Any primitive backcountry campers on here?

It’s pretty much all I do. Surrounded by 4 million acres of wilderness. Where are you going in CO? Backpacking?

I have two nights at the Andrew's Creek campsite in RMNP. These guys seem to rank it pretty highly. I have been to the area and have hiked near the site before, so I am not totally in the dark about the area.

But you have hiked/backpacked before? If not I would at least plan something for one night just so you can make sure everything you have works the way you want and that you don't want to change anything.

I mainly used a hammock in the lower 48, but I don't use it in Alaska. I think it is would just make a bear curious so I stick with tents. I have to be in Harpers Ferry in May and I am going to go a few days early and spend some time on the A.T. Looking forward to being back on the trail and in a hammock for a few days.

quote:

---

Anyone do any backcountry camping in hiking-accessed campsites before? Regularly? Have my first trip planned this summer. Wanted to know if anyone had gone before.

---

There’s so many ways to do it the best thing to do is learn by experience. If you hike then you know what good gear matters to you. High end gear used often is almost always worth the price.

Go light, I never do lol. I’ve started 2 night weekend hikes on the Florida trail with a shotgun, box of shells, 12 pack of beer, and 16 oz steak on my back. While having a luke warm beer and steak over the fire after a 3 mile hike may sound amazing, it’s probably not worth it lol.

Personally, I get bored and I enjoy sitting around a fire as much as anyone. But I like to cook and eat good hot food so that’s one of my downfalls. If you can eat cold packaged food that saves you a ton of weight.

One lesson I’ve learned is that if you boil water to drink in a mildly warm environment it takes a frickton of time to cool enough to drink. But that won’t be an issue in Colorado.

Was going to do a night out locally before I go for real.

Haven’t done an overnight since Boy Scouts. Did an all day hike 6 am to 7 pm recently. I’ve been to the area and hiked near the campsite a good bit last summer. Think I’ve got a pretty good idea about what I need.

Just ordered my pack. 5 lbs so it’s not UL. Trying to decide on a good sleeping bag or quilt. Any suggestions? Planning on an air pad and inflatable pillow. Again, any suggestions?

Was going to get a jetboil stash. Planning on dehydrated foods and epic bars. Have a lifestraw flex soft bottle and filter. Just got the lifestraw gravity bag for hanging it up at campsite.

Any tips for getting caught in those Rocky Mountain thunderstorms in your tent?

quote:

---

Any tips for getting caught in those Rocky Mountain thunderstorms in your tent?

---

Ever saw Band of Brothers when Lipton is laughing at the artillery?

That’s how I felt at 12k’ last year. Nothing todo but enjoy the show.

There is a bunch of companies that make quilts and bags. I use goose down. Warbonnet hammocks, underground quilts, hammock gear, enlightened equipment and others all make great gear that last for years. I have a 12 year old quilt I use often, they last.

Western mountaineering and zpacks make great bags. It can drive you crazy trying to pick the right one but they all work fine.

I have trail runners

Go do a local hike. If you are here in Louisiana, go do the Backbone Trail in Kisatchie. Test your gear. Bring a notepad and write down what you feel is extraneous and what you missed.

Keep in mind that RMNP can still get down to freezing l, even in July. We were there a few years ago at on July 1 and got snow.

quote:

---

Haven’t done an overnight since Boy Scouts. Did an all day hike 6 am to 7 pm recently. I’ve been to the area and hiked near the campsite a good bit last summer. Think I’ve got a pretty good idea about what I need.

Just ordered my pack. 5 lbs so it’s not UL. Trying to decide on a good sleeping bag or quilt. Any suggestions? Planning on an air pad and inflatable pillow. Again, any suggestions?

Was going to get a jetboil stash. Planning on dehydrated foods and epic bars. Have a lifestraw flex soft bottle and filter. Just got the lifestraw gravity bag for hanging it up at campsite.

Any tips for getting caught in those Rocky Mountain thunderstorms in your tent?

---

it sounds like you are on the right track. Be aware that some people get way too hung up on the "right" way to do things when backpacking. The reality is, it ain't that hard and there are 1000 ways to skin that cat so take all recommendations (including mine) with a grain of salt.

For a bag and pad, I have some Nemo stuff that I think is a good balance of performance/price but there are lots of good options these days. I'd get an insulated pad...more versatile without a big weight penalty if you only have one. Also, be sure to get one of the new generation 3+" thick types. So much more comfortable than the old school therm-a-rest type pads. I also have a quilt from enlightened equipment that is awesome if you decide to go that route. I prefer down to synthetic for bags/quilts, YMMV.

That jetboil stove is fine. I have a soto windmaster that I really like if you want another to look at.

dehydrated foods work just fine. Some of the ones out there now are so much better than what they used to be. be sure you read the instructions with regards to altitude different brands have a different assumed average altitude and different adjustments needed for RMNP. If you're addicted to caffeine like most of us, be sure to have some reliable sources. Some people get all kinds of fancy, but I just use a mix of instant coffee, GUs, and ShotBloks.

I'm not sure I'm following your water purification setup correctly. Are you carrying 3 different forms of water purification? If so, you can cut that down.

How long is the hike to the site and how much elevation gain, going with a group or by yourself, what’s your goal for the trip?

All of these are important to know for your trip so you know what’s going to be important for you. If I’m going with just a buddy, we can push the distance/gain and drink from a flask. If I’m with my wife, we bring meat cheese olives from TJ’s for happy hour and do trips where we can relax for a while at the campsite because that’s what makes it enjoyable for her. If we’re with a big group we’ll bring beers, cards, a bigger communal dinner all split up between the couples so it’s more like car camping that you hike to.

It’s supposed to be fun-lots of people get caught up on miles, elevation gain, Instagram pictures, having the right gear, etc but what’s most important is that you stay safe, follow LNT, and have fun.