You'll notice that I haven't posted anything about my hobbies.
Can backpacking be a hobby?
Isn't shoveling snow your hobby?
Only if one uses the word "hobby" very loosely.
Just about anything can be a hobby. The question arises: when does something cease to be a hobby and become an obsession?
But I'll tell you...there is nothing like being out in the middle of God's creation with no one else around for miles. Hearing the night sounds of coyotes or wolves and owls.
...and bears?
It can be a lonely hobby though. Not too many people wish to purposely put 30 to 40lbs on their back and hike for days at a time. Which also helps it keep from becoming an obsession. But I'll tell you...there is nothing like being out in the middle of God's creation with no one else around for miles. Hearing the night sounds of coyotes or wolves and owls.
An excellent point. I was never into the 40 lb. pack. I always went light when I backpacked, and they were only weekend treks. I basically lived on gorp. No pots or pans to pack. But, I guess I've gotten soft in my old age. I like to get out in the boonies, but we drive as far as we can and then hike. A place you might enjoy is the Pasayten Wilderness area in the North Cascades of Washington State. You drive to around 7,000' on a dirt road (the highest auto road in the State), and then hike north into the wilderness through an incredible mountain meadow of wildflowers (I've seen as many as 30 White-tailed Ptarmigan there, as well) and then descend into the forest. I think you can hike all the way to B.C. One of my favorite spots in the State.