My colleagues avoid asking me gear questions...
And it's sibling post -
www.thehikinglife.com/2019/03/14-signs-you-are-carrying-too-much-stuff-in-your-backpack/
Where no. 11 had me chuckling .
A few other were reminders of my early backpacking trips .
Guilty on both charges....15. You’ve begun referring to yourself as a “fastpacker” – which is ******-speak for someone who thinks they’re a bit special because their pack is lighter, and they cover a few more miles than most other hikers.
30. You use a fanny pack. That’s all I’ll say about that.
I was watching a DOE group leaving the school a few days ago from the kitchen while telling the totally uninterested 64 year old dinner lady standing next to me why the length of a compass lanyard and layering in winter was so important. Followed by how to properly fit a rucksack and theirs where all a disgrace...she just looked at me bless her lol
As someone who goes along on all our school's DoE hikes, I'm fairly certain that it's because the supervisors don't know any better.Why don't their supervisors teach them how to "fit" a pack properly ???
As someone who goes along on all our school's DoE hikes, I'm fairly certain that it's because the supervisors don't know any better.
The school is glad to have warm bodies willing to give up their time. Expecting them to know much about hiking is expecting too much.
I walk for the first day with the kids doing their first Bronze practice hikes and pass on what I can about packs, feet and such but you have to work with what you have on the day. I've had kids in their school shoes, kids with huge old ex-army packs weighing many kilos, kids wanting to carry extra stuff in carrier bags, kids with no water and/or food, kids with not-waterproof waterproofs...Don't get me started on the lack of any navigation skills.
I was sat having my lunch by a couple of marshals who were a checkpoint for an ultra event my wife was doing. I couldn't help overhearing their conversation during which one of them described the Spine Race as a walking holiday with sleep deprivation. Hardcore fastpacking!Guilty on both charges....
As someone who goes along on all our school's DoE hikes, I'm fairly certain that it's because the supervisors don't know any better.
The school is glad to have warm bodies willing to give up their time. Expecting them to know much about hiking is expecting too much.
I walk for the first day with the kids doing their first Bronze practice hikes and pass on what I can about packs, feet and such but you have to work with what you have on the day. I've had kids in their school shoes, kids with huge old ex-army packs weighing many kilos, kids wanting to carry extra stuff in carrier bags, kids with no water and/or food, kids with not-waterproof waterproofs...Don't get me started on the lack of any navigation skills.
I wonder if the sleep deprecation is only for the fast (aiming for top tier) and the slow that are not prepared enough to have practiced long days (equally in darkness) or are not used to just getting a tarp/tent and bivy out and sleeping for a few hours soundly regardless of weather, location. I've seen pictures and heard horror stories of those trying to catch sleep in aid stations or public toilets . There's those that are in groups when it comes to rest points... It can't be easy getting any kind of rest, when there's banter and moans lolI was sat having my lunch by a couple of marshals who were a checkpoint for an ultra event my wife was doing. I couldn't help overhearing their conversation during which one of them described the Spine Race as a walking holiday with sleep deprivation. Hardcore fastpacking!
If you do it in 150 hours and average 2 miles and hour you get 20 hours sleep. That's 5 x 4 hours. I've asked a couple of people I know who have done it about the Spine but they are not very forthcoming. I think it is horrible but pig pigheadedness gets them through. I know one man who did it and turned around and ran back.I wonder if the sleep deprecation is only for the fast (aiming for top tier) and the slow that are not prepared enough to have practiced long days (equally in darkness) or are not used to just getting a tarp/tent and bivy out and sleeping for a few hours soundly regardless of weather, location. I've seen pictures and heard horror stories of those trying to catch sleep in aid stations or public toilets . There's those that are in groups when it comes to rest points... It can't be easy getting any kind of rest, when there's banter and moans lol
I've seen pictures and heard horror stories of those trying to catch sleep in aid stations or public toilets . There's those that are in groups when it comes to rest points... It can't be easy getting any kind of rest, when there's banter and moans lol
I wondered about that. I'd rather bivi in a field/ park etc.
DofE...my son took a dvd player...learnt the hard way
I feel sorry for DofE groups when I see them carrying 3kg rucksacks with a 20kg base weight in them. They don't seem very appreciative when you tell them the way to get lightweight kit is to work hard and get a good job ... for some reason. I missed the tact and diplomacy module myself.DofE...my son took a dvd player...learnt the hard way
"18. You give unsolicited gear advice to hikers with heavier packs than you. You are subsequently puzzled when they tell you to **** off."I feel sorry for DofE groups when I see them carrying 3kg rucksacks with a 20kg base weight in them. They don't seem very appreciative when you tell them the way to get lightweight kit is to work hard and get a good job ... for some reason. I missed the tact and diplomacy module myself.
Not really puzzled just pleased I can still move faster than them. Plus it's the way that you tell em"18. You give unsolicited gear advice to hikers with heavier packs than you. You are subsequently puzzled when they tell you to **** off."
Spot on!
What about the time it takes, for aid stations, kit changes, foot care etc... 2mph overall and 20 hrs sleep wouldn't cut it and then it's a fail...?If you do it in 150 hours and average 2 miles and hour you get 20 hours sleep. That's 5 x 4 hours. I've asked a couple of people I know who have done it about the Spine but they are not very forthcoming. I think it is horrible but pig pigheadedness gets them through. I know one man who did it and turned around and ran back.
Double Spine
I don't think they get 20 hours sleep. Hallucinating is the order of the day for the last 30 miles. I know nothing about this really. I've just taken an interest and ask about whenever I see any of the Spine runners I know. Same thing with round completists. They probably think what's that fat old git asking us all these questions forWhat about the time it takes, for aid stations, kit changes, foot care etc... 2mph overall and 20 hrs sleep wouldn't cut it and then it's a fail...?
Well, while there is a lot to be said for working hard and getting a good job, though I think they abolished the latter in the 80's, truth be told it's all about not buying expensive hot drinks.I feel sorry for DofE groups when I see them carrying 3kg rucksacks with a 20kg base weight in them. They don't seem very appreciative when you tell them the way to get lightweight kit is to work hard and get a good job ... for some reason. I missed the tact and diplomacy module myself.
Well, while there is a lot to be said for working hard and getting a good job, though I think they abolished the latter in the 80's, truth be told it's all about not buying expensive hot drinks.