How to make hiking trip more enjoyable for the Mrs.

kgd said:
:thumbup::thumbup:

Take a plant i.d. book and learn to identify the plants.
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My wife knows more plants than I do. I have a degree in Forestry and one in Business and she has a Biology degree and a Forestry Degree so she knows a lot of the smaller plants I don't.

When we go with others we let them do the fire but when my wife and I go together she usually does the fire so that's one of her domains.:thumbup:
 
My wife is all about the fire and the cooking in the woods, except for gathering wood and cleanup. We both cook at home but it is her deal when we're out. She plans the menu and likes to do the cooking. I do manage to sneak in something different or new occasionally.

Other than that she likes a leisurely pace and time to just hang out.

Charlie
 
Another food suggestion is some fresh fruit and cold fried chicken for the first night (like a picnic).
 
Make sure she stays warm. Very few women seem to be comfortable at the low temperatures I tolerate. Make sure her gear at least matches yours then bring along an extra poncho liner and a nalgene (guyot stainless or sigg is better) that can be used as a hot water bottle (put a sock around it an stash it in the sleeping bag).
 
oh this is true. Every woman i know wants about one layer more than i do if it is below 76 degrees! Except astrid, but she's only 2
 
What a lot of good ideas. Definitely something rich and hearty like a prepackaged Alfredo sauce and lots of grated cheese, if you don't mind making the pasta,(though you could make it at home and throw it in a baggie with butter or olive oil). Cream of mushroom soup and buttered toast, or a good quality clam chowder...mmm
My wife started camping with me when our girls were little and now they really have their own thing. Bug ID books for my youngest(13) and she's also the junior firebrand with pyro Momma:).
Our oldest(18 now) is really into tree and medicinal plant ID books and sketching nature.( she actually looks forward to roughing it with the family, to some of her friends surprise:) ).
A small plastic Planisphere and binoculars is a fun time, especially if your away from light pollution:thumbup:
Warm camp slippers are a staple with my girls.

Have fun and be safe
Mark
 
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big +1 for the extra layers, comfy sleeping stuff, and a hot water bottle in the sleeping bag trick (or hand/feet warmers). My lady really doesn't enjoy cold feet; give her something to warm them up as she's falling asleep and she's happy as a clam :D She also enjoys some warm chai/tea in the morning :) Some marinated chicken in a baggie and pasta/potatoes would be nice for the first night if you want to carry it.
 
Of course, all of these wonderful suggestions do behoove you to provide us with a post trip report. Tell us what worked and what didn't. It could help us with making the outdoors a more comfortable experience for our better halves. You know, the ones that the sense to not stand in the rain!
 
Bug repellant, headlamp for her to read at night + toilet trips, decent pillow, plenty of drink (water or gatorade) whilst tramping.
 
A little campfire, a bottle of wine, a couple of winks ....... let nature take its course!
 
Okay, this is a weird thing, but it just occurred to me. Talking to my mom and others, a lot of ladies seem to be afraid of the whole 'lack of outdoors bathroom' scenario. I don't know how one brings this up, but it is a real fear they have. How do you go to the bathroom when there isn't a toilette?

It kind of gnaws on their psychie, they develop preconceptions of how horrible such an experience might be, and they are too embarrassed to bring the subject up.

You might just politely indicate what, facilities wise, you anticipate being available and if there is no outhouse, what you expect the procedure will be. Explaining that you will make a bathroom in a private area by digging a hole and providing a log to sit on with the TP role near by will give them a lot more confidence than saying - "use a leaf and by the way make sure it isn't poison oak...."
 
kgd said:
Okay, this is a weird thing, but it just occurred to me. Talking to my mom and others, a lot of ladies seem to be afraid of the whole 'lack of outdoors bathroom' scenario. I don't know how one brings this up, but it is a real fear they have. How do you go to the bathroom when there isn't a toilette?

It kind of gnaws on their psychie, they develop preconceptions of how horrible such an experience might be, and they are too embarrassed to bring the subject up.

You might just politely indicate what, facilities wise, you anticipate being available and if there is no outhouse, what you expect the procedure will be. Explaining that you will make a bathroom in a private area by digging a hole and providing a log to sit on with the TP role near by will give them a lot more confidence than saying - "use a leaf and by the way make sure it isn't poison oak...."
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That's a good point, KGD:thumbup:
My wife was already woods savvy when we met, but it was really nice that she was there to help me teach our daughters how to make this a comfortable experience.
When we've brought friends that were a little freaked out about going in pitch black night, my girls did a great job of teaching. And your 'right on' in making a good setup. Log nearby when possible for balance, hole, some dirt for throwing into hole, flashlight, toilet paper in a baggy and some wetnaps and a small garbage bag attached to the log. Not near a water source and a good check for poisen Ivy, Sumac, Chubacabre...

Mark
 
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For our tenth anniversary, I took my wife on a weekend backpacking trip. The evening dinner (I made it!) was freeze-dried steak, green beans and shrimp cocktail, with fresh onions and mushrooms. And a pair of gold ear-rings she had been wanting!

Very enjoyable memory - we stil talk about it sometimes! :thumbup:
 
Grampa said:
For our tenth anniversary, I took my wife on a weekend backpacking trip. The evening dinner (I made it!) was freeze-dried steak, green beans and shrimp cocktail, with fresh onions and mushrooms. And a pair of gold ear-rings she had been wanting!

Very enjoyable memory - we stil talk about it sometimes! :thumbup:
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Vary cool, Grampa:thumbup:
The surprise gifts I have made for my Ladies on camping trips are some of the things they wear most often:)

Mark
 
You have a lot of stuff to take in now. I'm going to suggest a pack mule. :D
 
ha ha I took my girlfriend for a 5 day 50 mile hike. I started with a pack that weighed 40 pounds and hiked out with a pack that weighed 60 pounds. I try not to take her on long hikes anymore. now it is usually overnighters or 2 nights,less than 5 miles a day, in the summer.
 
BOOMSTICK said:
ha ha I took my girlfriend for a 5 day 50 mile hike. I started with a pack that weighed 40 pounds and hiked out with a pack that weighed 60 pounds. I try not to take her on long hikes anymore. now it is usually overnighters or 2 nights,less than 5 miles a day, in the summer.
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Good point here.

Especially on the first backpack or first hike, choose an easy destination:
not too far and not too much altitude gain or loss. Keep packs as light as
possible. Occasionally ask about how she is doing. Ask specifically about
blisters. Let her take the lead on some parts of the trail, and watch how
she is walking; it can tell a lot. Look for any kind of limp or other oddity.

Be ready to do all cooking in case she is too tired.
Even if she is a good cook, she may not be immediately proficient at
outdoor cooking. Show her the hints and kinks of stove or fire cooking
as you do it.
 
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