First extended family hiking trip!

ROCK6

ROCK6

Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
4,172
Well, I'm doing up some "lessons learned" and a couple of simple reviews, but here's a few photos. We hiked the Panther Creek Falls trail in NE Georgia...beautiful area.

We just did a two-night, three-day hike...went in about 2 miles and set up camp along the creek. A great little sight, off the trail with good access to the creek.

Panther Creek
Mob.jpg


I took along my Kifaru EMR and Scout...the Scout was used for the shorter hikes from our main camp site. My wife had my older Mountainsmith and the kids are still in a work in progress :D

Kifaru EMR/Scout
EMRScoutLoadout.jpg

Scout.jpg


Hiking Trail?
SwitchbackClimb.jpg



The Campsite
TheCampsite.jpg


The trail was pretty good...a few good challenges like this switchback climb; the packs had to come off and we had climb up. Overall, a good, challenging trail...the kids were definately challenged, but both did extremely well.

The kids and the dog had a great time, the wife and I are figuring the best load out between the two of us...plus, refining our hiking menus :D

I took entirely too much blade-ware, but it was a short hike and I wanted to do a few evaluations. I also used a few different flashlights. My stove was the Optimus Nova multi-fuel...which is a workhorse, and I also wanted to try out my new Siltarp. Here's a few things I focused on.

Katadyn Pocket Filter
MSR MIOX water purifier
Sierra Designs Siltarp (8X10 foot)
Sawvivor
Becker Brute
Gransfor Bruks Wildlife
BM/Doug Ritter's folder
Swamp Rat's Howling Rat
Brusletto's Profileringskniv
Mora 2000
Streamlight's TL-3 9V light
Inova X5 and Microlight

Bladeware.jpg

TheLighterSide.jpg


All in all, a great first "real" backpacking trip for the family...and a great way to flush out what works, what doesn't, what wasn't used and what will do double duty.

ROCK6
 
Nope, it's a regular Tikka Plus with the tilting head. I added the green lens filter. A great little head light...both my wife and I have one, and it's worked out real well.

ROCK6
 
Dude, quit messing around and get a 'Man sized' backpack! :D

Holy crapola I thought my Berghaus Crusader was big! :eek:
 
I like the idea of a 'shake down' trip before the big one. If I have so much as 6 months off between trips then all sorts of unnecessary extras start making their way into my pack - A short trip reminds me again of what I actually need. Of course if I took the trouble to write a trip report to myself each time then I could remember what was essential and what was not. Must remember to do that next time..
 
I didn't really want to take that big of a pack, but I ended up carrying more in case one of the kids started to lag, then my wife had some extra room to pick it up. Don't think I'll need to do that again. The pack tipped the scales at 95lbs, I guess I'm still young and stupid :D But, I know I couldn't do that on an extended trip. This was about my max, and given the trail conditions, a little too much...this wasn't a 50lb ruck you just toss on, at one point trying to get back up from a small break the EMR pulled me over and then on top of me. The kids and wife got a good laugh, but it felt like a four hundred pound woman was pinning me down :eek: Plus, I had a lot of hardware that wasn't necessary. The Becker Brute rode really well, but I didn't get to use it that much.

I continue to be a big believer in the saw and small axe. The area we camped in was very damp, and you had to cut into the larger logs to get at the drier wood. Both the Sawvivor and GB Wildlife worked great and made an excellent combo.

I didn't even get to use my Swiss Tool that much, and I may downsize in the future. Of course, I used my SAK and both pocket knives a lot...my wife only took her Leatherman Juice. She loved it, even used it to adjust my daughter's pack. She did steal my Mora 2K...she used it all over the camp, and really liked the idea of using the sheath as a blower for the fire. Looks like a few M2Ks will be on the Christmas List :D

As a normal precaution, I took a sidearm...my P-12.45. Thinking military resupply :D , I took along two extra loaded mags which were unnecessary, and a lot of extra weight. When we get to longer trips, I'll probably take along my little Airweight J-frame.

My biggest dilemma is the tent. It has been a solid one from REI, but any 4-person tents are big and heavy. I don't think I want to try the light weight options with the family yet, but I will have to explore different options.

One big success story was an often over-looked item....soap. I picked up some of Dr. Bronner's liquid Peppermint soap, not only did it smell good, was biodegradable...and really worked at getting grime of the hands and marshmallow out of the hair :D ...but it has now earned its way onto the permanent packing list :D

Ming65...both my wife and I are jotting down some notes for the next trip. She's focused on some menu adjustments and really needs a good pair of Teva-type sandals instead of flip-flops...she also commandeered the camera and used up the whole memory stick! I wanted to take some shots of the bladeware in action or just some good shots of gear that worked...guess I'll have to bring along my own memory stick :mad:

I'll post a separate question about backpacking dog food. We had some stuff that was okay, but heavy...I'll be looking for alternatives.

