If solo or relatively quiet campmates, nothing but Natures own sounds like the above.

When faced snorers or crowded camp, out comes the iPod (mostly from the 90's reliving the 20-30's (zoiks!! - Temple of the Dog was about 2 decades ago) and 70's from what I recollect from elementary/ junior high days ... the 80's were pretty much a bust. 60's way too old for me).

ADD: Not sure about being one with the wilderness when others are sawing logs - I just want some sleep.

Edited by hknewman on 06/16/2011 19:08:54 MDT.

youtube, kwoon - I lived on the Moon, another wonderful animation. enjoy

Beethoven, hands down. Piano concertos are excellent when on the move. Late string quartets for camp. But mostly I leave the music off--or at home--and listen to the world around.

Edited by book on 09/18/2011 13:24:50 MDT.

I very rarely listen to music during the day while backpacking or doing a day hike to a summit, but I do take my Ipod. Again, rarely, while I am traversing a ridge up in the alpine zone, if I am alone, during a break, if the view is stunning and clear, I will listen to Blind Faith "Presence of the Lord" or the version from Clapton and Winwood at Madison Sq. Garden. I may be getting old--but I still rock!

And I must admit that if I'm camping alone, some evenings after a couple of shots of tequila, I will put on the pod.

But mostly I love the quiet, the songs of distant birds, the sound of wind rustling the leaves or roaring, and those rare moments of absolute silence. For me, this is the Presence of the Lord.

Edited by Bufa on 09/18/2011 13:10:04 MDT.

Piper S., Daniel Martinez, and the few others who find that the real music nature makes is better than any imitation, I knew there were a few hikers on these forums I'd actually like to meet on the trail, you guys sound like you'd be some of them.

Piper, if I can make a small suggestion, next time you hear the stream singing or talking, don't get creeped out, try joining the conversation/song. You might be very surprised by the outcome. The longer you stay at the spot the better the outcome, especially if the spot has been used for thousands of years by people.

I was stupid enough to bring my music player on my recent Big Sur trip, and I'm never doing that again, nothing on it was able to present even the palest imitation of the real music I got to hear. On the other hand, at Point Reyes, which is a very impacted, not very wild location, the music was nice at night now and then.

With that said, allow me a quick rant: I passed some clueless young guy hiking down a mountain in Big Sur, that is major rattle snake country. He was listening to an ipod or whatever. Ie, when the rattler politely alerts the approaching entity that it's time to stop, by rattling, this person would be unable to hear that warning in time, get bitten, then, were I to come along to him, I'd be put into the position of having to hike out to get him help, all because his addiction to auditory stimulation of an artificial type. This is a grotesquely irresponsible act, and totally selfish since it's putting others into the position of having to ruin their trip due to his idiotic decision to crank some tunes to help pass the time. Same goes for many other sounds the trail can give as warnings that might give you that second edge to react via hearing.

Ok, rant over, but please people, don't be foolish, if you are going through terrain where you need to hear sounds to protect yourself (in my opinion, that's all terrain, urban, rural, wilderness), do not wear headphones/ear buds, that's just not smart. And if you do, and you get a bite, or whatever, don't expect others to ruin their trips for your sake, and if you do, you'd better have the decency to offer major compensation to the person you force to help you because of your bad decision making, ie, pay for my next week trip etc..

Mark Primack , I missed your comments too, couldn't have put it better myself. I have only used these music players 2 times now in my life backpacking, and I don't plan in general on using them again, unless going to a place that just doesn't have 'the presence of the Lord' as you put it so nicely, ie, too human impacted. Don't miss the daily conversations going on around you, the birds, the animals, everything. I have a great music collection, at least in my opinion, and a great stereo, and I love music, but only because I need it because I live in an urban area, far away from real music.

Edited by hhope on 09/21/2011 13:31:55 MDT.

Only the loudest headphones come out for the Melvins... phones so big I can hide my various guns, knives & gerbils in the cans

There is something strangely satisfying about listening to old school gangster rap in the deep wilderness.

"There is something strangely satisfying about listening to old school gangster rap in the deep wilderness."

mmmm, forget the phones... it's time to get down with Numark's battery powered table with some

FOXY SHAZAM...the new Queen...

http://youtu.be/OFt3OqmGSbI

Edited by bigfoot2 on 09/25/2011 23:37:38 MDT.

"Anybody else got a favorite they associate with being outside and free?"
^op

in fact... this one from do make say think is a journey for me (like the outdoors)



ed: old plat for this site, wow

Edited by tremelo on 09/26/2011 23:06:45 MDT.

we're nerd's aren't we??? :D

embrace it!

next thread -

"magic the gathering" on trail: UL or not...

sorry double post...

Edited by tacedeous on 09/27/2011 16:05:12 MDT.

Another tune that inpsires the journey in my heart

Deer Tick, These Old Shoes

How about playing dungeons and dragons on the trail?
"Hey, you, stand over by that tree and pretend you are a troll."
"I will pretend this stick is my sword and roll dice to see how much damage I do to you!"

Foxy Shazam is better than Queen. Have you seen those guys live? It's crazy!

How about playing dungeons and dragons on the trail?

They do that already, it's called LARP (live action role playing), I ran into them once at a local park... my boys were digging the sword/axe/warhammer battles

dunno if it's been done truly "on the trail" though

I can't say that I've seen foxy, but I have seen GWAR.

whoa, that be a live show right dare

My favorite trail music is banjo. Filtering through the trees toward other camps, sometimes punctuated by a high-pitched "Hooooo-eeeee, we gonna have some fun!"

why am I suddenly looking to pack a compound bow? hehe

------------------

I cache some of my mixes on soundcloud for a web-based radio show I do - one that did pretty well: please enjoy

Exitmusic - The Hours

Mr. Gnome - Ate the Sun