I guess growing up in the 70s and backpacking as a kid made us face reality. We made/ sewed much of our gear, made our own meals, planned our hikes around destinations. Dolly Sods and the Cranberry can be crowded but after venturing off the main trails a few miles, it is pretty quiet. Also, suffering from bad conditions makes better prepared backpackers.
I agree that early in my backpacking days I fell into the trap of feeling the need to do high miles, 20+ given sometimes I only have a limited amount of time to do a trail. Now I just take an extra day. The more I do it the more I love camp time haha
It's kind of funny that some of the first backpackers I followed (like Jupiter and Darwin) have gotten off the UL train and are starting to pack more comfortably as they have gotten older. As a person who grew up lugging army surplus gear in my Boy Scout framed pack....everyone today is crazy spoiled. Once things started opening up after COVID (due to crowds) I started exploring Nature Preserves, Wildlife Areas, Gamelands and etc. As a kid we used to go camping, riding dirt bikes etc. in the Mead Experimental Forest in Southern Ohio. I think that land was all donated to the state so not sure what it's called now.
Well, I'm old. 65. Hiked and camped since I was 4 years old. Long before all the "new conveniences". Some are good, some are unnecessary and expensive. Be smart. Be safe. Have fun. 2 miles. 20 miles. Any distance in between. Don't forget the fun of kayaking down slow rivers or peaceful lakes!
When Andy said people have been hiking long distances with heavy loads for years, I felt that, and they did it without specialized training. Good stuff, guys.
Every one of these rang true with me, but there are plenty of places to backpack without the people. I was out in a wilderness area of Virginia last week for 3 days and didn’t see a soul.
Nalgene: “you see them all the time… but no one uses them..” Definitely make your own choice. I’d rather take an ultralight Nalgene, which wasn’t that expensive, than buy single use plastics for every trip. But you don’t *need* it for sure, and it shouldn’t keep people from getting out. Bladders are the devil though. Only has to leak once before you really hate it, but just getting it in and out if your pack is enough to see what a pain they are.
@@johnm9767 And I've got Nalgenes that are 30+ years old. I've got the lighter ones that are probably at least 15 years old. Use it everyday at work. One of the bigger lies is that Nalgenes are heavy, it's nonsense.
@@steveh5169 also they are heavy compared to a smart water bottle that weighs 1.5oz and fits in a shoulder strap pouch. To each their own though. Use what you like.
@@johnm9767 Except you’re not saying to each their own, you’re arguing your own opinion. If 2 oz for a water bottle makes that much of a difference, there are bigger issues at play here. It’s literally one single gulp of water. Not sure how it wouldn’t fit in a pocket either. That’s a backpack I wouldn’t be using. Would love to know how you wash out a smart water bottle you’ve used that long. Watch some other hiking videos and you can find examples of where mold grew in the plastic. Swishing around soap and water isn’t enough. No, technically they’re not single use if you choose to do it that way, but they are not made for long term use either. While you might be special, most people do not keep theirs longer than a trip or two.
The lighter your gear and the less extra pounds on your body equals more luxury gear you can comfortably carry. Nalgenes are great in the winter because you can fill them with hot water. Water bladders still suck.
The memories of walking down a sandy road in a light snow shower running a fever to get back to the car is different than experiencing it. All 6 miles of it werent great. Overall I would do it again becaise the trip itself was better than not hiking.
The biggest lie is Hike your own Hike. You say take whatever you want, then turn around and say you can't use a bladder. Then of course, no one is allowed to wear hiking boots either. Then the myth about the heavy/expensive Nalgene bottle. You know the one that weighs 3.625 ounces and cost $6.60 (right off the Nalgene website), which obviously is the definition of heavy/expensive. You know spending $200 on LT5 trekking poles that break isn't expensive, but by God $6.60 on a water bottle is. Taking a chair that weighs a pound and cost $150 is OK, just don't take a water bottle that weighs less than 4 ounces and is $6.60. So it' really isn't hike your own hike, it's listen to me (meaning you two) cause we know better?
I lost what I guessed to be a 300 yr old oak tree. I’ll be cutting it close to base and will count rings in a few weeks. See if this way of guessing age works
I never make it look easy... I always whine about being fat, old and bugs and city folk messing up the woods not to mention I think I am gonna die on the trail..... The west is getting more and more crowded also.
You guys don’t wear camelbacks because you guys hike super low mileage! A heavy metal Nalgene adds a lot of weight to trips that span across 250, 500, 750+ miles sometimes. Everyone’s hiking approach is different because of who they are and where they’re hiking.
