3 Responses to “I wanna do a multi-day hike, kinda like some bear grylls type stuff but less raw food. Any ideas?”

1. paintmeblue719 says:

   December 12, 2010 at 4:48 pm

   First of all, if you want to do this, you’re looking at a significant financial investment for the equipment you’ll need to do it safely. If you want to hike, you’re going to need a backpack, a lightweight sleeping bag (a WARM one. Desert nights are very very cold outdoors, even in the summer) and tent, a stove and a water filter at the very least. You’re also going to need protective gear against the elements and a good first aid kit. Don’t mess around- if you get into a situation where you don’t have what you need, you can’t just run to the local CVS and grab it. You need to be prepared.

   Are either of you first aid trained? Do you have any experience at all with the wilderness? Do you even know how to light a fire (how about in bad weather?), or how to cook over one? Do you know what to do if a serious storm blows in, one of you breaks an ankle, or gets bitten by a snake? These all all things that very well could happen, and if you aren’t prepared for them, probably will. Don’t dismiss them as ‘that won’t happen to me!’ If you go out there without being prepared, you’re begging for trouble. I’ve been on plenty of trips like that where someone could’ve gotten very very hurt if we hadn’t known exactly what we were doing.

   If this is your first trip, then you need to go with someone who has experience. Why not research some hiking/camping/climbing groups in Dallas? You could join them and go on some trips. Most of the people who do that sort of thing are pretty hardcore, so you’d get the experience, but you’d be able to do it safely. Once you knew what you were doing, you and your friend could try going solo.

   Look, I’m all about experiencing nature and getting out into the wild. Just don’t romanticize it. The wilderness is dangerous. There are alot of things out there that can hurt you. Keep in mind that bear grylls always had a highly trained crew to back him up in case anything happens. And I haven’t seen the Into the Wild movie yet, but in the end of the book, I’m pretty sure that the kid dies because he didn’t know what he was doing. (been years since I read it!)

   Like I said before, I’m not saying don’t go. I’m saying bring someone who knows what they’re doing, and make sure you’ve got the right equipment. You could very easily get hurt or killed if you don’t.
2. Schnurrbart, P.I. says:

   December 12, 2010 at 5:19 pm

   Since you’re not planning on dropping out like Christopher McCandless, but just want to go on a weekend backpacking trip, I see no problem with your plan. Everyone has a first time out in the wilderness, and while you could get hurt, I’m sure, with a buddy along, and some common sense, you’ll have a great time. Hitch hiking these days is only for hikers, and once you get to a major city, approaching people obviously headed up to the National Park for a ride isn’t the huge risk it would be doing it in any other situation. Heck, there’s probably a shuttle bus that goes to the park! (Yeah, there is: http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/shuttle_bus_route.htm)

   Obviously if you’re going to the Colorado Rockies (Rocky Mountain National Park), which would be awesome, you’ll need backpacks, warm synthetic mummy-style sleeping bags, synthetic hiking clothes, rain gear, some sort of shelter, some sort of stove, backpacking food, and probably a bear canister or a few bucks to rent one.

   To save money you could make due, borrow, beg, or even make much of that gear yourself. A couple of large black garbage bags could be a poncho, a 10 x 10 sheet of 5mil plastic could be your shelter with the addition of some guy lines tied with sheet bends http://www.animatedknots.com/sheetbend/index.php and a couple of poles or sticks you find, you don’t need hiking boots, athletic shoes with a little tread will do fine, you could make your own alcohol stove that runs off Yellow Heet out of pepsi cans http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/catstoveinstrt.shtml, and what’s a first aid kit but a few band-aids, tweezers, some aspirin, and a bandana?

   Used sleeping bags are available on eBay. You don’t want to use your old rectangular bag nor try to rely on a fire for warmth because often fires aren’t permitted. Something like a North Face, Kelty, or REI brand 20 degree mummy bag would be ideal. Here’s a cheap one http://cgi.ebay.com/REI-Ploar-Pod-20F-Sleeping-Bag-Regular-left-8-Avail_W0QQitemZ330271696013QQihZ014QQcategoryZ36116QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

   Gather all your puffy jackets, fleece clothes, polyester shirts, nylon pants, windbreakers, polyester dress socks, and you’ll probably find you already have enough synthetic clothing for backpacking. If not, a trip to the thrift store or discount store could score some bargains. Most people hike and spend most of their time in the three seasons wearing nothing more hiking than a t-shirt, shorts or pants, and a windbreaker. At night an in the mornings a puffy jacket is nice, but once your get hiking at anything above 50-60 degrees, you’re going to be warm.

   Really you should stick to the National Parks, and stay on established trails, get a map and buy a compass and learn how to use them. In four days you could do a nice 30 mile loop if you’re in reasonably good shape. I could go on and on with advice, but I think I’ve answered your question.

   You should’ve seen me on my first backpacking trip. I was absolutely clueless, but we were up there backpacking and stayed for four days, cooking on a fire with an old pot, sleeping in an orange Best tent, borrowed backpack, army boots, big ol’ plastic survival knife.
3. slapdipity says:

   December 12, 2010 at 5:56 pm

   be careful, make sure people know wher you are going to be, and bring a cell phone.
   its not that easy,,, its not the movies