“I feel like I can make it, then everybody should make it” is perhaps my worst attribute as a human. Adventure tolerance is real and not all tolerances are equal.
My biggest worry, which impacts us all, is ppl saying they are ok when they are NOT.. now i frontload to get to know the folks i treck with...i dont like trecking with ppl i dont know.. trust is vital
Your candor and humility is very refreshing! It speaks a lot to your character and integrity. I share with you the challenge of carrying too much in my pack. And, as I get older, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to "tough it out." Gonna have to work on my self-discipline of packing light...😞
I like the fact that you humble yourself by sharing your flaws. We all have them and are aware, but still ignore them. It’s called being human. Love your content Eric!
I had to learn to give myself a break about my poor planning. Having ADHD, my executive functions and working memory are not my strong suit... I now make lists and checklists for all my trips and have my husband or a fellow hiker friend go through them to make sure I haven't forgotten anything or added something that's not necessary or relevant for that trip. Then, I follow and cross out each step once done.
Great topic, Eric! The hardest step is the first one: That our actions are not necessarily the best course of action. For me, it was wanting to always seek 'a better spot' to stop hiking and start enjoying the backcountry. Even as I aged (I am now 67), I would always skip a great spot to set up, for that possible better spot. I have now tempered that, and find the trips much more enjoyable.
It’s very insightful that you’ve been able to discover these things about yourself. It’s so easy to see things in others, but so hard to see things in ourselves. Hopefully, we are experiencing these adventures with other people that can act as a mirror to us, and help us see these aspects that we need to change. Nature is an uncompromising teacher….she is the ultimate “mirror”.
Thank you for sharing this, so that we can all learn without having to make these same mistakes! Sharing these experiences goes a long way towards making us all safer in the backcountry.
Takes a big man to admit their mistakes/errors in judgement, especially in public. Respect for that, Eric! Regarding packing too much weight, the backcountry hunting crowd have a good saying for that: don't pack your fears.
I actually like your ballz to the walls attitude to backpacking. Makes you unique in a sea of ultralight backpackers. And you can see the benefits of it, like carrying heavy loads means you are maintaining larger muscles, so you can achieve more without being injured. Also it means that if you ever went on a thru hike, your body would carry those loads easily and be able to enjoy the hike a lot more. Mainly since the Thru hike will force you to carry ultralight gear, and the overall weight will end up being even less than what you are carrying nowadays. Question, isn’t a sun hoodie enough cover against the sun? It goes over the neck and covers the ears well, do I really need the wide hat in addition? It’s a cool hat, just wondering if it’s really needed.
Appreciate this PSA. One thing I do is pack then open it all up a day later and judiciously repack with the goal to remove. I suspect you may not be putting enough time into prep and plan so budget more time to do it. Throw everything in the first round then start taking stuff out in repacking. I also have 1 primary bin for all the minimal essentials and start there before reaching into backup bins of stuff. Thats my suggestion.
"I feel like I can make it, then everybody should make it” I have this mentality too, but it stems from low self-esteem, ope. I have been guilty of ignoring an annoyance (pebble or sand in my shoes, beginning of chafing) during hikes and running ultras and end up with avoidable injuries. I'm glad you're taking better care of your skin! I feel like that's something that's kind of common with millennials, ignoring sun protection or not taking it seriously. I've a family member that's has skin cancer removed, that really opened my eyes to how foolish I was being at times.
Thanks for sharing your honesty. I can’t carry more weight than I need, wait until you’re 60. :) I do carry too much food, but that is because I bring the food that I know I’ll need, but end up not hungry. I’ve had melanoma removed twice, my cousin died from it. Worth the extra weight to take care of properly. Just to share my own folly, I need to be better with my own hygiene..wash face, dirt off legs and feet, etc.
I love videos like this. Having successfull, great trips is all great bit we can really learn from others how to set yourself up better and be safer. Ive been a SAR tech for two years and i have completely changed the way i plan and execute a trip. I really try to mitigate the risks. I will plan shorter legs if its a long or dangerous hike. I now carry an inreach and i carry more med gear (im technically always working being SAR). I too have abused myself in the sun in years past but have embraced the long sleeve life as well. I always have gloves on me now as well. Really enjoyed this one! Be safe.
Hardest part is to admit one’s faults and learn by them, adjust them and improve for one’s own benefit and the benefit of others. So well done kudos 👍❤️
@@ricker76er That’s my point: it’s whether clients found Better Help helpful or not, not whether the therapist has a “ proper license”. The poster was pewling about “bad RUclips press for not having properly licensed therapists”, not whether any clients had found the help they sought or not. I have no opinion about Better Help at all, just wanted to point out that the effectiveness of the therapy is important thing, not the licensure…..
