Bad Backpacking Advice I've Given Over the Years

Comments · 220

• AN

  @andyrobinson8386 · 5 days ago

  Humility is what we all need more of on and off trail. Thanks Darwin

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• WA

  @WallowaHikes · 5 days ago

  Thank you for saying cold soaking is gross. That cracked me up. I'm feeling very reassured now that I'm not crazy for preferring not to eat cold lasagna. 🙂

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• SH

  @shadow_trail_88 · 5 days ago

  Glad to hear I'm not the only one who tried and ditched cold soaking. Great, honest takes as always!

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• KA

  @karenfarrell3961 · 5 days ago

  Love the format! It is also great to see how you have embraced the changes life experiences give to everyone. Good work!

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• PL

  @plaguepandemic5651 · 5 days ago

  NEVER take your shoes off during a river crossing. I learned this lesson the hard way. I was doing the black canyon trail a few years ago, which is 80 miles through the Arizona desert over rough terrain. I had to cross the Agua Fria river on my third day and I took my shoes off and ended up going through a spot that was WAY deeper and faster moving then it looked from the shore. I grabbed an overhanging branch to keep from getting knocked over and the water swept my feet out from under me, and I banged them up real bad on the rocks by kicking and trying to get back on my feet. My shoes got swept out of my hands and away down the river. I finally had to let go of the branch and let myself flow downstream a bit to a less swift part of the river before climbing out. My feet were injured, my phone got soaked and wasn't working, I had no shoes and I had to hike miles through the rough desert with no shoes before I got to Black Canyon City and got help. It was horrible. So long story short always keep your shoes on!

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• PU

  @PuhPuhPuhShell · 13 hours ago

  As someone who only has time for sections and is pushing 50 I wish I had hit the gym earlier in life. Such a better result for long term hiking health.

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• BA

  @barbara777 · 5 days ago

  Freeze dried food being so much better and Chef Corso meals has also really helped avoid gross cold soaking since 2016 lol

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• B_

  @b_to_the_f · 5 days ago (edited)

  I carried a lightweight pair of sandals on my Oregon Coast Trail thru hike; they were really nice to have around camp and especially in the showers at the state parks.

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• ER

  @erichobbs4042 · 4 days ago

  Advice that I have given that I would still give today would be: the pre dug hole. Basically, when you set up your campsite for the evening, dig a cat hole an appropriate distance away, even if you don't need to poop. In the morning if you need to use it, you'll be glad to not have to faff around with digging a hole while you are prairie dogging. If you don't need it, just fill it back in before you go to LNT.

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• DA

  @davidsugeno5321 · 8 hours ago

  This video was both fun and informative.  Well done.

• JC

  @jcsvjr · 2 days ago

  I use to see your videos since 2018, not on regular bases but always. You are really inspiring, not only for the content itself but because how inspiring you are.  I live in Brazil, 56 y. O. and veery good to see how you are doing great after so many time. Many thanks!

• TH

  @tharrylock · 5 days ago

  I've thru section hiked thousands of miles and have weaved cold soaking into my repertoire during those hikes; but still packed a stove and cooked most of the time.  I decided this year that I would cold soak a 450 mile section of PCT as a way to save 1 lb of weight.  I also decided that I enjoyed a rice/bean recipe enough that I would eat that for 20 of the 30 days.  Oh my was I wrong - by day 10, I was gagging after trying to eat the last of my cold soak meal.  It was awful.  Fortunately, I found a trail buddy that was willing to share his stove with me as we finished the hike.

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