A month in the woods?

kgd

kgd

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Feb 28, 2007
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I guess I'm continuing my last post in a new thread exploring the idea of a wilderness pilgrimage. The Lars Monsen video's seemed to strike a cord in my inner self. I'm usually happy just watching vids of Les, Cody and Dave C. suffering. However, the Lar's videos stirred up a wanting something fierce. It made me lust for a bigger trip. Not extreme anything. Just a longer wilderness experience and one not encumbered by a constant schedule and need to make this site or that.

To say the least, I'm not very interested in walking the AT (although I understand that pursuit). I want to find a tract of crown land roam with some strategic check ins here and there. Most of my trips have been on the 2-3 day adventures with a few week long experiences in relatively remote wilderness sites. I haven't done a month long tour and as a professional with a great job and wife making time for the wilderness pilgrimage will be tough and will likely take me a couple of years to plan for and execute. But I'd like to do this while I'm in my sprig 40's if I can.

Now I'm not planning on disappearing or doing the off-the-grid living. I just want to plan, take a month off, disappear, have some goals, live with nature including supplementing my diet to a large extent with fish and potentially by hunting (depending on timing of said trip). Then I want to come back home, sleep in my soft bed under the cozy Hudson Bay blankets we use and return to domestic bliss (with frequent excursions to make dirt time).

Who else has or is considering such a thing? Who has done this as an adult (i.e. managed to put off adult responsibilities for awhile)?

I remember Rick M. calling me last year exploring the concept of a month up north, but his trip got way laid by a bunch of prigs ordering knives from him :D It seems to me Codger would do multi-week trips on a regular basis. I'd like to hear those stories from our membership. Maybe the rules would be 2 weeks or more trips, solo adventures that were off the established trails.

I'd also want to hear if others might be motivated in drawing up such an adventure. I know this seems to conflict with my dirt time is dirt time thread. Philosophically, I don't think it does. I know I can't do a wilderness pilgrimage every year. Maybe the one I plan to do will be the only one I ever do in my lifetime. I need more dirt time than that. But my soul speaks to me that I want a real chance to live the natural life, suffer to the whims of the elements and forgoe the modern lifestyle which I spent a lifetime training in.

Any story makers or planned adventurers among us? What are the hurdles that you face? If not now, when and where?
 
The longest I have spent in the woods was two weeks, did it two separate times actually when I was in scouts. But they were extended backpacking trips, the first a 60 miler, the second 100 miles.So it was living off freeze dried food mainly. I was young, 16 or 17 and was among my closest friends and I sure remember getting homesick after the first week. Now as an adult, I probably still would have that feeling. If my wife was with me, well I guess I'd be okay :)

I often think about doing that very thing though. Maybe not for a month, but a week or two. I don't know if you have ever seen Eric Stoskopfs page, but he has spent many weeks alone in the Sierras. I think he did a month as well. You may be able to get some great perspective from him. Check it out here
http://www.woodsdrummer.com/journal.html
 
Sounds awesome Ken. Ive wanted to do this for a long time. Reading Proennekes book didnt help the situation. Im sure youve read it, but if not, I strongly reccomend it.

Good luck I hope you can pull it off. The killer for me is getting the time off work......but im sure I could pull it off....
 
I've often dreamt about such an outing.. but with kids and such it's npt ikely at the moment.. but its definitely on my bucket list.
 
That would certainly be sweet Ken. I have fairly low people needs and would love to do something like that alone. Would be hard to get away from work for a stretch like that, but could do a two weeker. What really gets in the way of that is my other hobby...I'd have to give up my annual motorcycle trip. 9.5 years to retirement and then I can have it all (in theory)!
 
Well, "woods." We don't really have that here in Colorado. But I have spent two weeks in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area. Pretty heavy-duty stuff. I'm not much on blowing my own horn, so I won't say more unless anybody asks to hear it.
 
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I've thought about it when I get more experienced. The most I've spent is a week. Still a long way away, but I am hoping to do it sometime.
 
