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Thread: Is it over?

  1. #21
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    With work and family commitments , I'm lucky to get in one backpacking trip a year. This year, my 6 day hike turned into a 4 day hike, a zero, and a day hike, thanks to knee pain. I saw some great sights (AT in central VA, McAfee Know, Drangon's Tooth, saw a bear, etc..), and met some great people, but I couldn't help but feel the trip was a failure as I couldn't even finish what I thought was a relatively modest 12 mpd pace I planned. As Map Man said, the gap between dreams and reality can widen. Still, I was encouraged by lots of people on the trail. The thru and long distance section hikers I saw said that it took them a few weeks to get into shape and that 12 mpd right out of the gate wasn't bad. I guess if I'm going to be limited to short section hikes for the foreseeable future, I should either plan more modest hikes, get in better shape before going out, or both. And if I ever get that chance to do a multi-month expedition, then I'll plan on taking it real slow and hope I don't lose interest.

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    Absolutely nothing wrong with 2 day trips, 5 day trips, or 2 week trips.
    A lot of folks cite work, family, etc as reasons for not getting out more.
    That's b.s. Its simply a lower priority for you, than those things.

    I totally agree with family.

    But very few people , on their deathbed, say they wish they had worked more, or had a nicer house, or newer car.

    They wish they had made time to live, and do the things they dreamed of.
    Last edited by MuddyWaters; 09-20-2014 at 14:41.

  3. #23

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    I think when you stop collecting trails, sections, mileage, and just hike for hikin' you'll look at things differently.

  4. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by rocketsocks View Post
    I think when you stop collecting trails, sections, mileage, and just hike for hikin' you'll look at things differently.
    I think that's a good plan.

  5. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by rocketsocks View Post
    I think when you stop collecting trails, sections, mileage, and just hike for hikin' you'll look at things differently.
    I do make the distinction between backpacking and hiking though. I can't explain it, but backpacking has a purpose, whereas hiking doesn't (for me). I don't think you were saying that "hike for hikin' " meant giving giving up backpacking and replacing it with hiking, but I just wanted to express that they are completely different activities for me... if that makes sense.

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by bangorme View Post
    I do make the distinction between backpacking and hiking though. I can't explain it, but backpacking has a purpose, whereas hiking doesn't (for me). I don't think you were saying that "hike for hikin' " meant giving giving up backpacking and replacing it with hiking, but I just wanted to express that they are completely different activities for me... if that makes sense.
    Absolutely different activities, but both have a purpose. They just happen to be different purposes. You can move faster without a pack, and often see things that a long-distance hiker would miss. The long-distance hiker has the satisfaction of making incremental progress, day after day, giving up speed, comfort and convenience for a certain... intimacy with the woods. LD hiking is more of a lifestyle choice, it takes a serious commitment.

  7. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by bamboo bob View Post
    I'm a bit bummed out. I find that I'm just not motivated enough to hike like a used to. After 10-12 miles, I'm done. It's screwed up my trip planning and makes me question what I'm even doing. This summer a 7 week trip turned into 2 weeks in Colorado and a three week in Maine into two days. Maybe it's time to hang them up and do something else. My wife suggests we look at battery assist bikes. I like to play outside but it ain't what it used to be. I've done 30+ days a few times and routinely 20+. Is this it. Where's the hemlock? Anybody else go through this kind of change. Did you stay home? Start building bird houses?
    What you describe has not been my experience. The older I get the more driven I am to seek out new challenges. I don't plan 7 week trips, but I never have. I prefer two or three weeks. Life is too short to slow down.
    Shutterbug

  8. #28

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    Quote Originally Posted by bangorme View Post
    I do make the distinction between backpacking and hiking though. I can't explain it, but backpacking has a purpose, whereas hiking doesn't (for me). I don't think you were saying that "hike for hikin' " meant giving giving up backpacking and replacing it with hiking, but I just wanted to express that they are completely different activities for me... if that makes sense.
    Yep, I know what your saying, and no, I don't mean give up the pack, just meant give up the idea that you have to have a goal in mind a destination, and not that were not all trying to get somewhere, but it's in the getting there that matters...at least to me, regardless of the how long it takes or if you make it at all...you can always come back to an area and hike it again.

  9. #29
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    the way i see it, it is WHY you hike. i hike to get outdoors, relax and enjoy myself. that is why i always call it a break, respite or vacation. so whether i go 2 miles or 20 a day, i've accomplished my goal. my responsibilities to my family do stop me from going at times. it ain't B.S., it's being a mature adult.
    I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.

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    LOL good idea!!!

  11. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bronk View Post
    Get a dog and name it 20 miles. Then you can say I walk 20 miles every day.
    that's why they call our corner bar "The Gym"
    I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.

  12. #32
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    Hi Bob, one thing I haven't seen mentioned here is taking an intentional break and then seeing if you want to return. I did this... for whatever reason, about 5 years ago I just found the whole idea of backpacking really depressing and not like something I felt like doing at all. (Believe it or not, I was all packed and had the time set aside for a trip and then I just... didn't... leave. How weird is that?).

