Hiking the Whites - Zeke's First Backpacking Trip
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Join Mike, TJ and I for 4 days of hiking & camping as we initiate our friend Zeke on his very first backpacking trip. GPS Data at www.sintax77.com
For this backpacking trip, we'll be visiting one of my favorite areas, the White Mountains, for a counterclockwise Pemi Loop. While I've previously done this loop as a solo hike, I switched things up this time by doing the loop in the opposite direction, starting with Bondcliff Trail and the Bonds and ending with a traverse of Franconia Ridge to return to the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center where we started. We also stretched the hike out to 4 days and 3 nights. This enabled us to get some more camping and exploring in, and also let us do less miles per day, since this was our friend's first backpacking experience. The White Mountains are home to some of the most aggressive hiking trails in the country, and our goal was to make sure he actually wanted to do this again!
If you've never done a Pemi Loop before and are looking for some more logistics, trail listings, etc, feel free to check out my previous solo video. For this video, we'll be focusing more the amazing views, camp camaraderie and of course, the biggest question - will Zeke ever want to do this again? Or will he want to push us off one of the numerous precipices that the Pemigewasset Wilderness has to offer...
Link to Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Facebook page for more info on the "helicopter situation": / 933606923364409
A note on GPS Data: I didn't record new GPS track data for this trip, as the data from my previous trip pretty much covers the route (in reverse of course) and includes waypoints for points of interest included in that video as well as this one. I also tagged a decent amount of extra potential tent and hammock camping spots as I hiked, which some may find useful if looking for alternative camping spots. www.sintax77.co...
Notable Items and Gear that may be of interest:
My hammock - Dream Hammock Darien, single layer.
Mike's Hammock - Dream Hammock Thunderbird, double layer
TJ's hammock - Dutchware NylonD, 11 foot, single layer with Dutchware Summer Sock
Zeke's Tent - Marmot Eos 1P Tent
Myself and Mike's tarps - Both are Hammock Gear Cuben Hex Tarps with 11 foot ridge lines
TJ's Tarp - Hennessy Deluxe Tarp, 70D model, 12'x10'
My underquilt - Hammock Gear Phoenix 30°
TJ's underquilt - Hammock Gear Incubator 40°
Mike's underquilt - HG Phoenix 40°
Top Quilts - Hammock Gear Burrow 40° for me and 20° for Mike (TJ used a regular sleeping bag as a quilt)
My backpack - Osprey Hornet 46 (no longer in production)
Mike's backpack - Osprey Exos 58
Zeke's backpack - Gregory Contour 70
I would like a follow up with Zeke. A post hike interview after the memories of pain have passed. 😸
Hey Sintax, great video as always.
Just wanted to comment on Zeke. I'm heavy set guy that's working on getting in shape while getting into backpacking, and it was a bit painful for me to watch Zeke on this trip. Obviously, you know Zeke and I don't, and that trumps anything I can say. And also I respect your expertise as a backpacker, I can't compare with that either. But I feel like there's a couple of things that you did that were pretty inadvisable for a new guy.
Firstly, for a guy that doesn't seem to be in backpacking shape, (i.e. talking about his heart pounding) I strongly feel that the White Mountains are NOT a good first trip. The White Mountains are challenging to even the most seasoned backpacker, and aren't a good place to try out for the first time.
Also, I can only speak for myself, but I would not have appreciated how much you left Zeke behind. If you don't have good trail sense, it's not hard to get lost.
I love your videos and I'll always be a viewer. But I hope Zeke had a good time and doesn't think that this trip was necessarily representative of what backpacking might be like.
I agree 100% Edwin - leaving Zeke behind was very stupid and potentially dangerous.
I am very disappointed in this video. The safety of the group was compromised multiple times. Leaving an inexperienced hiker to fend for himself, putting him in a drain field, hiking in the dark with no purpose. Sintax77 I love your videos but this video was disappointing and I have lost respect for your channel because of this video. It’s a good example of how not to take a group hiking.
Wow, that guy Zeke is an animal! What a beast! Unbelievably hard trip for a beginner.
