tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post6233084727355940560..comments2024-01-09T07:05:38.326-05:00Comments on LIGHT & ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING: Being the Weakest Link, a Personal StoryJolly Green Gianthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-12692682766949771512014-05-05T12:04:10.643-04:002014-05-05T12:04:10.643-04:00Wow, what a story, thank you for sharing that with...Wow, what a story, thank you for sharing that with us. I am 43 yrs of age, and am very experienced in all kinds of challenging expeditions, usually as the trip leader or joint trip leader. I have spent many yrs as an instructor in rappelling, kayaking, caving and other activities. However living in Australia, I have not had as much experience with snow camping as some of you from the USA. It doesTranquil Wildernesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17247730547855826494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-15227843492049405272013-02-22T16:27:03.798-05:002013-02-22T16:27:03.798-05:00Thanks a great read I hope that they showed you so...Thanks a great read I hope that they showed you some Grace as you said he was church friend. As for one of them wearing jeans and cotton socks they should be thankful you got them to turn around.Kodiakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04710934121472417477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-74283416004563317312012-12-02T07:47:18.601-05:002012-12-02T07:47:18.601-05:00@ James925 - That's an interesting thought. I...@ James925 - That's an interesting thought. I haven't tried a tyvek bivy. Maybe I'll put one together and see how it performs. Thanks for the idea.Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-11038073935898003112012-12-02T07:46:47.258-05:002012-12-02T07:46:47.258-05:00@ Hendrick - I think you're right. I tried to...@ Hendrick - I think you're right. I tried to mitigate the condensation, well, more fog and humidity than anything else, but ensuring I was significantly higher than the water so I'd at least have a healthy gap for the air to settle. Oh well - live and learn.Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-65174761775476043842012-11-20T11:23:58.801-05:002012-11-20T11:23:58.801-05:00JGG, I really like your trip report. Sometimes eve...JGG, I really like your trip report. Sometimes every possible bad thing happens all in a row, but it's good that you were able to overcome, even if the trip wasn't so much fun.In the summer, I don't think a full sleeping bag is very necessary (although I still use one), but in the winter, there's no way I'd bring a quilt. I'm currently making my first tyvek bivy, and it Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14228564825123601389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-5634885291893971302012-11-18T14:04:28.503-05:002012-11-18T14:04:28.503-05:00A superb trip report, JGG! Refreshing to read.
Yo...A superb trip report, JGG! Refreshing to read.<br /><br />You were reasonable with your decision to not climb the mountain, and I believe you saved your group & friend from more disaster.<br /><br />A bit like John from Redwood Outdoors, I probably would have camped at the truck or a nearby camping place, because bringing 3S gear to a winter trip is risky. I'm happy to read though that Hendrik Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17824200765548092760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-69702053295586882372012-11-17T22:59:06.562-05:002012-11-17T22:59:06.562-05:00I'm sorry to hear that you did not enjoy most ...I'm sorry to hear that you did not enjoy most of your trip, but as you said in hindsight, you appreciated it in the end. Now I will admit that I'm young, fit, and spry but that is part of why it is not all about a mathmatical plan when it comes to my trips. I want to break the monotony that can be everyday life when I go backpacking, and having a strict plan makes it seem less of an T3Knical5urg3http://outdoorexploration.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-70266357811459665842012-11-14T19:38:13.301-05:002012-11-14T19:38:13.301-05:00what a refreshing, honest trip report. thank you f...what a refreshing, honest trip report. thank you for sharing. a good reminder that it's not always glamorous out there. also that what works in a ul 3-season system doesn't always work in 4 season conditions…Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-77705898203042925722012-11-14T18:48:59.168-05:002012-11-14T18:48:59.168-05:00@ JRR - Good luck fighting a good fight.@ JRR - Good luck fighting a good fight.Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-71325827903870266882012-11-14T18:47:43.151-05:002012-11-14T18:47:43.151-05:00@ Keith - Well,with proper planning and the right ...@ Keith - Well,with proper planning and the right gear...it would have been fun!Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-67712692625322075692012-11-14T18:46:37.020-05:002012-11-14T18:46:37.020-05:00@ David - Great idea!@ David - Great idea!Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-89886724417864586972012-11-14T18:02:16.732-05:002012-11-14T18:02:16.732-05:00I'm 44, and have been diabetic for over 20 yea...I'm 44, and have been diabetic for over 20 years. I'm also a big guy at 6'3" 285, so I know where your coming from from both a diabetic perspective, and that of a big guy. I've done those type of trips before, along with my more customary lightweight backpacking. BUT, my pack loadout is nowhere near the same. If I'm winter camping in snow, especially with multiple Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-13432885140245639302012-11-14T16:58:53.724-05:002012-11-14T16:58:53.724-05:00I have found that the best way to mitigate and ove...I have found that the best way to mitigate and overcome many of the risks that you mention is to pack a "Just in Case" bag to the trailhead. I live at least 6-10 hours from many of my trips and no matter how much research I do, or how many trip reports I read, you really have no idea what conditions are going to be like until you reach the trailhead. In my "Just in Case" bagAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03004064457918560973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-18061268294834062072012-11-14T16:48:15.193-05:002012-11-14T16:48:15.193-05:00You were the voice of reason, too bad you didn'...You were the voice of reason, too bad you didn't make the call a bit earlier but I'm glad you made it back safely. There is no shame in being sensible. Thanks for posting! I actually thought about going out there the same weekend but I figured there would be too much snow and many blowdowns.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16243292798592613411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-48324467885472438612012-11-14T15:40:22.217-05:002012-11-14T15:40:22.217-05:00@ Survival Paladin - I'm 37. The next closest...@ Survival Paladin - I'm 37. The next closest in age was 32 I believe and it's fair to say each was in better shape than me with perhaps one or two being in much better shape. I'm all for hiking with them again or anyone else for that matter, but in fairness to them it isn't fun to have someone anchoring the trip. Who knows.Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-83919257225017395022012-11-14T15:10:28.991-05:002012-11-14T15:10:28.991-05:00This was a good read, and i thank you for posting ...This was a good read, and i thank you for posting it. I wanted to ask if there was much of an age difference between you and the others? Sometimes when you're dealing with younger people they tend to be physically in great shape, and aren't bothered by what others would be considered dangerous terrain or hard vertical climbs. I think them not really understanding your diabetes and past Survival Paladinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739437766727343492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-83696234384643997092012-11-14T09:05:28.943-05:002012-11-14T09:05:28.943-05:00@ John - All good points. I couldn't quite fi...@ John - All good points. I couldn't quite figure out what to name the blog. To me, it was all about risk - whether to me, the group, my health, my gear, etc. Course, "managing" it probably could have been better said by "tolerating" as I sure did't manage much well. I've since changed the title. I own a JetBoil SolTi and find it amazing. There is something Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-9254196371654459102012-11-14T09:02:35.880-05:002012-11-14T09:02:35.880-05:00@ Helen - Thanks for your post. I couldn't ag...@ Helen - Thanks for your post. I couldn't agree more on all accounts. I think for me, I was in the middle of a trip I hadn't planned on and being a careful planner is critical to gear choices. My problem was that I didn't plan for the right trip and oddly enough my UL gear did fine, it just didn't so as fine as I'd like. A change in footwear and stove would have made a Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-18194746380464377602012-11-14T09:01:15.896-05:002012-11-14T09:01:15.896-05:00@ Christian - Thanks. I was hesitant to post it. ...@ Christian - Thanks. I was hesitant to post it. My wife said it made me look like a moron. I told her I was a moron and by no means walked on water when it came to experiencing personal hardship. In this case, everything was just compounded.Jolly Green Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784130095157180086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-67921739059010775602012-11-14T08:37:15.184-05:002012-11-14T08:37:15.184-05:00Quite a long read but I got through most of it. I ...Quite a long read but I got through most of it. I think more hikers need to have an experience like this. It is part of the learning process of making good decisions - because from what I have read, some bad decisions where made.<br /><br />You entitled this article "Managing Risk". I was hoping to read more about exactly what it was you felt you have learned about risk management has aRedwood Outdoorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225512821732298295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-32188817273850422662012-11-14T07:26:49.073-05:002012-11-14T07:26:49.073-05:00That was interesting to read for sure!
It certainl...That was interesting to read for sure!<br />It certainly illustrates the variance in peoples' attitudes to trip planning in all senses, and how different bodies cope with different demands which should also be taken into account. I'm kind of glad I wasn't there!<br />I also felt sorry for how you were viewing yourself; we don't often know how others really think about ourselves, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079470994459135415.post-60495175347334367502012-11-14T04:59:28.586-05:002012-11-14T04:59:28.586-05:00One of the best trip reports I read this year. I u...One of the best trip reports I read this year. I usually skim over them as I find them in my feed reader, but this report was refreshingly different. Great story!Christianhttp://www.chrisonhiking.comnoreply@blogger.com