    I stayed away from all things backpacking for quite some time, and focused on other interests. I still enjoyed trail running and day hiking, but the backpacking, not so much. I did eventually become pulled back to do it, and am enjoying it again, but I don't feel bad that I took a break. And, if I'd just continued on and never gone back, I guess that would have been okay, too.

    One thing that did jump out from your post was the emphasis on mileage. I can completely understand the focus, when I was out for a couple of weeks this summer, I really noticed how backpacking seems to have become more of a competitive athletic event, and it's hard not to get swept up into the prevailing mindset of "the more, the better" (and to feel like a "failure," as ridiculous as that is, if you're not banging them out like everybody else seems to be.) Maybe it IS time to think about shifting the focus, just for yourself, and figuring out how to feel okay with that.

    Take care!

    Jane

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    Quote Originally Posted by AT Traveler View Post
    I think at some point anyone doing this serious hits that wall. Sometimes a change of trail renews the spirit, travel to a far place to do some hiking on unfamiliar terrain and vistas. Could be taking 6 months off may turn the corner. Finding someone you can mentor has also been a spark for more than a few over the years. That allows you to see the activity through the eyes of someone fairly new to it and is likely to renew your spirit for all that goes into it. There could be a lot going on in your life currently that clouds things up, preoccupying your thoughts and not allowing you to fully "zen out" on the trail itself, which like most things in life will pass.

    I wish you well in this period of time, you obstacle here is likely all of ours in time....
    I agree about changing up the scenery. I was getting pretty burned out and just wanted to do something else for awhile. I even dissolved a hiking group for women that I'd been leading for 4 years because I'd just had enough. But we had booked a trip to Scotland to hike the West Highland Way, so I had to stay in shape for that. We spent all of our weekends doing 8 - 12 mile day hikes on every kind of terrain. I said that once we got back from Scotland I was DONE hiking for a long time. You can see it coming......after doing those 96 miles on the WHW in 8 days, I felt so strong and wonderful that I found myself itching to get back out there and do long day hikes again.
    "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

  14. #34
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    Since I so rarely escape the laboratory, I never have time to get into trail shape. (Aside to MuddyWaters - People on their deathbeds don't say that they wished they'd worked more, but they do often say that they wished that they could have left their families better provided for. You're right that it's about where your priorities are. Hiking isn't my top priority, it's what I do sometimes on weekends and vacations.)

    The thru-hike of the Northville-Placid trail that I plan next month will be the longest hike I've done in my life. I've never much counted the miles per day - it doesn't fit my hiking style. Bushwhacks and peakbags tend to be low-mileage activities. It's just not about mileage for me. It's about hanging around the overlook or the clearing, trying to get the perfect photograph. Or seeing the rarity of a fossil shell in the sandstone. Of hearing the loons or barred owls greet each other in the twilight. Of seeing beautiful places that few people ever get to go. Some of those beautiful places are a day or two from the road. When they are, my backpack comes along with me. But backpacking per se isn't my first love. It's just how i get there. (I'm the same with automobiles. Some guys really love their cars. I use mine to go places, and don't have much sentimental attachment to it.)

    As far as I'm concerned, if you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong. And what you're saying that you've been forced to come back to has been close to the limit of what I can do for years. 10-12 mile days on a two-week section , but ... why bother? I'm having fun. It's not a race.

    Oh... another thing: Are you losing motivation to hike, or in general losing motivation to do things you enjoy? If it's the latter, and particularly if it's connected with feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, GET HELP. Because that's temporary, and CAN be helped, even though it's hard to realize it at the time.
    I always know where I am. I'm right here.

  15. #35
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    Quote Originally Posted by bamboo bob View Post
    I'm a bit bummed out. I find that I'm just not motivated enough to hike like a used to. After 10-12 miles, I'm done. It's screwed up my trip planning and makes me question what I'm even doing. This summer a 7 week trip turned into 2 weeks in Colorado and a three week in Maine into two days. Maybe it's time to hang them up and do something else. My wife suggests we look at battery assist bikes. I like to play outside but it ain't what it used to be. I've done 30+ days a few times and routinely 20+. Is this it. Where's the hemlock? Anybody else go through this kind of change. Did you stay home? Start building bird houses?
    no more big miles or long distance for me. i golf

  16. #36

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    It hasn't quite hit me yet, but it's something I think about - perhaps that's the first steps, LOL. Until the age of 56, I never backpacked more than 5 days/4 nights and am in better condition than I was in my 20s and early 30s. And my 2011 Colorado Trail thruhike - at the age of 63 - was and remains my longest single backpacking trip.

    I agree with others that it's a matter of expectations and what you're seeking when hiking in the first place. Assuming you want to commune with nature and enjoy the beauties of the natural world, you can still do this! As others have pointed out, and as you are aware yourself, there's a significant difference between long-distance backpacking with all the weight, planning, etc. vs day hikes which can still provide enjoyment. One suggestion is consider all the nice trails you'd like to see and research the options for base-camping and day-hiking. During my 6-week sojourn to Colorado this summer, I was able to day-hike up to my very favorite part of the entire CT by driving on a Forest Service Road to a trailhead, hiking 5 miles up to Kokomo Pass, and hiking back. Last summer, I base-camped in Sequoia National Park and spent 5 days day-hiking including up to some high elevations. And those are just my examples - I'm sure there are many others if you do a little research.