ROCK6
 
Hey man,

Wow...that was a load and a half for a three day trip!!!

I know that you were testing out a bunch of things, but man, that pack was huge! I just HAD to respond to your posting.

Just for giggles, try this as an experiment. Lay out everything that you brought with you. Now from that pile make a pile of everything that you used at least once. From that smaller pile, make another pile of everything that you used more than once.

Now review everything by pile. Ask yourself if you "really" needed that gadget along. Even some things in the "used more than once pile" might be able to be left behind. I would suggest that 90% of the stuff you never used could be left behind (depends on your comfort level, ie. Need first aid kit, don't need the 2 extra mags)

It's just a guess on my part, but if you could dump 40lbs of your stuff, (at least!) you would have a much better time - then again, maybe you like dragging your butt around the countryside loaded like a truck.

Lurking forever,
D
 
Is that a close node rattan stick behind your left shoulder? Also, why did you black out your dog's face? Can't let his face be IDed incase he does ops behind enemy lines? :D Sorry couldn't resist. :p That looks like a heavy pack!
 
i have a tan Kifaru EMR also its great i got mine while i was in iraq and it was waiting on me when i got back. panther creek looks very nice i might have to take a trip there, about how far is it from ft benning
 
Sorry Geoff, didn't meant that as a slam. I had heard great things about Dr. Bronner's soap and when I got it (yeah a little expensive...but I found out, it was well worth it)...I saw it was developed by a small family-type buisness which included some of the Rabbi's teachings written all over the bottle. I will say it was unique, but the bottom line, the stuff was incredible, and has earned a permanent place on our backpacking list.

Diligence, you are absolutely correct! I've already slimmed it down by about 30 lbs...with more to come off. First, we didn't know if the weather was going to hold, since we had the chance of getting hit by remnants of Hurricane Frances, I had an extra small tarp for shelter, extra tinder for the fire, a ton of extra 550 cord, my first aid kit had way too much, etc..... Definitely don't need the two extra mags, but it's an Army mindset I have to adjust. Most people just think primary or something that'll do a "double-duty" back up...I think of

P = Primary
A = Alternate
C = Contingency
E = Emergency
:D :D :D

I did have a lot of stuff that I wanted to try out and knew it wasn't really necessary...don't think I'll overdo that on another backpacking trip. I will say the Kifaru EMR carried 95lbs real well :D Regardless of your pack, once you get over 50-60 lbs, it suck regardless :eek: ...but, I was surprised out how well it rode.

I've been in too many isolated places where I couldn't afford failure, I do need to adjust my packing lists to more of a recreational mindset. Plus, my wife wasn't carrying very much, just it case the kids couldn't make it. Kids were fine, so my wife will be able to ease some of the burden. If we ever get up to a 7-10 mile backpacking trip, that weight will definitely have to come down!

Not a rattan K Williams, it was a PVC pipe for my fly-rod. Again, it was great fishing above our site and way down at the falls. I may get a smaller, packable rod for the next trip, as it wasn't used that much.

ROCK6
 
Try to read the label on a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap sometime -- Dr. Bronner is a rabbi and head of a rather ... um, unusual sect. He covers the bottle with semi-coherent messages promoting his religious viewpoints, his other soaps, his Essene birth control method ... I use it myself; it's good soap and the label makes interesting, though very confusing, reading. Here's a random sample from my current bottle:
To be awakened the night God choose giving his great reward for hard work, the Moral ABC-unity-ecstasy-love evolving man above the ape! The Moral ABC-unity-ecstasy-love evolving man above! Coincidentally and yet Oh-so-slow, sweet-kisses-whisper-softly into waiting ears; arousing heavenly flames that enlighten renew, brilliant fires blazing through dark lonesome years!
Click to expand...

It goes on like that at great length, in very small print. It's good soap, too.
 
Yeah, I started out as an 11C about 16 years ago (Basic/AIT back in '88) at Benning. I've sinced jumped ship, receive a commission and I'm now Signal. Still miss the ground-pounding. I'm originally from Washington State, but at least Gordon gets me closer to the mountains :D

ROCK6
 
Rock6...great pics...would you kindly post some pics of the Kirafu Scout with something next to it for perspective? Also, which pouches have you mounted on it?

ps...cute kids!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top