Anyone here a backpacker?

[Ottakee]

I have been day hiking and love that.   Last week I bought a used Kelty backpack off FB marketplace.   Today a friend tried to convince me to go back packing with her and her family this weekend.

I am not ready for that yet.....almost 50 year old mom, overweight, with a torn meniscus....who has never done anything like this.  Last time I slept on a tent was 40 years ago.

Are there any adventurous mom's out there?

[prairiewindmomma]

I am trying to become one! I have the gear, I just don’t go often enough to call myself a backpacker.

[Rachel]

I still consider myself a beginner but I’ve been backpacking a few times a year for 3 years now. I even took my kids on their first backpacking trip a month or so back.
 

My first big trip (6 days, 5 nights) is coming up in September. I LOVE hiking and I go as often as I can. But I started backpacking to do a challenge and now I see it as a way to get away from crowds and enjoy trails I wouldn’t have time to do on a day hike. It’s different than regular camping, but still a lot of fun. 
 

There are lots of ways to backpack: Big miles like thru hikers, medium miles like section hikers, a few miles just to get out in the woods. All have advantages. If your friend isn’t going too far and your knee will allow it, I say go for it. 
 

There is a podcast that isn’t putting out new episodes, but it’s still available, called “The First 40 Miles”, I learned a lot from them. 

[Rachel]

26 minutes ago, OKBud said:

I am on the West coast 😁 I can't hang with the bugs out east! 

A torn meniscus sounds hellacious! 

Have fun building up your pack 😁 Are you watching YT videos of thru hikers? It's the best yt content.

I agree! Youtube has been so helpful, who do you follow? My kids make fun of me, they tell me hiking is way better than watching people hike.  I do agree but I also enjoy watching many of those channels way more than a sitcom. 

[Ottakee]

The torn meniscis is achy and weaker.  I tore the other one last year but that has healed.  I have not camped in a tent in 40 years....and then only once.  I have never hiked more than 7 miles in a day.

This is ALL new to me 

My biggest issue besides being old and fat is that I sort need to prepare to leave my kids home alone....Havi g emergency back ups, meals planned, etc.

[Katy]

Sure.  One of the first through-hikers of the Appalachian Trail was a grandmother without a pack.  She used a shower curtain as a tarp, rolled it around her stuff each day, and carried it on he shoulder.

if you can comfortably walk as far as they are going to backpack to, you can probably also carry a pack that far.  Some older backpackers prefer using BOTH a folding and an inflatable pad, makes for much more comfortable sleep.

[frogger]

I have done backpacking, bikepacking, and canoeing and it is a blast.

 

I know nothing about a torn meniscis so I can't comment on what is a good idea there. I would say go with someone who is experienced in your area. I'm comfortable to go anywhere in Alaska but would be more cautious in an area I don't know with venemous critters etc. 

Really, it is speed that kills ya. If you are used to hiking 7 miles in a day start with a trip that does that or less in a day, especially if going up hill. Added weight is more trouble on knees going down hill especially. Have good boots. If you have weaker knees trekking poles can be handy on rough terrain. 

 

Pack light. When I go on a trip the inexperienced hikers pack twice as heavy of packs as the experienced hikers and we end up carrying it for them. 😂 

Have salty snacks or something with electrolytes if you think you may sweat a lot. There are a ton of details but you will survive one night and fix things later and learn more as you go.  😉

[Rachel]

18 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

The torn meniscis is achy and weaker.  I tore the other one last year but that has healed.  I have not camped in a tent in 40 years....and then only once.  I have never hiked more than 7 miles in a day.

This is ALL new to me 

My biggest issue besides being old and fat is that I sort need to prepare to leave my kids home alone....Havi g emergency back ups, meals planned, etc.

When you are able to go, invest in a good sleeping pad, it will make a world of difference!

If you can borrow gear at first, that would be very helpful to figure out if you like backpacking and what you do or don’t like about certain pieces of gear. I started out borrowing and with inexpensive or used gear. Slowly I’ve upgraded. 

[PrincessMommy]

1 hour ago, Ottakee said:

I have been day hiking and love that.   Last week I bought a used Kelty backpack off FB marketplace.   Today a friend tried to convince me to go back packing with her and her family this weekend.

I am not ready for that yet.....almost 50 year old mom, overweight, with a torn meniscus....who has never done anything like this.  Last time I slept on a tent was 40 years ago.