@@SS-qk8oc right. Who needs a properly licensed doctor to perform surgery. If a “therapist” can’t meet the minimum professional requirements to be a called such. Then they have no business treating patients.
I believe it’s always good to be humble in the backcountry, being humble and honest about can save lives, including our own. I’m an over-planner because I’m anxious, I’d sooner bail on a trip than risk something potentially dangerous. But I definitely overpack on food every single time.. I’m dialing it in a little bit though, figuring out what’s really necessary (always way less than what I expect) and I need to work on my water and electrolyte usage too.. I have a bad habit of saving water and not drinking enough as I hike :/
OK, but you now own a good suit like a proper grownup, and you got some epic footage of a flash flood. How many people ever capture a vid like that?! :) Food: One of the take-aways from Dan's GC experience should be that protein is the macronutrient that we need in the greatest quantity every day. Carbs are lighter, but skimping on the protein can have serious consequences. Learn from his experience. Toenails: Yes! How is it that _nobody_ makes titanium straight-edged clippers for backpackers?!!! Come on, Vargo, Ruta Locura, Suluk46, LoopAlien -- we NEED those!
It's true that inadequate protein right before a severely taxing exercise (such as the GC in snow) can lead to a higher likelihood or worse symptoms of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, but to say that we should eat more protein than any other macro flies in the face of all nutrition research. Excessive protein has its own problems, including potential kidney damage.
@@carl13579 That is just plain wrong. Look up "essential amino acids" and "essential fatty acids". We need robust amounts of the former and only tiny amounts of the latter. Everything else is just calories (speaking about macronutrients). Dan did far more damage to his kidneys by not eating enough protein than he could ever do by eating "excess" protein. Most of the fears about THAT are not well supported by the data.
@@carl13579 That is just plain wrong. It is well known that essential amino acids are the nutrients that we need in greatest quantities. Write your own post If you want, but please don't troll mine with misinformation. You could hurt someone.
One failing is to not properly evaluate all participants before the trip - then having the ability to tell those who don't pass muster that they should not (or won't be permitted) to participate. This has translated into less enjoyable trips - for the entire crew as well as for the participant. However, this could also lead to situations that threaten the well-being of the participant as well as members of the crew.
Overdoing it has been my biggest hurdle. I started noticing that I was making little mistakes… which lead to more little mistakes… and then injury. Could have been hiking, snowboarding, cycling, running… I’d stop listening to my body and listen to someone who was cheering me on… ya… I don’t do that anymore. I focus on my own state of being and state of mind. But it took a long time to figure it out.
I trail run and I am such a dingus about my stupid toe nails. I’ll get a cut/blister from my middle toe nail cutting my other toe while running at least once a month! You would think I would remember to keep up with it. Add ingrown big toenails on top of that and it’s the worst! The thing is my toenails look fine and upkept but something about the impact and repetition of running/hiking just does a lot of damage. I’ve yet to find the perfect shoe too because I’ve got wide feet and my toes want to spread out which means I often have to size up in shoe and then it just feels loose with more trip hazards. 😡
As always, enjoy the content. No matter hiking the Grand Canyon, slots, across Glacier or Yellowstone, weather is a huge consideration along with hydration, nutrition, rest, foot care, sun protection, preparedness, planning and communication. Many consider hiking and backpacking, the same as taking a long walk - far from it. We literally train, practice, plan and prepare for every adventure. I often think back to our half and full marathons, our ultras. Never would or could I conceive of doing one of those distances without training, practicing, planning and preparing, let alone going those distances day after day like on a transcontinental journey. We think more needs to be written or videoed on long distance athletes. We are in our late 70’s and our ability didn’t just happen nor were we naturally able, whether on our feet or on a bike.
I have become a long sleeve wearer as well. Bugs and sun…I have not started wearing a wide brim hat yet, but Imma gonna look on line for one now. Thanks for the umpf…I just started watching your videos and I like them- the trips are fabulous and in amazing places. Thanks for sharing this- I definitely need a checklist pinned to the door and to use it. Im always forgetting something…🥰🥾🥾😎⛺️
Thank you for being honest. It takes courage. I’ve had a chunk taken out of my forehead from skin cancer and appreciate the PSA. Also - ignore the clowns bashing you. Chances are they don’t have half your knowledge , or half your sincerity. Stay safe!
Thanks! I appreciate that. I generally am not bothered by criticism. If the feedback is valid I can learn from it. If it's totally off base, it probably says more about the person writing it than me. Anyway that's my take.
I used to have the same issue with bringing to much food. Then I switched to opsak’s for each day and it helped me better plan what I had for food that day in each individual bag. It helped me shed at least 5 lbs of over packing.
