No doubt many of you have digitized your treasured backpacking photos. So what was your backpacking like way back when? Post your earliest backpacking photo(s)! Bonus points for campsite photos with you and your gear!

I grew up in the 70's; but alas, I didn't backpack (or even day hike) until 2004! Sigh.

Here's me with a silly grin @ Wind Rivers circa. 2004 -- my first multi-day hike:

Edited by ben2world on 01/15/2010 08:58:47 MST.

It was pretty interesting looking back for my earliest photo. I had no idea what it would be. I haven't digitized most of my old photos, and I lost all of my digital photos from before 2001 (sad news). But my earliest photo is this weird digital picture of a panoramic still photo. I think that it's the only photo that I have of hiking the JMT in 2001. Mine's not photochoped!

Edited by Found on 01/15/2010 09:55:34 MST.

I haven't scanned as many in as I should!

This is from 2002 I think? Flapjack Lakes in the Olympics:


One of Ford and I on a trip in the North Cascades - 2002 I think:


That sweet yellow tent was my first real "backpacking tent" that I bought. It was black inside so a total sauna! 2001:

This is the earliest backpacking photo I currently have online. It's from a trip into Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park.



My first backpacking trip was in 1998 and I doubt any photos were even taken whilst on it. Too bad, because I was carrying a very, very, very odd assortment of gear.

Tetons, about 1975, wearing Lowa Alpspitz, probably the heaviest backpacking boot ever made:



On the snow somewhere in Idaho or Wyoming, mid-70s, with Trailwise pack, Lowa boots, Sierra cup, and Frostline gaiters:



Ski trip, Idaho, mid-70s, with wooden Splitkein skiis, Northface Tuolumne tent, and Svea stove:

It was maybe 2006 or 2007 and I was 12 or 13, on a ridiculous day hike on good friday starting at New Found Gap.



This was a couple weeks later at Big South Fork, it was a really long day.



I usually take the pictures, so I'm not in 90% of them, enjoy this pic and the one after of some strange things I've taken pics of

Edited by CQBer on 01/15/2010 15:23:53 MST.

This is my earliest digitized backpacking photo. I was introduced to hiking at 54 years of age in 2008. This is a shot of Max Patch just outside of Hot Springs, NC.



This is a shot of the head waiter and bell hop at the Spring Mountain Shelter on the AT.



Anyone who has been there will understand this next entry. Buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz my @$$.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

John, I love Max Patch! I pretty much make it a requirement that we go every year.

Ken you're using my gear! I had both the Alpspitz and the Civetta's (the Civettas were heavier for sure!)

OK I am loath to do this but 40 years ago this August on the AT in Vermont



I won't say which one is me.

Ditto Ken. Your pix bring back memories. Almost exactly the same I gear I was using in the 70s... gaitors, tent, stove, skies, etc. Only difference was a Kelty pack and Vasque boots. I don't have any pictures from that era. I will have to see if my dad stashed any away.

--mark

@Alex, this is an absolute classic, well done!

Ken, those boots are badass!

These are cool photos! Far out, man!!!

Edited by ben2world on 01/15/2010 18:31:54 MST.

Warren,

Check out the photo below. "Lazarus" and I had enough and bailed out at Allen Gap. First all water but Spring Mtn. Shelter had dried up and then we saw two of every kind of animal in creation following this old guy carrying a set of really big boat plans. We hitched a ride to the Hemlock Hollow Inn Hostel while dodging lightning bolts. This was the same 2008 hike as the above Max Patch photo. I must confess that we visited Max Patch by car one day prior to setting out on the trail. "Lazarus" and I met up and spent the night in Hot Springs, NC. We began our trek together the next morning. "Lazarus" had already been on the trail for a week prior.



Find anything in the photo interesting or familiar?

I think I could guess where the pack on your gear list came from.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

1977





I still have the pack. Found it cleaning the attic this Fall.

Hiking Mt. St. Helens on a hot July day in 1987:

@ George:

Do you still have the female companion? Was she in the attic as well?

Just off the AT in Harriman State Park in NY in June, 1973.

One of our winter campsites in Arizona, Pinal County.

@Joe

Yes, Sir.

and she's still as mean as she is pretty