This coming year, I want to do more backcountry camping in the Midwest and just get around More more, but I'm not really sure where to go in the Midwest to backcountry camp. I have all the gear though so mostly just looking for where to go and if anyone has any recommendations for to probably one to 20 miles total.

looking to understand viability at this time of year. will there be flooding and weather issues?

I am trying to plan a trip with a friend for spring break and we were looking into the front range in Wyoming. Any advice for a good 3-day trip in that area with respect to location or things to watch out for would be appreciated.

Looking for recommendations for a 5-7 day trip that is no more than 7 hours drive from Corvallis,OR area, bonus points for alpine lakes! Flexible on dates but planing to go mid-late August!

Criteria: 4-6 day trip, 50-100mi, accessible by plane/public transportation/hitchhiking or within ~5 hour drive of western PA.

I’m starting a new job next month, and I’d like to spend some time in the backcountry before I go. I have hiked extensively in PA. I’d like to go somewhere else, but I am holding the PA Wilds as a plan B. I’m aware of all of the options in that region.

I'm am SLC resident who is looking for a northern-ish Utah backpacking trip.

I've been down to the red rock desert and most of southern Utah, so I want to branch out and try a trip a little closer to home.

I hurt my knee in a biking accident, so I am trying to stay in the 10-ish miles range if decently flat, or the 6-8 mile range for a 500-700ft elevation gain per mile.

I do not need any facilities, I can dig cat holes, or pack out waste according to regulations, and I can carry enough water, or bring a filter with me.

Im looking for a 2 day, 1 night trip, but am open to 2 night trips.

If it helps, I will be aiming to do this in the spring months

Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Hey everyone,

A few months ago we did the Mt Rainier wonderland trail with friends for 7 days. I saw my first black bear literally 100 yards into the trail! I had bear spray and was disappointed in my reaction time to getting it out, but to my defense I was caught completely off guard. My brain didn't even register what this thing was right on the trail! Thankfully it was minding its own business and didn't even give me a second look. We saw a few more on the trip too. (Also since we've listened to a podcast called tooth and claw, all the animal attack details gave us a healthy respect of bears even if they are just black bears).

It rained heavily the 3rd and 4th day and we had two completely new backpackers on the trip with us. With average 14 mile days and 4k ascent and descent (for 7 days total) and some days being 17 miles and 7k ascent descent, the wonderland trail really was something else. It was the longest trip anyone of the group had done, and we remember clearly thinking around the second day why we would ever do something like this to ourselves.

Nevertheless I kept repeating wait for the 3rd day, thats when the joy kicks in. Of course the rain and fog of the 3rd and 4th day and the misery of all of that delayed that feeling. Not to mention we went off trail a few times at the Panhandle Gap due to snow covering the tracks and other people's footsteps taking us down the wrong direction. There was one area we thought we saw tracks of people literally sliding down a large glacier and were even in thinking about following.... I'm pretty sure we would have not made it if not for the fact that my phone had charge and I had Gaia open so I could at least see if we were remotely close to a trail.

An amazing experience we're grateful for. Truly backpacking is something else and the two new friends initially hated it and said theyd never do it again, but of course now they're slowly changing their minds :)

Other than sharing my trip, the question I have is, after the trip we never had the chance to share our photos through the traditional means. Since we had flights and it was busy we all split our ways and didn't end up sharing them.

After we got back home we thought one of us would set up something on Google drive or iCloud and we'd share but the files would not fit and not all of us were on the same platform. Everyone was lazy and didn't want to buy a subscription or account or figure setting it up.

This led me to look for a very simple file sharing tool that didn't require a subscription or account and just let us share our photos and videos. Like a secure url that everyone could upload to and then everyone could download the combined files. I couldn't find one and then thought it'd be a cool project to spend some time on.

I'm curious if this is something any of you have ever felt the need for? Like collecting and sharing photos after a backpacking trip with friends. I'm in the process of building it and still want to add many more features but want to understand the use case more.