Excellent Christmas Day adventure. So happy for Zeke, the sense of acomplishment can be felt. One of our favorite areas to hike. Makes you miss the trail. Merry Christmas to you, Sara & Trailkilla
"Oh my God, is that a building?" I almost spit my lunch all over my keyboard. Good job Zeke, way to hang in there.
At least Mike has his hiking boots. Thanks for sharing and maybe when I’m back from my tour in Japan we can cross paths and hike and hammock life camping. I have a good story about my first hiking trip.
Kudos to Zeke! I hope he isn't scarred for life! As always good stuff.👍🏻
Zeke made it look easy compared to my first trip! It's a wonder I ever got out again. Great vid!
You are good friends to Zeke. I feel for him. I remember my first multi-day backing trip in the Adirondacks at 13 y/o. The elevations seemed to go on forever. I became hooked and 30 years later I'm still backpacking. Great job Syntax77
Super proud of Zeke!! It gets alot easier buddy, great job. It's not easy going hiking with experienced backpackers that are used to pounding out miles, despite what people say, not many people could have kept up as well as you did.
P.s. Hiking poles
I live in NH and hike those mountains all the time but still enjoy watching your videos. The loop is a hell of a first hike.
Merry Christmas
I like Zeke, I hope he enjoyed it and I hope he becomes a regular on trips with you guys.
As a perennial heavy, I can feel Zeke's pain. But I always get through it, I'm better for it
Zeke was blessed to have experienced hikers on his first trip. Looked like an awesome hike. I would also be interested in seeing Zekes pack content to see what made it heavy :)
I just finished my AT thru hike and when we went through that section we stealth camped on top of Garfield in the old fire tower base. It was a clear and amazing night.
Zeke was a beast!
Getting above the tree line and seeing the views is my favorite part about hiking in the Whites.
My advice for Zeke. Hiking poles. Helps keep your legs from doing all the work. Especially on the decent.
How do you know they didn't suggest them? How do you know that they didn't suggest to only bring one extra pair of socks?
Had a bad day did we?
Awesome video as always. I was hoping you were going to bust out a matching tennis ball colored jacket to match your shirt and hat. Zeke did great. I felt his pain! Being the new guy or the guy who isn't in as peak physical condition as the rest of the gang can be discouraging or frustrating if you don't have a strong will. I myself have been left behind many times because my other hiking friends are so freaking fast! As you learn to pack less and learn more, the hikes will get easier and the ratio of misery:joy will shift in a positive direction. Keep hiking Zeke! Enjoy the solitude of hiking alone for an hour or so at a time. I bring along my ipod nano on trips with a small golf-ball size speaker. Its great to listen to music on the trail, especially in bear country, and it lifts spirits around the campfire. Glad ya'll made it back safe and didn't need a chopper. Oh, and canned wine was first mentioned several years back on Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Great episode. The whole gang gets wasted on canned wine. lol. All the best fellas! -jP
Great trip, Zeke was awesome for first hike, hope he does more, thanks.
Great video! Nice to see all level of trail experience. Hats off to you Zeke. Way to stay with it.
Zeke's first backpacking trip and you take him on what was named America's hardest day hike....you guys are some real ball busters. A guy we took on a couple of our trips dubbed us Suffer Tours.
In all seriousness, you brought him on a trip with amazing views he'll never forget. He must be hooked.
Thanks for the early Christmas gift posting this. Another amazing video. I'm sure I'll be replicating your trip within the next year. Thanks man.
This was the most senic hike you have done. Ican't believe zeke did as well as he did.
BRUTAL intro to hiking. The whites are not easy, but a ton of fun, that is once you have a good idea what to expect.
15:00-15:17 Looks like his ass is hovering over the rock, LOL
Sintax77. I would love to see you continue recording during cheeseburger time. Especially when you have a group your hiking with. Just thought that interaction would be fun. Happy New Year!
If you're going to stay at Guyot in the summer - get there early in the day to get a spot. It's very popular.
Good job ZEKE!!!!!!!!!!
