Comments on: Best Gear Fallacy

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:45:11 +0000

Thanks for the kind words! The Pemi Loop in NH is a classic for a reason. About 30+ miles of wonderful alpine scenery. I’d go it during the week if you can, however.
As for the trail name, I use a family nick name in “real life” and on the trail..so it is all good.

The photo is from the Wind River Range at Island Lake. Looking toward Fremont Peak if I recall correctly. Great spot!

By: "Messy Butt"

"Messy Butt" — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 19:41:17 +0000

Paul, thank you for all your splendid offerings to the backpacking community – I really appreciate your perspective and experience. I come from more canoe camping background from Northern Ontario, but over the course of this winter I’ve been discovering the world of backpacking, and I’m really itching for the spring melt to get out on some shakedown type jaunts. I currently live in Montreal and am just waking up to the fact that I’m 3 hrs to the Whites in NH, the Greens in VT, and the Adirondacks in NY. (Any recommended multi-day hikes or favourite sports in the area would be cool! – your old stomping ground as I understand it?)
I didn’t even realize there were so many long distance trails all over the continent- I didn’t really know the AT existed. The idea of long distance hiking is definitely strong on my radar! I’m more interested in the solitude and perhaps off trail or lesser traveled places than the social aspects.
I feel I must also mention (without mentioning) that a certain “Darryl Blade’s” book “Mild” and the subsequent release of the similarly titled film had nothing to do with my catching the backpacking bug. Unfortunately timing just coincided that way.
I initially started writing this comment simply to ask where the last photo in this post was taken – the stunning alpine lake with the spiky backdrop of ridges!
However, as I have been reading your site on my work breaks and listened to about 25-30 episodes of the trail show in the past 3 weeks, I apparently had a lot more to say!
Thank you and all the best,

“Messy Butt”

(although neither of us have been on a trail, my girlfriend coined my trail name the other night in our kitchen. Is that official?)

By: Darren "Bigfoot" Pugh

Darren "Bigfoot" Pugh — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 18:55:36 +0000

Excellent write up Paul. And on all the different trips ive been on i cant remember which stove or tent ive used.

By: Uncle Tom

Uncle Tom — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:42:30 +0000

Well put. I tell people the same thing- Not to obsess about having the exact right thing. Just start with something, and enjoy the walk, however long it lasts for you. If you don’t like what you have, you will encounter opportunities that will come up where you will be able to to see alternatives and to switch out, if it comes to that.