If you'd like to take a look at what I've done so far it's at warpbin.com though my main goal is just to judge the need of such a service rather than sell anything. Feedback is most appreciated.

Thank you

As the title says I’m looking for gear people would recommend or have had good luck with, along with the general packing list that you tend to stick with. I have decent experience in moderate distance hikes (<10 miles). However I am new to the world of hiking gear, since I’ve operated on a water bottle and trail mix with past hikes. Ideally I’m aiming to start longer trips with the end goal being multi day hikes. I primarily hike the northeast for reference.

Any suggestions would be more than welcome. If this isn’t the sub for a post like this I apologize for the inconvenience.

I’m getting ready to do some of my first overnight hikes. I really enjoy hiking a lot. I’m getting overwhelmed with trying to find a true dispersed camping spot. Obviously this would all be in a state park, or federal land am I overthinking having to reserve a spot or pick a campsite? If I’m doing true disperse camping with my own gear, my own food, etc. can’t I just hike and find my own spot pitch my tent and chill? Outside of not having a fire obviously I don’t want to cause a forest fire. Is there any risk or concern handling it that way does anyone else do this as well?

Sometime during the spring. With plains and grassy hills where the wind blows. Maybe a random change in terrain here and there. Not too many woods/forests and < 20% mountains.

The place you think of when you hear the sound of shire track. Or what you think of when you think of going on a (safe/slice of life--please no pre-war sounding trails) quest--I wouldn't mind seeing from other's perspectives. Not looking for places like Banff or Olympic National Park, but I'm not sure how to word what I'm thinking of--nothing really that special?

Pointless version: I'm aware this is a crazy ask. I was just watching some ultralight backpacking videos and randomly thought about how back in the old days (not REALLY old days, but I think of runescape/DnD/The Hobbit as I'm typing this out), they had to carry uncomfortable backpacks with swords and armor. Then I thought about how I loved to relax and lay in plains and fields of grass like when I was a kid. I would prefer sometime during the spring, when everything just feels extra true green, like perfect grass that you just invites you want to lay in it and take a nap. I would love to feel the wind. I plan to continue a long break from work and want to go on a quest-like trip.

I have experience with backpacking on multi-day trips during springs/fall/winter in the Arizona White Mountains (20s-95 degrees F) on elevations up to 7k. (Now that I think about it, this place is kind of like what I'm looking for, but there isn't really lush grass.

Edit: thank you for all the suggestions! Added it in my google maps for future reference. Have been looking for a lot of places like the ones commented and will definitely make it to a handful of them before I die.

Does anyone have experience back packing in the George Washington National Forest, specifically the Wardensville Wildlife Management Area? Looking for recommendations on possible routes.

Thank you in advanced!

Hi! I'm going to be backpacking for the majority of January and I'm looking for solar phone chargers. Weight is an important factor as well as size, but also obviously also reliability. Doesn't need to be cheap if there's a more expensive option that is really good.

Hello everyone just wondering has anyone recently done the San Pedro Volcano hike ? I’m just wondering people have mentioned that it is not safe anymore and how it may be dangerous.

Gracias.

They have some pricing that almost appears too good to be true. There are some older threads on other subs with generally good things to say, along with some bad experiences. And there are a number of positive posts from accounts that seemed to be created simply to vouch for the company, which is at least a minor red flag. There was also a comment that was word-for-word the same as a Trust Pilot review.

It seems to be the web store for a German retailer. Just thought I would check this group to see if anyone has any experiences to share.

I figure this is the best place to ask. Please redirect me if this isn’t helpful for the community.

I’m looking for a full zip wool jacket that’s fairly thick/warm. I live in a small mountain town and find myself looking for a wool midlayer. My wife has a thick wool jacket from Norway that she loves and wears every day in the winter. But the company doesn’t design men’s sizing.

And yes, I wear a puffy and true winter layers for legitimate hiking and winter backpacking. I’m not expecting a wool jacket to hold up to 0 degree weather. But just something I can wear around the house, for quick outdoor chores, and as my outer layer for sunny days where it’s a little warmer.