I appreciate you telling us this so we can make better decisions. I don’t want to be a person who only believes lard is greasy by sticking my hand in the bucket! You gave a great list of items we can buy to give you credit, but what about that bracelet? May God continue to watch over you and give you more wisdom and insight.
My biggest mistake is overestimating my ability. I learn my limits and I work with what I can do. You never know until you try. And I set new goals. That is what I love about hiking and backpacking
My worst habit is getting really silent and losing myself in thought and how pretty the scenery is and forgetting to make lots of noise. I live in Alberta, Canada and everywhere we hike is prime bear country. I always bring bear spray though!
lol, I'm the total opposite. I have to plan everything out. I am very uncomfortable with just winging it or figuring things out as I go. If I'm interested in a topic, I'll research it to death beforehand.
I do the exact same thing with food 😂 as a Alaskan I either have way too much (usually backpack hunting) preparing for being weathered out for up to a week or I do the exact opposite packrafting and hiking in the summer. Think oh yea I don’t need much I’ll have all the fish I want and then get down to the last couple days and be like well I guess I have to spend time catching dinner if I want to eat today
I also do the I can do it everybody can. Some people just can’t take living for a week to 10 days in a mild hypothermic state or I can packraft that creek out no problem so this person can. It just made me be very very picky about who I go with. Just because someone says oh yea I think I could do that well if I haven’t seen you do somthing worse I’m probably not inviting you.
As a rock climber I like to say if you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough. Each mistake is an opportunity to grow, and your transparency surrounding your mistakes shows a good mindset of being honest about where you need to improve. Thanks for sharing!
That's true. There is something about wanting to push yourself and grow you abilities that only comes from going to the edge of what you can currently do.
I am bad at taking too many clothes and not enough food…still working on this…the human condition…maybe do a round table discussion video with Dan and Frozen about planning…that would be a very popular video 😊🇨🇦
Something I am really bad at is communicating how I am feeling. Because of my connective tissue disorder, I can have blood pooling issues. I can go from feeling fine to "icky" pretty quick. Then communicating that icky-ness is more difficult because brain fog is one of the symptoms.
oooh that's a really interesting one. Communicating with partners is a really important thing, and nobody wants to feel like a burden so it's common to feel like you just need to tough it out. But ultimately that can be even more dangerous!
Skin cancer..ah yes indeed. I burn at the slightest suggestion of sunshine. When i spent a lot of time outdoors in Colorado.. i put sunscreen on, usually stopping about my eye brows. Who wants sunscreen running in your eyes. Many years later, basil cell carcenoma, a MOHS procedure above my right eye brow, 2 years later spots above my left. One was pre cancerous, got it frozen off. Sun damage is cumulative. I first went to a dermatologist when i noticed a large thing in my ear. It wasn't cancer. I see a dermatologist once a year now for screening. If anyone spends time out doors, you might want to consider having a dermatologist look you over ATB
Hi Eric, I have a favor to ask. I've seen your video where you shared a setup you use with your wife, specifically a double wide sleeping pad so you can cuddle. I am unable to find which video was that. Could you help me find the video or recommend what sleeping pad you use for 2 person setup? Thank you very much. 🙏
My longest trips are only 5-7 days max but I just guess approximately how many calories I’ll need per day and then make a pile of food that gets me there with each pile being one day. I tend to overestimate my needs by a few hundred calories which leaves me with enough food for an extra day or so. You’ll do it a few times and then the challenge will be to mix it up rather than over packing.
I'm pasty white myself...but don't overdo it on covering up your skin, or else you could end up vitamin D deficient. I've ended up in 32-degree water twice. I got swept away by a flood-swollen river at a usually tame ford once. At age 47, I ignored & rationalized the signs & symptoms of a heart attack while hiking a long-distance trail. I ended up having "the big one" less than a week later. I almost got stomped by an elk in Yellowstone - a motorcyclist saved me. Dumbest move of all: I drove over a bridge with overflowing water during a flood with my infant daughter asleep in the backseat...I don't know how my car didn't get swept away because the water was way deeper than I'd thought. I hear that on the Appalachian Trail, there's a shelter called The Priest (in Shenandoah NP?), & folks write down all their "sins" & shortcomings in the trail registry as some kind of catharsis...we both ought to go there some time! ;-) Don't beat yourself up, brother...just keep going & sharing & loving & learning & experiencing & serving others & laughing! Woo! :-)
Sun damage is permanent, you just increase the risk. I screen up just to go on a 20 minute bike ride these days (I'm older). You'll also find out, at some threshold of age, the too-heavy pack can damage your joints and joint damage turns into arthritis. I, fortunately avoided this, but you don't want to go there if possible.
My biggest issue with myself is eating and drinking. If I have 12 miles to go, I'll just go 12 miles, then sit down and try to eat or drink something. I don't do a good job of eating on the way. This means I usually can't eat enough when I do stop. As a diabetic, this can cause some serious issues.