    As Muddy Waters and Coffee said, there are some places only accessible via backpacking. I've realized this too (e.g. many of the lakes along the JMT) and even make a point about it in my book. But there's still a plethora of settings where you can day-hike or just do a one-night backpack and enjoy the mountain, lake, snowfields, views, whatever.

    On another front, consider inn-to-inn hikes in Europe. I've done 3 in Ireland where I only carried a day pack with lunch & water, my luggage was transported to a B&B in a town, and dinner was at a local pub, sometimes with traditional music thrown in. These walks were self-guided, i.e. no group or guide so you go at your own pace and save $$$.

    And consider cycling on places like the C&O or rail-trails, many of which are not excessively steep. You can either camp or stay in towns. Takes a little planning but worthwhile!

    Good luck to whatever you decide.

  17. #37
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    Some of my favorite destinations can also be done as day hikes including Ediza Lake near the JMT or the CDT/CT along the continental divide south of cottonwood pass, among many others I can think of. Even in more crowded places like SNP, I can find day hikes where I'm unlikely to see very many (if any) people, if I am seeking solitude. What I get out of backpacking that I don't get from day hikes is the continuity and change in mindset that I get from backpacking, especially on trips longer than a few days. But I actually prefer day hikes to one nigh backpacking trips since it is easier to plan, less to carry, and requires less cleanup of gear when I get home.

    I would probably take up long distance bicycling if I get tired of backpacking. I met a number of cyclists in Colorado this summer and that type of trip appeals to me.

  18. #38

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    I think a key question back to the OP is this: Why do you feel this way?

    We all look at this question based on experience/bias, obviously my bias is physical fitness; I've beaten that horse dead, dead, dead -- but don't worry you all, I'll continue beating that bastard


    Do you feel this way, because it's just not thrilling, i.e. you feel as though it's all the same crap and there's nothing new here? Or is there (as I suspect) some physical basis to this feeling. As I said, I suspect a physical foundation, simply because of the battery-operated bike comment.


    I even believe that for many (not necessarily the OP) one could have these same feeling due to physical issues, but not know it. For example, regardless of how excited you are about a hike, if you are experiencing a pain, say an extreme pain in your feet/foot, that will ruin your hike and you'll want to quit, even if you know that continuing will not result in permanent, life-long damage; It's just no fun hiking in extreme pain, regardless how much you love hiking.

    However, usually the physical pain is not so apparent, because it occurs slowly over time as we age, so we don't notice it as much, but it is an irritant -- in the same way when you're in a room with very loud noise, over time you learn to ignore it, but if someone suddenly turns it off, you feel immediate relief.

    That's why I push physical fitness so much (for the whole body, not just a simple cardio activity), because I do believe people are living with pain they are not consciously cognizant of, but it does very much effect their disposition. unfortunately, you just can't flip a switch.

  19. #39
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    The thread seems to have struck a nerve. There is a mind-body connection for sure, and I guess it's important to keep active, by any means, especially so as you get older. Too much sloth leads to depression, and vice versa -- keeping active helps keep the spirits up. I can't stand gyms and fitness centers, so I'm kinda stuck with outdoorsy stuff like walking and bicycling for my daily routine.

    Hobbies and recreations come and go. At various times in my life I've been fanatical about hiking, skiing, sailing, photography, and RC airplanes. I obviously haven't found the key to avoiding burnout. All these things are still part of my life but the fanatical aspect has certainly waned.

    I'm often thinking about why my interest has declined, or what it might take to get me interested again. I also think about what I might do that's completely different. One of my hiking buddies from my yout' has become (for example) an avid scuba diver and instructor... it's become the focus of his life.

  20. #40

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    Quote Originally Posted by map man View Post
    But most of all I catch myself wondering, with so much that I love in life back at home (wife, pets, friends, other family) what am I doing out here on this cold and wet morning trying to gag down some tiresome trail food? With the prospect of more of the same stretching for days out in front of me?

    The funny thing is that I still find myself dreaming big when it comes to backpacking. For the last decade I've been aspiring to an AT or PCT or Colorado Trail thru-hike when I retire around five years from now, and I still find I am aspiring to that. The gulf between what I actually enjoy when it comes to hiking and what I daydream about keeps getting wider and wider.
    I couldn't have said it any better really. While hiking, sometimes all I can think about is seeing my wife and kids, but when I'm home my heart & mind long to be in the mountains. Planning thru-hikes and off trail adventures. So, I normally keep my trips short, usually only 2-3 day trips in order to tell myself that it won't be long until I can see them again. Getting the wife & kids out hiking with me? That's like heaven. I get to enjoy all of it at the same time.

    Ryan

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