As always, great video. I really like Mike's comment about bringing unnecessary stuff. Do you guys ever look back on the old videos (especially "3 Days on the PA-AT" ) and ask "what were we thinking?" it has been fun to watch the evolution of your kit through the years and helped inform what goes in my pack now.
+Mach One Oh yes, we reminisce about that pretty often actually, and usually have a good laugh. :) You know what though, for the most part those memories usually serve as a reminder that there's minimal excuse to just get out there and have fun. Sure, we brought a lot of stuff for virtually no reason due to inexperience, and I may have been carrying a humongous $20 Walmart hunting jacket strapped to the outside of my pack instead of an 8 oz Montbell down jacket, but I'm glad we still made it happen. Those are the journeys that made our current adventures possible.
+sintax77 No doubt. On my first trip to Linville I had a GIANT backpack filled to the brim with everything imaginable-tent, hammock, rain gear, fishing gear, stove, fuel, enough clothing to dress a small village, etc... I remember thinking on my way out of the Gorge, "where are they going to land the helicopter, because I'm not going to make it." It was a great trip though!
Trail kicked Zeke's ass, that's how we all start out. Great trip, best wishes for the New Year.
Shug has some good hammocking tips!
+crisopher johnson Shug has a great channel! He's funny, but also has a lot of good ideas and tips. He tries to answer most of his comments.
Most enjoyed hike video yet. I like all of them, but really enjoyed this one in particular. The vibe, companionship, and those amazing paradisiac views! Congrats to you Zeke. And as usual, thank you Sintax77 for this video. Happy holidays to you!
Of course, now I have to wait till I'm out of work to watch it. can't wait! always good stuff!
Very nice trip, beautiful views. Awesome of you guys to take a newcomer along.
-Jacko
Tell Zeke awesome job I always take my time and enjoy the views ,Great video Sintax
Great Video Sintax77! This is one of my favorite hikes! Back in 1987 my friend Mark Kimball and me did the exact same hike, but the weather was a lot worse - A LOT WORSE. What started as a warm rain turned in freezing rain and 40 mph+ gusts above treeline on Bond Cliff Trail. It was absolutely dangerous, but, my extensive training and experience in the Whites prevailed - we were prepared and we made the best of a cold, windy, and rainy day. When we got to Guyot shelter, the caretaker was astonished to see us - there was no one else on the trail or at the shelter. We proceeded to get drunk and smoke up the finest weed with the caretaker in his tent - great ending to a grueling day. PS - I did not like to see that you let Zeke get separated - not cool or safe. That usually breeds extra contempt and anger from all. You ALWAYS hike as a group - and the slowest person is ALWAYS put in the front. Backpacking in a group is all about having fun and enjoying nature as a group. I was taught this as a Ranger in Training - then Ranger at Mead Wilderness Base in Center Sandwich NH.
Yes! A new Sintax adventure! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. The peri loop is one of the best!
Props to Zeke for sticking it through, may have been rough at times, but he did it!
Finally, a long awaited, proper Sintax77 backpacking adventure Thanks for the video. I've gotta do that loop!
Great video as always! Congrats Zeke - not exactly the beginner slopes for you there! And you guys got some great weather for the Whites.....
fantastic !! thankyou ,was with you all the way, love your videos .
Love your videos! Just did the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore hike last weekend. Can't wait to get out again.
Unicorn bacon just blew my mind
Zeke did great! I figure his pack will be several pairs of socks lighter next time.
Christmas came early. Love the hiking videos sintax. Have a Merry Christmas.
+gandj19 Thanks, you too!
+gandj19 Couldn't agree more, been looking forward to more vids! Merry Christmas!
Laying in my hammock in my backyard in northeast Pennsylvania on December 21st watching sintax. I couldn't ask for a better start to vacation!!