9:21 is because of smucks like you guys plastering all the good spots all over youtube for the world to see.! There are actually google maps reviews of campsites at dolly sods. Might as well just pave all the trails at this point.
@@jacobpoucher He will SAVE the channel as they have been beating a Dead Horse over and over for the past year and a half with the same old, regurgitated stuff.
@@fredschill1182 I do need to chill, and sincerely am happy for them. They are some fine young Men! Enjoy your upcoming Fathers Day. - Don’t forget the Coffee Creamer and all the other fixings… and bits and bobs.
Sorry guys but the money you spent on smart water I spent one time on a Nalgene bottle or a bladder now I’ve been using both for over 20 years and have not had one bladder break and one Nalgene bottle fail or leak and I still use them today. The other thing is you are right there is a lot of bullshit that people try to sell you that you don’t need I’ve been doing this for over 25 years and when you dial in your gear, you shouldn’t have to buy anything else there is nothing wrong with wearing hiking boots or low cut boots I wear them hiking all the time when you roll your ankle on a hike trip and you are wearing hiking sneakers they are not going to give you that support but you do you just do your research before you say anything because you guys fell into the lies that everybody is telling you
I guess growing up in the 70s and backpacking as a kid made us face reality. We made/ sewed much of our gear, made our own meals, planned our hikes around destinations. Dolly Sods and the Cranberry can be crowded but after venturing off the main trails a few miles, it is pretty quiet. Also, suffering from bad conditions makes better prepared backpackers.
I always use a hydration bladder 🤷♀️.
I agree that early in my backpacking days I fell into the trap of feeling the need to do high miles, 20+ given sometimes I only have a limited amount of time to do a trail. Now I just take an extra day. The more I do it the more I love camp time haha
It's kind of funny that some of the first backpackers I followed (like Jupiter and Darwin) have gotten off the UL train and are starting to pack more comfortably as they have gotten older. As a person who grew up lugging army surplus gear in my Boy Scout framed pack....everyone today is crazy spoiled.
Once things started opening up after COVID (due to crowds) I started exploring Nature Preserves, Wildlife Areas, Gamelands and etc.
As a kid we used to go camping, riding dirt bikes etc. in the Mead Experimental Forest in Southern Ohio. I think that land was all donated to the state so not sure what it's called now.
Nice video. Great tips. I stopped buying freeze dried meals a while ago. It's just too expensive for doing frequent overnighters.
Well, I'm old. 65. Hiked and camped since I was 4 years old. Long before all the "new conveniences". Some are good, some are unnecessary and expensive. Be smart. Be safe. Have fun. 2 miles. 20 miles. Any distance in between. Don't forget the fun of kayaking down slow rivers or peaceful lakes!
When Andy said people have been hiking long distances with heavy loads for years, I felt that, and they did it without specialized training. Good stuff, guys.
Every one of these rang true with me, but there are plenty of places to backpack without the people. I was out in a wilderness area of Virginia last week for 3 days and didn’t see a soul.
Great advice on the miles. Enjoy life, however it's best.
I hike in sandals (Tevas) exclusively 🏕
Biggest lie in this video: 3:02 Andy, “You gotta have your Mountain House”. Truth: you should never have Mountain House 😂
If Papa Schill says turkey wing, I will believe him❤
Big backpacking lied to me about "waterproof" UL rain jackets
I never wear rain jackets. Dont want to get too hot…*gets hypothermia instead*
ultimate last comments to a video, luv watchin good work guys.
Nalgene: “you see them all the time… but no one uses them..” Definitely make your own choice. I’d rather take an ultralight Nalgene, which wasn’t that expensive, than buy single use plastics for every trip. But you don’t *need* it for sure, and it shouldn’t keep people from getting out. Bladders are the devil though. Only has to leak once before you really hate it, but just getting it in and out if your pack is enough to see what a pain they are.
Who says plastic water bottles are single use? I’ve got some smart water bottles that I’ve reused for years.
@@johnm9767 And I've got Nalgenes that are 30+ years old. I've got the lighter ones that are probably at least 15 years old. Use it everyday at work. One of the bigger lies is that Nalgenes are heavy, it's nonsense.
@@steveh5169 congrats. I was only pointing out plastic bottles aren’t single use and don’t have to be purchased every trip.
@@steveh5169 also they are heavy compared to a smart water bottle that weighs 1.5oz and fits in a shoulder strap pouch. To each their own though. Use what you like.