Don't wait too long to do it. I always dreamed of retiring and hiking the App Trail and then spending long chunks of time in the woods. I'm retiring this summer but am no longer able. Remember, although time has a sense of humor, it's not always kind.
 
i really like the idea of traveling a parcel of crown land, some crown areas are thousands of acres, maybe tens of thousands
something ive always wanted to do as well, an extended trip like that, the most i ever manage is a week or so
work family bills always gets in the way of trying to go longer

mike
 
now that sounds like something i would love to do.. the longest i have ever spent in the backcountry is 2 and a half weeks.. i loved every minute of it..:D it would be cool/fun to try and do a thru-hike one of these days..

on a side note.. my wife has logged in more consecutive backcountry time, than anyone i know.. she lived in the backcountry of Tuolume Meadows, outside of Yosemite, for 6 months.. buidling/working on trails for a backcountry trail crew.. she rocks..:)
 
I get that feeling every time I watch Les and his wife spending a year in the Canadian bush in a cabin they made. Awesome documentary.
 
I'd like to do the JMT, but the odds of me burning a year's vacation on one trip are pretty slim. Friend of mine is doing it next year, and I'm just a bit jealous.
 
Ive been considering such a trip ever since i was a kid.

Im so lucky and privileged to be in a job now, where i am allowed to take up to 3 years of leave, without pay of course, so i will definitely be heading out at one point. Ive been considering a trip along the Pyrenean mountains one the french/spanish border. Crossing them lengthwise from the Medditerranean sea to the Atlantic would take approximately one month. Only preparation ive done, has been buying a little book on the topic.

Biggest hurdle is family and money. By family, i mean that they have priority right now. I also have to save the money up, so i can pay the bills, rent, etc, when im on leave and have no income. Nothing is impossible, it just takes time. Ill definitely be doing it at some point in my life. Im 32 years old, so ive got some time left to make it happen.
 
Samael said:
Well, "woods." We don't really have that here in Colorado. But I have spent two weeks in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area. Pretty heavy-duty stuff. I'm not much on blowing my own horn, so I won't say more unless anybody asks to hear it.
Click to expand...

We'd like to hear about your trip. You aren't blowing your own horn if the audience is requesting the music!

raybadge said:
Don't wait too long to do it. I always dreamed of retiring and hiking the App Trail and then spending long chunks of time in the woods. I'm retiring this summer but am no longer able. Remember, although time has a sense of humor, it's not always kind.
Click to expand...

Thank you, this is a sage reminder. I'm in my forties, not in terrible shape, but not in great shape either. None of us know if we will be hit with disease or family tragedy the suddenly places us in a caretaker mode. Youth seems inexhaustible when you are young but then career and family start laying down limiters on your freedom. Not that the latter is necessarily bad, but it takes a good deal of commitment to break out of the mold of your current schedule. Doing so will always come with sacrifices. This year, I have the benefits of kids moving out of the house. One less limiter. Just the wife and dog to consider (and hell no, I won't be bringing the dog).

mtnfolk mike said:
now that sounds like something i would love to do.. the longest i have ever spent in the backcountry is 2 and a half weeks.. i loved every minute of it..:D it would be cool/fun to try and do a thru-hike one of these days..

on a side note.. my wife has logged in more consecutive backcountry time, than anyone i know.. she lived in the backcountry of Tuolume Meadows, outside of Yosemite, for 6 months.. buidling/working on trails for a backcountry trail crew.. she rocks..:)
Click to expand...

Some details about your trip would be great Mike. What did you do on your 2 and half weeks. If you were to do it again, what would you change. What are the limitations to planning the next trip? I know your kids are still young so I imagine that is one factor. In your case, I imagine you would have a great trekking companion with your wife. Lucky man!

PropThePolecat said:
Ive been considering such a trip ever since i was a kid.

Im so lucky and privileged to be in a job now, where i am allowed to take up to 3 years of leave, without pay of course, so i will definitely be heading out at one point. Ive been considering a trip along the Pyrenean mountains one the french/spanish border. Crossing them lengthwise from the Medditerranean sea to the Atlantic would take approximately one month. Only preparation ive done, has been buying a little book on the topic.

Biggest hurdle is family and money. By family, i mean that they have priority right now. I also have to save the money up, so i can pay the bills, rent, etc, when im on leave and have no income. Nothing is impossible, it just takes time. Ill definitely be doing it at some point in my life. Im 32 years old, so ive got some time left to make it happen.
Click to expand...