Great video... luckily for Zeke you guys made it a 3 nighter instead of 2. I took my wife on a 2 night Pemi Loop as her first backpack. Got to see a sunset on top of Lafayette... which was awesome but completely unintentional and meant a couple hours of night hiking down to a camp! Oops
I've always favored he Pemi Wilderness valley over the ridge though. Zeacliff/Zealand Valley, Thoreau Falls, Shoal Pond, Ethan Pond, Lincoln Brook/Owl's Head, Stillwater Junction, secluded camp sites with awesome swimming holes, bushwacks up Whitewall with incredible views... and it's all basically flat ground since a lot of it was railroad a century ago. Anyone who wants something not so strenuous and super secluded definitely give it a shot! Unless you're on the Ethan Pond trail you might go a weekend without seeing another human.
Another great video! I feel for Zeke. Im a work in progress myself. Thanks.
I remember my first backpacking trip. It was solo, with thunderstorms. Was going for 30 miles, only did 12 miles before giving up do to the rain, high winds and trees blown over the trail. I did check the forecast the day of my trip. It was 20% when I started but never underestimate Texas spring weather. Great scary,fun trip. Hope your pal Zeke will tag along on future adventures and thanks for the early Christmas present Sintax77, it was a great one. Happy Holidays.
Great work sintax; it was definitely worth the wait. I think it might be the best video you've ever done.
Great video my friend! Really enjoyed it. Have a great Christmas, all the best, Robin.
Great vid man! Hey tell Zeke, "Hats off to him"!
This is gonna be me next year. Started collecting gear. Time to get my city dwellin self back in country boy mode of my youth.
I went to school at Plymouth State which was about an hour from Franconia. Beautiful place!
Great vid Sintax, have been looking for this and it was great. Congrats to ZEKE and a job well done. Hope he does more.Take care and be safe. Dave
Favorite quote - "yeah man"
Christmas is early! I've been waiting, waiting, waiting. Thanks for posting!
That's an old railroad rail. There was a steam railroad going up in there as far as it could go to extract the timber back in the day. And the old bridge supports across Franconia Brook that the hiker bridge was built upon.Still some railroad ties in the ground on the flat part.
Awesome vid, I can definitely sympathize with Zeke, I need to get in better shape before trying that stuff. Happy that he and y'all pulled it off.
Another great video! Thanks for taking us along!
Congratulations to Zeke! I can't believe someone's first backpack would be a Pemi Loop! He reminds me of myself when my daughter (age 30) and I hike. I am slow and she goes a little ahead, but not as much as you guys did. Sintax's late night on West Bond looked like our 48 finish a couple years ago - socked in. Glad Zeke made it. Hope to see him in your adventures again!
+Beckie Jani Thanks, Beckie. I'd be willing to bet that we'll be seeing Zeke again in a future adventure. He told me he's anxiously waiting for Spring to arrive so he can get out on another trip somewhere and give it another go.
This one was extra entertaining watching Zekes first hike. He should be proud of himself for sticking through it. There is a video on youtube called Postholes - a JMT Documentary. This guy and his friend fly out to CA to hike the entire JMT after months of planning, in part one, his friend quits after 4 miles LOL.
I had an unrelated question, I know I saw it in one of your videos but I can't find it - you talk about using handwarmers to keep your batteries from dying in the cold I think, just wondering if you had any specific tips on how/when you use the warmers and how effective it is. Thanks!
first trip and you got him doing the "Death March" that is awesome
Been waiting for this vid. Great vid guys, always a great time to watch you and Mike having a good time, then add TJ and a newbie (Zeke)... was a classic! Keep em coming man, you never disappoint, unless we count the waiting lol... -Nate
woohoo, been waiting for this!! Just in time for Christmas! happy holidays Sintax and great job Zeke
42:48 comment.... Ouch.. with the OD rate in NH.... dang... i laugh.... but at the same time shook my head...
Syntax, love your work and travels. Especially love the winter vids. Thanks for making all this work available especially since doing this takes a lot of time.
Wonderful, wonderful video and kudos to Zeke who started off shaky but toughed it out to the very end. I think his hiking career is by no means over. I know that cheeseburger must have tasted mighty fine! Well earned.
Super Epic to see my son and daughter, Scout and Tumbles on this video. They completed their Thru Hike October 11, 2015. Thanks for giving them a shout out.
+Satchero Hey, that's really cool! Glad to hear that they were successful on their Thru Hike. Tell them we said congrats! :)
+sintax77 They said Thanks!
