I have to concur that fishing is much better in back country. I am not sure what zen is, and while quiet is nice, I don't mind if people go with me, or if I see people in the back country. I am really into the discovery of flora, fauna, and wicked cool topography and geology. I enjoy the absence of electronic communication gadgetry for the time I am out.

But what of this alleged pot? Is there pot in the backcountry? Where is it, and why are you guys hiding it from me? ;-)

Solus.

I saw this thread and had to kick it out again to get me re-motivated and out the door.

Why backpacking? For me it is the challenge of getting somewhere in a certian amount of time. Then honestly the beauty of everything.

The people I have hiked with always get a chuckle when the big guy (me) says, "Did you see that flower? Look at the color. Only up here in the mountains, dude."

Then I stop and take a picture. Also, it is fun with the kids and no video games, music, or media. I love that.

What about you?

I am a really anxious person and always find myself worrying when I'm indoors. When I go camping and backpacking it sounds crazy but I feel much safer than when I am walking around town I don't worry about car accidents or fires or psychos or bills or anything really. I also have never been able to feel god in a church but when I am around all the life out there I feel like that is where god is, not a stuffy old building.

Jason Says:"Why backpacking? For me it is the challenge of getting somewhere in a certain amount of time."

Usually third or fourth on my list. The journey is the goal. The flowers are there to be smelled. Time is all we have in this life. Spend it. Note: I do not speed walk. But... To those who do: Hike your own hike.

Sean Says: "am a really anxious person and always find myself worrying when I'm indoors. When I go camping and backpacking it sounds crazy but I feel much safer than when I am walking around town."

Sean, Your feelings are probably justified. I believe you are safer in the wilderness than in town. I certainly feel that way myself.

Jacob wrestled with God in the wilderenss and Moses encountered God in the wilderness, on a mountain.

The first thing Jesus did after he was baptized was to go into the the wilderness to pray. One of the last things He did before He was crucified was to go up onto the mountain to pray.

John the baptist chose the wilderness to proclaim the coming, not the towns where the people were.

I spent five days in Las Vegas and the most vivid memory I have is the sunset on the mountains from the hotel room. I was actually sad when the sun went down and I couldn't see the peaks anymore.

Trail running, backpacking, mountain biking or just looking down from the window of an airplane at the mountains or desert, the attraction for me is unmistakable.

I've had some of my greatest conversations with God in the wilderness.


-Tim-

Edited by TimH. on 12/23/2008 13:50:12 MST.

1. Because car camping is too easy. There still exists too many trinkets of technology available on demand. If anything goes wrong, it'll be in the car. I've seen people car camp with stereos and portable television sets and churro makers...wow. What is the point of that? Why not the park?

Backpacking in essence, will always be the same, in one way or another, regardless of future advancements in technology.

Well the backpacks never getting up the mountain on its own...

I use mine between back-country trips as a ditch bag for the Apocalypse. I always have 20 days of food and my purple underwear ready to bug out. Ali

Edited by barefootnavigator on 12/27/2008 16:53:03 MST.

Looks like my ex wife, but her knife was bigger.

Hmm, there is something I like about going "out There" with everything I need to be safe and comfortable and the definition of comfort is totally up to me.
No matter how hard old Ma Nature has worked me over, I can't wait to go back and do it again. Sounds kinda crazy, but I think people who don't backpack and experience the totally awesome beauty of this country are the crazy ones. 90% of the people in this country do not go more than a 1/4 of a mile from their car: Now that is crazy! As for Ultralight backpacking; for me it is a necessity not a luxury. I am not that big, and have no desire to be a beast of burden. It is amazing how quiet this very noisy world can be. You just had to ge me started, didn't you!

I backpack to get back in touch with nature. I know that sounds like a real hippie thing to say, but I don't care, it's the truth. I like being outdoors more than I like being indoors. I like knowing that I can carry every single thing I need to survive in my pack. If I don't get a chance to get out into the outdoors I start feeling depressed and spiritually drained. Backpacking kind of "recharges" me and gets me back to my normal self. I guess I backpack to both spiratually recharge myself and to prove to myself that I can survive with very minimal acoutrements. Truthfully, I feel more at home in nature than I do in suburbia. It's not really so much "survival" for me because the word "survival" implicates a hardship or struggle (maybe that's just me), but while backpacking I don't feel any hardship or struggle at all. In fact, the only hardship or struggle I feel is trying to survive in suburbia! i.e. mortgages, car payments, bills, work, commuting, etc... Anyway, that's why I go... If that made sence at all... ;-) Good topic Stephen!

Because real life is happening out on the trail. Right now, while I'm watching another boring day in the city to end and dreading going to my job tomorrow, Real Life is going on out on the trail and I'm missing all of it!

I also like the minimalism. Really, we don't need all this stuff to be happy. In fact, all this stuff gets in the way of happiness. It's when I have almost nothing--the freedom of being completely self-contained with all that is needed on my back--that I feel fulfilled and free like a bird.

The difference is that you, Stephen, like so many here, see backpacking as a means to a rewarding end. That end may vary, but backpacking is simply the unique process through which it is achievable.

By constrast, all they see are the trivialities, technicalities, and difficulties of the process. They can't see beyond that because they've never sought it out, or were repelled by the process before getting there. But these are the same ones who get up each day, suffer the automobile commute to sit at work all day, enduring the process most of their lives for the sake of a paycheck.

Any genuine reward requires a certain amount of effort; some folks just seem unable to tolerate much of this beyond the routine that's forced upon them for the sake of employment.

Stephen Nelson (stephenn6289) wrote:
>>They see it as a torturous practice in which you experience physical exhaustion, uncleanliness, and discomfort. I, however, see the beauty of carrying everything that I need to survive on my back.

Why backpacking? hmmm... Now that is a question. It's not the only activity or sport that I do in the outdoors, I actually do a lot of different activities. Overall I got introduced into the actual backpacking aspect by the Marine Corp. It eventually became an escape, not neccesarily from reality, but a relaxing disconnection from the hustle and bustle of life in general. I know that if I can strap my pack on and go for a walk, and spend a night, when I must return to the not so real world, I am more relaxed. The views, whether wooded forest, a scenic ridge, a lake or stream all set me to peace. The mileage, the planning, the solitude, the comradery, the scenery and the drive to push myself really fuels my drive to go backpacking. It's an escape. I don't belong in the city, but I am forced to live here for the moment. None of my friends may understand why I do it, which is why i generally do it alone or with my girlfriend.

Edited by rooinater on 02/02/2009 18:57:57 MST.

Why Backpacking?... Isn't it obvious? If we didn't go backpacking now and then how could we justify our gear hobby?

I am very new to this hobby. I've always gone for several mile long day hikes with my dogs and I've found myself not wanting to go home as the sun's going down.

Why backpacking?

LOL I have found myself becoming addicted to buying gear. That's very funny, but also very real. I live in Los Angeles. And, for the last decade or longer I've been feeling very crowded. In the last couple f years the hustle and bustle, the 9 million personalities with their 9 million tempers has just been a bit much most of the time. And, you're right, people are nicer on the trail. I just love it.