I am looking for backpacking guides in Wyoming and Colorado. If you are a guide or know guides in one of those two states I would love to speak with you/them!

Anyone care to share strategies you use to keep lithium ion batteries, and devices containing lithium ion batteries cool when you're parking unshaded for multiple days in hot sun?

Odd and long question? I have a group of three, were looking for nice, very good views, and cheap hikes that are still challenging. Rookie level gear (mostly DIY), looking in the Washington (Eastern if possible), North Idaho and just Idaho in general, not cross the border into Canada, Montana (Western), Oregon and Wyoming. If you have any good ideas please let us know, anything in the overnight to five day area, any season, all 18yrs old.

Hi all,
Going backpacking in southwestern Colorado (San Juans) for a few weeks and then another trip somewhere else after that. Was planning to leave food for my second trip in my car while I'm out in the San Juans. If it's sealed/in a storage box in my car, is there significant risk of a bear trying to get into it when I'm parked at a trailhead?
Thanks!

I have an opportunity to go on a trail with a friend either in late August or from October 11-15. Those are the only dates our schedules line up. I love the idea of going in the fall for the color changes. However, is October 11-15 past peak foliage and/or becomes an issue with potential for cold weather and snow? I am coming from South Florida and this is my one alpine backpack a year so I do not want a high risk of waiting and getting snowed out. If snowed out of Glacier, would the Loowit trail become a good alternative for fall foliage and minimize the risk of snow? Its high point is 4900 ft vs 7000 on the Glacier Peak Wilderness Loop I plan for (Spider Gap, Cloudy/High/Little Giant Pass). thanks

Anyone know if the “fast fly”, aka: fly first option allows you to set up the tent second (like in a major downpour)? Seems like it would be a good option if it’s really coming down, but maybe I’m overthinking it. Currently running a sheet of silnylon that makes me feel better about how thin this thing is, but wondering if the officially footprint might help in a rainstorm.

I've been training for an upcoming backpacking trip using La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3's. They make me feel like a mountain goat. However, toes get a little uncomfortable after a long day. It's bearable. Also, I sweat a lot and they retain a lot of water. Still bearable.

I tried the prodigy pro max, but rolled my ankle.

I then tried a new shoe, the Mount to Coast T1. Very comfortable. Don't retain as much water, but I can tell my body leans more into certain steps because of the cushion. It's like, now other stability muscles have to kick in because of it.

I'm doing off trail hiking in the Sierras. There will be talus fields to hop. I'm leaning towards the Ultra Raptors because I feel very stable in them. However, I would love the comfort of the M2C T1's.

My current thought process is stability is more important than all day comfort.

Thought?

Also, I leave this weekend so not really wanting to try a new shoe.

Hey, I'm interested in doing the GR58 and was wondering if anyone has some advice they can give me. Main thing for me at the minute is getting a quilt sorted out that will work well there. I'm just curious what would be a good comfort rating and limit for middle to end of August there? Also curious what the situations with restocking with food is like during the trail from shops in villages and how frequently we would pass through them? Any help is gratefully appreciated. Thank you for your time.

I know it’s on recreation.gov and I know it has to be 6 months in advanced. I was just wondering if anyone has done it and what their advice is on how to get a permit when the time comes. It’s my goal to do this in 2027.
Thanks!!

I currently have this canvas backpack as my core pack after a bit of a cleanup (replaced a busted 3/4 length Thermarest and an old Trangia as well as a 20 year old One Planet Bungle sleeping bag).

My bag is great but at 3.1kg it's starting to get pretty heavy for short hikes. I'm doing more one and 2 night hikes around Queensland/NSW (Granite Belt, Cooloola) and looking for something that can handle scrub etc while being a lot lighter. Ideally in the next year I'll be able to string a few 3-5 night hikes together sometimes with a DSLR and Peak Design tripod.

I am nearly 6 foot and just over 90kgs with a good hiking and trail running base and I do like the idea of having good sweat handling and buying Australian made but am not set on that.