Are there any adventurous mom's out there?

The last time I backpacked I was in my early 40s.     Even then I was out of shape.  In fact, the way I prepared for the backpacking trip was to hoist my youngest son (2ish at the time) in one of those baby backpacks and walk around the neighborhood.  

If I were to do it today I'd plan on a one-night trip...  Go in about 2-5 miles... find a nice spot - stay... walk back out the next day.    But, these days I prefer camping with day hikes.  Heck, these days I actually prefer a cabin with showers at the end of the day. 🙂  LOL

[Ottakee]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.   My knee is sorta painful and weaker...but doctor and PT said I can not do any more damage to it...so no restrictions.

I can easily walk the distance and they say they are slow and stop a lot.   I can borrow gear from friends.  I have good oboz hiking shoes and hiking poles.

I would need to figure out food and sleeping.....and pottying in the woods.  

[regentrude]

Yes. Would like to go more often and longer. My last backpack was this June in the Utah desert.

I second the recommendation to pack light. You don't need a lot of stuff; most people carry way too much. And splurge on some freeze dried backpacking meals - so much lighter and tastier.

Edited August 26, 2020 by regentrude

[regentrude]

8 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

I would need to figure out food and sleeping.....and pottying in the woods.  

Freeze dried meals in pouch. Expensive but tasty and lightweight. Instant oatmeal as breakfast.

Sleeping bag will depend on the kind of temps you're going in.

Pottying? Just squat and go. If in sensitive environment, bring plenty of ziploc bags to carry out the used toilet paper. 

[Ottakee]

9 minutes ago, regentrude said:

Freeze dried meals in pouch. Expensive but tasty and lightweight. Instant oatmeal as breakfast.

Sleeping bag will depend on the kind of temps you're going in.

Pottying? Just squat and go. If in sensitive environment, bring plenty of ziploc bags to carry out the used toilet paper. 

The number one I have down....it is the #2 that concerns me.

[regentrude]

2 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

The number one I have down....it is the #2 that concerns me.

in what way? Dig a cat hole in lose soil. Squat and poop. Wipe. Pack tp in ziploc. Fill in hole.

ETA: Obviously you want to be a good way away from water and the campsite

Edited August 26, 2020 by regentrude

[EmilyGF]

2 hours ago, Ottakee said:

I have been day hiking and love that.   Last week I bought a used Kelty backpack off FB marketplace.   Today a friend tried to convince me to go back packing with her and her family this weekend.

I am not ready for that yet.....almost 50 year old mom, overweight, with a torn meniscus....who has never done anything like this.  Last time I slept on a tent was 40 years ago.

Are there any adventurous mom's out there?

My dad goes backpacking with friends every summer. He always hosts a series of training hikes in the spring that are similar to the hikes they will do during the trip. During those training trips, everyone wears their backpacks with weights (the favorites are bricks and gallon jugs of water). I'd suggest doing a training hike with your backpack at weight and seeing how it goes. If it goes well, then go for it!

Emily

[prairiewindmomma]

32 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

The number one I have down....it is the #2 that concerns me.

There are videos on technique on YouTube.

[mom2scouts]

Since you have knee problems, I'd suggest you use trekking poles. Yes, it's another thing to carry, but they're light and they do help ease stress on knees. With the extra weight on your back you could be more off balance and you'll have extra weight on your knees. Pack light! It's been awhile since I've backpacked and I would need to start with a short, slow trek, but that can be just as fun.

[frogger]

Our favorite backpacking meal is steak and potatoes. Basically instant mashed potatoes (make sure you just need water) and jerky. 

We also make a fake thai noodle dish out of ramen noodles, I don't have the recipe on me now but ramen noodles, fire oil and seasonings and a dab of peanut butter and peanuts for protein. 

My friend makes a delish couscous with all these seasonings and dried strips of chicken but I'm too busy to do much more than throw instant stuff in baggies. 

[Ottakee]

6 hours ago, mom2scouts said:

Since you have knee problems, I'd suggest you use trekking poles. Yes, it's another thing to carry, but they're light and they do help ease stress on knees. With the extra weight on your back you could be more off balance and you'll have extra weight on your knees. Pack light! It's been awhile since I've backpacked and I would need to start with a short, slow trek, but that can be just as fun.

I do have 2 sets of trekking poles that I use for day hikes....one for me and one for a friend or child