Mercy what a brutal looking trail. Nice quality job on the edit Sintax.
Week off and a Sintax77 video. What a way to start the holidays. Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone.
really enjoyed this one. great job Zeke!
Long wait is well worth it!
So is Zeke going a second backing hike with you guy"s
Xmas came early! Cheers for uploading this, was wondering when the next hiking trip was going to be here.
Been watching peoples threw hikes on the AT. Was wondering has that ever crossed your mind ? Also would be great follow up on this video, by taking Zeke bag and show him and us on what you would suggest on lowering the bag weight.
Looking forward to your next video.
Have a Merry Christmas.
nice to see a good hiking vid seems like forever but worth the wait
I love the part of "crossing the streams". Makes me laugh every time. Keep up the great work @sintax77 #trailslippers (felt so bad when that happens to him )
yayaya new video, great job as always. have a great holiday sintax77
What an awesome outdoor adventure, I enjoyed it immensely. It looks like you gentlemen had a great time in the outdoors. Take care and always have fun. 🤗
Stayed at the same campsite at Garfield Pond as you did about a 3 weeks ago. Super windy campsite that night for us.
Great video. Putting the Pemi loop on my short list.
thank you very much sintax keep up the good videos great content
Worth the wait - thanks again!
Awesome as always!
Thanks for sharing
God bless you
🤗HUGS🤗
Awesome!!!! The views are just beautiful and this looked like a lot of fun!
Man, so jealous of those views. Great video.
I hope Zekemakes another hike
Wine? Wine? Come on guys...Everclear not only can fuel your stove but can also quench your thirst. Dual purpose and saves grams! ;)
Loved it! Thanks for another great video!
Zeke is 'Gardner' from Platoon... surprised he made it through his first ambush....
+whiterook85 And I am Gardner for real. But a far better version. Lol
I was going to say Private Pyle. Lol
Just Go Backpacking looks to have Private Pyle, Daywalker!
I really enjoy watching the videos. I hope you continue to document your adventures and keep keeping me entertained
+Kyle Robinson Thanks, Kyle. I'm certainly planning on it!
I'm still amazed at your non-use of trekking poles. I've hiked that very trail before and without trekking poles I probably would have broken a leg. I'm also a klutz. I've backpacked in the Rockies, and despite the name, the trails were typically smoother than in the White mountains, but my knees hurt just thinking about hiking Franconia ridge area.
Also, that is a hell of a hike for a first-timer. I didn't hike the Whites until I had been backpacking for a couple of years.
+Alexander Finlay Yeah, I was just discussing this with my dad over the weekend. I think if it weren't for the fact that I usually have a camera in my hands (or at least the need to deploy one quickly), I would often be carrying some poles. Because of the filming though, they used to always end up on my pack. Hell, I practically begged Zeke to take a pair or borrow my winter ones (I always take them in snow / ice). I think they may have helped him more than he may have realized.
Great video as always, super job zeke
It's cool watching videos of places you've hiked before and recognizing spots, in this case I've done the Franconia ridge loop. Wouldn't mind checking out a different part of that area. Also planning on heading back to Mt. Washington.
Awesome video - Gotta work up to this with my son. Some day!
Awesome adventure guys, I loved the video. That Pemi loop really looks like a sweet backpack hike. Thanks to your previous videos of the area I have put it on my bucket list of places to visit, hope to make it someday. Thanks for sharing the trips with us. I don't often comment on your videos but I am always watching and always enjoy them, keep them coming my friend!
Awesome! I can't wait to watch the rest after work. Thanks for this great video! Bob
+uptrail71 Thanks, hope you enjoy it!
+sintax77 Very Good! Great work on the editing! Tell Zeke that uptrail71 gave him a 2 thumbs up for his first backpack trip doing the Pemi Loop. He held his own! I sure hope that he goes backpacking again. I train on a 7 mile loop in my area before a trip. It helps us get ready for a trip like the Smokies last summer. Also great job TJ. Bob
Nice video. It was like I was THERE.
I love these videos. Merry Christmas