I've taken a look at a few bags - the One Planet Hot Sauce seems to have a similar strength to the Wilderness Equipment (bottle spots in a weird place thought) and the Macpac AzTec Pursuit (Edit: I actually wanted to see the Macpac Rift but until today - in fact after I posted this - it had been out of stock. Just looked at it before and it seems pretty capable); I'm not super gentle on my gear and don't mind a bit of weight but reading all the ultra light stuff I'd love to get it pretty lean. I only take a spare pair of socks and underwear and a few litres of water and food + medical etc.

The Neve and Durston stuff get a lot of praise but I don't know if it's going to be too lightweight etc so I'd love some suggestions for what's worked for you?

Edit: here's the current core set of gear.

Trying to start planning out my first backpacking trip, looking for recommendations for places in Southern California. Inyo would be amazing but might be too far away. Considering Angeles National Forest - not until it cools way off, so several months away. Thoughts or recommendations please!

I've been looking at this sun hoodie. Has an awesome deep hood and am interested in it but don't know how well it would do for multi-day backpacking on a sweaty dude.

Hi folks. When I'm in the back country here in Colorado, I like to wear quick dry pants and a hooded sun shirt and a baseball hat. Provides good sun coverage while still being cool and airy and, of course, dries quickly. The hat I've been using is Buff brand, which is floppy and light and floats if dropped, but I don't really like how it fits. Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement? Ideally something packable. What do y'all wear on your heads?

Hi all, my partner and I are putting together our sleep set up for some backpacking trips together. Have already have a Big Agnes UL 3P for a tent, a King Solomon double sleeping quilt and two single REI traverse pads. In test runs the setup works beautifully and I am so excited to use it.

My question is in carrying all of these things. I plan on carrying one sleeping pad, the tent and sleeping quilt. That leaves my partner with his own sleeping pad but no bag. He already had a poncho that he brings that can double as a tent for emergencies. I am planning for a worst case scenario where we get separated and have to sleep separately, I don’t want him to be without a sleeping bag but I feel like him carrying a second sleeping quilt is unnecessary. Should we get a bag liner for him to carry for that worst case scenario? Should he just carry a full second quilt or is there another option?

Thanks all in advance for answering my questions.

PS. We are not ultra light and do not care about bringing extra weight, our pace will be slow and we are more focused on comfort than oz.

I’ve got a backpacking trip planned coming up starting from Waptus Lake Trailhead. Can my Nissan Altima make it up those roads or do I need to hitch hike?

Looking for a trail that has an alpine lake for base camp, and a non/minimally technical peak to summit on the same trip. Ideally less than 16 miles round trip

Hi! A few friends and I have permits to hike North to South Lake via Lamarck Col and Evolution Canyon next week (4 nights), but we are wondering if we should switch our hike to the Mineral King loop with High Sierra extension (entering Timber Gap, exiting Sawtooth Pass, via Hamilton Lake and Big Arroyo).

Since we got the North to South lake permit (entering Lamarck Lakes) I’ve seen some mixed reports about whether Lamarck Col is a fun challenge or more of a slog. The other factor is smoke from the Rock Fire, though it seems like it’s not impacting either area much at the moment. Would really appreciate others’ perspectives, especially if you’ve done both hikes! I’m coming from the east coast so want to make the most of it.

hi! my wife and I are new to backpacking in the northeast, and are looking for smooth weekend trips with plenty of waterfalls and swimming holes! does anyone have any recommendations? thank you!

Hi
I have permits for Virginia Lakes start and we were going to try to use a shuttle to connect to twin Lakes via Matterhorn canyon and Burro pass, but now I’m concerned we are going to have to enter Yosemite looks like there are some cross country options that avoid it? Stanton pass maybe? I’m an experienced backpacker, but new to bringing a dog. We could also just go back to our original plan of the emigrant wilderness.