Backpacking
is hard work. There is no way around it. You get tired, the pack is heavy,
bugs are biting, it's freezing and it's boiling at the same time, Some
cynics have described backpacking as "long walks of drudgery separated by
an occasional beautiful view" *. It takes a special person to appreciate
this past time. In spite of what the travel logs tell you, it isn't simply a
walk in the park. Probably 80% of the people who try backpacking are surprised by
the effort required and caught off guard by the fact that it isn't always
fun. If you're new to the sport, don't let me discourage you. It's a rich
and rewarding pastime that I have enjoyed for over 30 years. At the same time,
don't be naive about the amount of effort that will be required.
*Rob Horne - Sept 2000 on the
Mineral King hike
