Backpacking

[Jim]

Can backpacking be a hobby?   

[Ed Sutton]

don't see why not.

[V. Hahn]

Hey, Jim!  Haven't seen you in a while!  Good to see you!   

Yes, I would say backpacking is a hobby!

[Raven]

Just about anything can be a hobby.  The question arises:  when does something cease to be a hobby and become an obsession?  

I see that only a few have posted on this board.  Maybe it's because we've figured out that those who don't share our hobbies start falling asleep if we talk about them too much. 

You'll notice that I haven't posted anything about my hobbies. 

[Larry Lyons]

You'll notice that I haven't posted anything about my hobbies. 

Isn't shoveling snow your hobby? 

[newbie]

Can backpacking be a hobby?   

I think so and what a great one!! 

[Raven]

Isn't shoveling snow your hobby? 

Only if one uses the word "hobby" very loosely. 

[ejclark]

Only if one uses the word "hobby" very loosely. 

Kind of the way I hold the snow shovel.  They don't make any that fit my hands.

[Jim]

Just about anything can be a hobby.  The question arises:  when does something cease to be a hobby and become an obsession?  

That is so very true Raven. The thing that probably keeps it in the hobby status for me is vacation time. An employer only allows so much time off before they get annoyed that you're not working.

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.

[V. Hahn]

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?   

[Jim]

...and bears?   

Well I guess that's true since where I go backpacking there are black bears but normally you don't have to worry about them. Unless of course you forgot to hang your food from a tree.

[Raven]

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.

[Jim]

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.

Well when you're out for 4-6 days food tends to get a bit heavy when you need to plan about 1.5 to 2lbs of food a day. My last 5 day trip my pack weighed 33lbs including food and water. I suppose you can get away with eating just gorp for a weekend but for a week its a different story    Now you're suggestion about Washington state I'll definitely keep that in mind. One of my dreams is to do a trip out west at some point. I'll have to get in shape for hiking in altitude though.