@@johnm9767 Except you’re not saying to each their own, you’re arguing your own opinion. If 2 oz for a water bottle makes that much of a difference, there are bigger issues at play here. It’s literally one single gulp of water. Not sure how it wouldn’t fit in a pocket either. That’s a backpack I wouldn’t be using. Would love to know how you wash out a smart water bottle you’ve used that long. Watch some other hiking videos and you can find examples of where mold grew in the plastic. Swishing around soap and water isn’t enough. No, technically they’re not single use if you choose to do it that way, but they are not made for long term use either. While you might be special, most people do not keep theirs longer than a trip or two.
The lighter your gear and the less extra pounds on your body equals more luxury gear you can comfortably carry. Nalgenes are great in the winter because you can fill them with hot water. Water bladders still suck.
The memories of walking down a sandy road in a light snow shower running a fever to get back to the car is different than experiencing it. All 6 miles of it werent great. Overall I would do it again becaise the trip itself was better than not hiking.
More videos and live streams please
The biggest lie is Hike your own Hike. You say take whatever you want, then turn around and say you can't use a bladder. Then of course, no one is allowed to wear hiking boots either. Then the myth about the heavy/expensive Nalgene bottle. You know the one that weighs 3.625 ounces and cost $6.60 (right off the Nalgene website), which obviously is the definition of heavy/expensive. You know spending $200 on LT5 trekking poles that break isn't expensive, but by God $6.60 on a water bottle is. Taking a chair that weighs a pound and cost $150 is OK, just don't take a water bottle that weighs less than 4 ounces and is $6.60. So it' really isn't hike your own hike, it's listen to me (meaning you two) cause we know better?
Big Boot! I love it.
Are you from the Buckeye State?
You don’t have to run marathons…I mean we do, but you don’t! Maybe just sprint triathlons or 10K’s…. LOL
Right on
Turkey wing?!? Now im questioning if that tree hugging to tell its age trick Papa Schill shared with us is even real
I lost what I guessed to be a 300 yr old oak tree. I’ll be cutting it close to base and will count rings in a few weeks. See if this way of guessing age works
I don’t care, bring a tiny camp chair it’s worth it. Also no need to do more than 10 miles a day! 2 life water bottles, sawyer squeeze and CNOC bag.
I never make it look easy... I always whine about being fat, old and bugs and city folk messing up the woods not to mention I think I am gonna die on the trail..... The west is getting more and more crowded also.
👏 Papa Schill... Hike your own hike, you'll have many types of gear for many types of backpacking trips.
Amen brother
You guys don’t wear camelbacks because you guys hike super low mileage! A heavy metal Nalgene adds a lot of weight to trips that span across 250, 500, 750+ miles sometimes. Everyone’s hiking approach is different because of who they are and where they’re hiking.
9:21 is because of smucks like you guys plastering all the good spots all over youtube for the world to see.! There are actually google maps reviews of campsites at dolly sods. Might as well just pave all the trails at this point.
Oh no!!!!
Andy! Your camera work SUCKS!😂😂😂
Bring back Papa Schill! He’s been the best thing on your channel in the last 2 years as you guys have virtually disappeared.
i agree big daddy Schill is the man!
@@jacobpoucher He will SAVE the channel as they have been beating a Dead Horse over and over for the past year and a half with the same old, regurgitated stuff.
Thx guys. They’re threatening to take me Father’s Day weekend. They have families now and it’s tough for them to get out
@@fredschill1182 I do need to chill, and sincerely am happy for them. They are some fine young Men!
Enjoy your upcoming Fathers Day. - Don’t forget the Coffee Creamer and all the other fixings… and bits and bobs.
Sorry guys but the money you spent on smart water I spent one time on a Nalgene bottle or a bladder now I’ve been using both for over 20 years and have not had one bladder break and one Nalgene bottle fail or leak and I still use them today. The other thing is you are right there is a lot of bullshit that people try to sell you that you don’t need I’ve been doing this for over 25 years and when you dial in your gear, you shouldn’t have to buy anything else there is nothing wrong with wearing hiking boots or low cut boots I wear them hiking all the time when you roll your ankle on a hike trip and you are wearing hiking sneakers they are not going to give you that support but you do you just do your research before you say anything because you guys fell into the lies that everybody is telling you
Thank you.
I'm sorry i thought this was finely going to be a backpacking video
They don’t do backpacking videos any longer. 1-2 Glamour trips per year.
The richer they get the softer they get…😅
Be patient boys
@@fredschill1182 👍!
This whole video was full of lies.
FIRST!