907d5daea9d5abbb2a60256c)
My ~20yr old Kelty external frame pack, still going strong:
![alps2_800f-1.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2Falps2_800f-1.jpg&hash=fe183db38a71ddbdf7e1d8c507b5d92f)
'The Forks' of Red Creek:
![IMG_1200.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2FIMG_1200.jpg&hash=1add38ca5636064e113a6eac5863e7f5)
One of the two vistas of the trip that had great views:
![IMG_1049.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fkc2ebm%2FDolly%2520Sods%2520July%25202010%2FIMG_1049.jpg&hash=b398398513af30c9ed21704e7165f169)