Great stuff prop. Dreaming the dream is the first step, then comes the planning. The fact that you have a route in mind is a great step plus given the flexibility you have in your work. I also have the option of taking 6 mo to 1 year off at reduced pay but in my occupation I need to be careful not to lower my productivity (publication rate) too much otherwise it has long term consequences to my career. Therefore the 1 month thing seems about right.

I hope you will consider using this thread, or making new threads to share in your planning, let us be you magic eight ball on agonizing decisions and live vicariously through the planning process. After all, generating all the tasty little details of the trip in the planning process is part of the fun! I haven't yet chosen a route. I will likely be N. Ontario but I'm also considering N. Manitoba around the Seal River. I have some old buddies that run an outfitting company up the Seal and I might be able to use them to get me to the destination.

Thanks for responding everybody. I hope this thread continues so that we can all share our dreams. With a little luck a few of us will make it happen!
 
Samael said:
Well, "woods." We don't really have that here in Colorado. But I have spent two weeks in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area. Pretty heavy-duty stuff. I'm not much on blowing my own horn, so I won't say more unless anybody asks to hear it.
Click to expand...

The whole point of this forum is sharing our stories. Its been while since ive heard a heavy-duty story, so lets hear it!

kgd said:
I will likely be N. Ontario but I'm also considering N. Manitoba around the Seal River. I have some old buddies that run an outfitting company up the Seal and I might be able to use them to get me to the destination.
Click to expand...

The Canadian wilderness is the stuff dreams are made of. Ive never been there, but every book ive read and documentary ive watched has fascinated me. I hope youll be able to make it happen.
 
I'll write something later on today. In the meantime, here's a teaser.

03-uncompahgre01.jpg
 
Hope you can do it! I would like to but with two kiddies it would be a while before I could disappear for that long. By that time I might be too old.

Maybe a two week trip might work in a few years.
 
In my early thirties, two friends and i did two months on deserted island, living from small supplies that we brought with us,and of course,what we got from sea(and that was plenty),it was small uninhabited island but couple hours by boat from big one,we went there in winter time,we had smal stone build fishermen shelter to sleep in,and four meters dingy for fishing ,that was coldest winter in decades in this area ,we cleaned shores completely of driftwood :D ant just gathering wood has took major part of day..
I also spent couple times, each time for couple weeks ,living in mountain in some shack, but without supplies that would be impossible,
every trip was decided in few days,preparing supplies and gear till departure,more you think about it smaller are chances that you will do it. ;) (i know,Im planing Camino de Santiago for about four years now :D,but considering that that plan involves my wife it is not strange to take so long)
 
Spending a month in the wilderness would be a dream come true for me, but with a wife, and soon to be 2 children it will most likely not happen. Hell I am lucky if I can get more than two days at a time. It just doesn't seam to be in the cards for me, and as depressing as that sounds; I wouldn't trade my wife, daughter, and soon to be 2nd daughter for all of the outdoors time in the world.

I would love to hear and see pictures of others' adventures in the outdoors, and that's partly why I visit this forum.
 
Untill you said "hunting", I'd have said do the JMT with a small pack rod, some good hard liquor and a small shortwave radio.

Hunting around here in California involves waiting till Fall(gun hunting). I believe Archers get to hunt in late summer, for EVERYTHING. Check out the seasons, come down here to California, and hunt at 8,000 ft. in the Sierra Nevadas' South Sierra Wilderness or Golden Trout Wilderness. You'll have glorious shirtsleeve days and hideously(?!) cold nights. Bring a pack rod, too, and pull in a few golden trouts while you're at it. You'll find them pleasant and obliging little fish. With my own eyes, in these two wilderness's I have seen Mule Deer, black bear, Mountain Quail, and sundry grouse. The Rainbows and Browns all seem to be at 6,000ft. and lower. At 8K and above, it's 100% goldens.


My Scheme? I'm currently in the process of hatching a plot to do the Sierra High Route, in mid-August this Summer:eek: This will go along with and actually one-up last Summer's 15 day JMT trip. The SHR is sufficiently isolated and dangerous that I actually need to fish around on the internet for a trip partner. That's a first.

I'll say more as the time nears.
 
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