Where should I backpack?.

**TheCrew2019** · 03-23-2019, 06:55

Originally Posted by OCDave

Start close to home. Finding something with minimal travel time might allow you to stretch a 2 night hike into 3 or 4 nights. Close to home means maybe you can get out once or twice a month rather than just once this summer, months from now. Both the SHT and Porcupine Mountain Wilderness are fantastic destinations but, more nights out would be favorable even if the destinations were less scenic. Those are my thoughts.

I have an overnight tentatively planned for May to a state park in the Door County area and that should be a good test of gear. Fingers crossed it starts to dry up!
Good Luck

**michigandave** · 03-23-2019, 07:15

Originally Posted by jdeering

You mean Sunday at green timbers? Lol
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nope, but I hear that was one heckuva a blizzard that blew through there. In my post the wind I referred to was the adventure OneClick and I had at our 17000 acre stealth camp last fall in the UP. Epic!

**goobie** · 03-24-2019, 08:20

[QUOTE=TheCrew2019;1960252]I have an overnight tentatively planned for May to a state park in the Door County area and that should be a good test of gear. Fingers crossed it starts to dry up![QUOTE]

You could make the 2 hour trip down to SprinterGiving for your gear shakedown, there will be plenty of experience hangers in attendance for help and advice if you need it. There's some really good hiking in the area too, you can hike the IAT from camp.

https://hammockforums.net/forum/show...C-gt-April-5-7

Is it just me or does this thread have most of the ingredients for a group hang?? Lots of talk about the North Country Trail and people favorite hikes.....

**alifeoutdoors** · 03-24-2019, 09:39

Originally Posted by goobie

Is it just me or does this thread have most of the ingredients for a group hang?? Lots of talk about the North Country Trail and people favorite hikes.....

I'd be happy to help set up a group hang/backpack.

**Shug** · 03-24-2019, 10:16

Years ago we did some group backpacking hangs on the NCT. They do tend to get a bit large on the walking trips but somehow we pulled it off. Meeting up and shuttling cars and such was the most tricky part.
Someone has to crack the whip and keep it going.
Shug

**alifeoutdoors** · 03-24-2019, 10:48

Originally Posted by Shug

Years ago we did some group backpacking hangs on the NCT. They do tend to get a bit large on the walking trips but somehow we pulled it off. Meeting up and shuttling cars and such was the most tricky part.
Someone has to crack the whip and keep it going.
Shug

Aye, they can get a bit unruly. I'd be happy to carry the whip and I can also offer up my house/property as a staging ground or what not, as it's right "on the trail" so to speak. I don't generally enjoy large groups for backpacking but this is such a great group of people I'd be happy to put that aside to get everyone up here to enjoy the trail and a (mostly) remote backpacking experience. I never make it to the group hangs because, well, I'm a hiker first, hanger second so hiking trips are always taking the priority during the season.

I love those video sets, always sad that it was shortly before my time, especially now that I live right amongst it. What a group of characters and what a good time. I often camp on the hilltop at Porcupine Lake and think, wow, what a meeting of the hammock minds that would have been.

**goobie** · 03-24-2019, 10:52

Originally Posted by alifeoutdoors

I'd be happy to help set up a group hang/backpack.

Edited, you beat me to it. That's a remarkably generous offer!! Hopefully the group size doesn't get out of hand, but it would be awesome to get a bunch of hangers out hiking!

I have one weekend open in April, still confirming which one that will be. May 11 is the only early weekend I have open that month, i might be able to make the weekend of the fourth work....

Originally Posted by Shug

Years ago we did some group backpacking hangs on the NCT. They do tend to get a bit large on the walking trips but somehow we pulled it off. Meeting up and shuttling cars and such was the most tricky part.
Someone has to crack the whip and keep it going.
Shug

Shouldn't that be signed "Shug, cracker of the whip"

I remember at least one of those videos, it was an early who's who of the hammock world. Good stuff!

**alifeoutdoors** · 03-24-2019, 11:28

Originally Posted by goobie

Edited, you beat me to it. That's a remarkably generous offer!! Hopefully the group size doesn't get out of hand, but it would be awesome to get a bunch of hangers out hiking!

My pleasure, again happy to do it, I'm extremely passionate about backpacking and the NCT here in WI.

I also have this rather unique feature behind my property that would work well if people were coming up late and there needed to be a group camp before taking off on the trail the following day. It's an old resort that was torn down or burned down (not sure of the local history) on the lake behind me. Kind of a neat spot. Would depend on if my house was close enough to the chosen route, it's a healthy seven mile hike down to the north end of the Rainbow Wilderness from home so a bit of stretch to get into the heart of the Chequamegon. Headed to the west though through the Pine Barrens, its a good place to start from. Anyway, many options.

**Loonatic** · 03-24-2019, 11:35

I would be totally up for a NCT hang where hiking is the main course. I'd love to get an introduction to that trail from someone who can point out the ins and outs of it. I would be unavailable the first 10 days in May. Otherwise late April or May would work for me.

If a spring hike isn't feasible, I'd imagine that Sep is glorious and probably a bit less pencilled in for everyone.