The failures to plan and figuring everything will just work out go a long way toward explaining your inability to accept culpability for camping in the wrong place on the north rim after the Becker incident. It’s still absolutely baffling why anyone sees any controversy over a permitted media representative getting the book thrown at them for violating the rules after attesting to follow them as a group leader and even having them clarified by rangers onsite. We all live and learn about these kinds of things we’re blind to, hopefully after not too many lessons!
Eric, remember that preparation, while not 100% will save you 99% of the time. Even though it’s hard, being disciplined in this area will save you a time of trouble later.
Hey one thing I notice is that you appear to be more comfortable on backpacking trips than most people. Do you think that's true? For myself, I definitely think I've pushed myself and others a bit too far. It's hard to turn off the competitive switch and say "We don't have to make it if you feel like turning back". I hate that idea. Hiking and backpacking are unique sports in that pushing yourself farther is so easy to do. Just pick a harder trail.
No offense to you or Dan, but I think all of us here on the other side of the screen knew that Dan doing that hike in the winter was a bit much for him. You live in NAZ, Dan lives in SE WI. You do big hikes, Dan films videos on his short WI sized trips. The Kettle Moraine system that he goes to when he leaves the backyard, the camps are 1-2 mile hikes if you choose the right parking lot. North Rim is 6600 feet elevation gain, in the winter with snowshoes. That's a big hike, even for experienced backpackers. Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen the video where you guys talk about physical readiness.
10-12lbs of EXTRA FOOD is incredible. My base weight is significantly less than that. Yikes, man. That is sketchy. Please just carry an extra meal or 2 per week if you feel the need for a safety net.
Appreciate the honesty. I too overpack food. I think it's the "you pack your fears" kicking in. I routinely end a trip with 50% or more of my food weight remaining. I tend to over estimate what I'm going to eat, especially on the first night. It is not uncommon for me to eat nothing by a bar for dinner on the first night. I just don't have an appetite.
Not a single backpacker on youtube talks about taking care of yourself physically. People can walk with a pack. Blisters suck. But if you can not pull yourself up if you fall maybe you should worry a little less about your gear and more about yourself.
I usually don’t comment on videos but the Zion canyon experience was completely irresponsible on your part. I am sure others that you hike with look up to you. You put lives in danger because you didn’t think it would rain even though the weather report said it might. You shouldn’t be allowed in a canyon ever again. You come off as this guy who hikes and has all this experience but this made me lose all respect for you. If you can’t be smart don’t take others with you.
Well...humans make errors in judgement all the time. Usually they move on to the next error. That's what humans do. The trip was in 2012. I'm pretty sure Eric wouldn't repeat. Please do tell how you live an error free life, inquiring minds want to know.
Your human... and a rare honest one willing to let others learn from your mistakes. You're also not medically trained, don't beat yourself up over Dan, he's an adult and an experienced backpacker, so much so he teaches a course on it. He made his own decisions. It wasn't your fault.
my takeaway: just because a person has a hiking youtube channel with tens of thousands of followers, corporate sponsorships, and regularly dispenses information as if they are an authority on the subject… doesn’t mean that they actually know what they are talking about. this guy is a total clown.
Sounds like you need to dial back a bit on some things. Slow it down. Carrying extra food is never a bad thing IMHO. Yes you also need to do a better job at self care. You're not in your 20's anymore.
This may be one of the best and most important backpacking videos ever. Humans make errors. Things happen. Nobody knows everything and that's ok. You need to reflect and try to improve. Great video, Eric and thank you for the openness and honesty
I may have a simple but good tip for you Eric for dialing in your food and water. Just make an Excel file where you define miles, temperature and terrain. Then note down everything once you come back from your trip. After around 20 trips you should get an everage what you need to carry out. You can then make the decision to overpack around 20% until you feel comfortable to get the margins down.
I do one pile of food for each day. Then add some bars and a Raman (or two if the probability of not making it in time is high). It has worked well thruhiking the AT and the PCT and lots of shorter stuff. It's often not exactly right, but most of the time very close.
I wonder if you should outsource the food part of your trip. Have someone else basically pack your food for you who's very good at it. It seems you have a lot going on. Why try to do everything? Is that why you may have forgotten your first aid kit, toe nail clippers. It's okay not to be Superman. Great video.
My worst habit? Not telling anyone where I'm going and when I expect to be back. I've been doing this for 50 years. However, I do carry a Zoleo satellite device now.
As a fellow ginger boy, l concur with the skin issues. I’ve had a few skin issues and lost a few plugs of skin to cancer/ precancerous tissue. My mom use to warn me about that! Moral: listen to mom!
Thanks for being honest. This video may save someone's life. Last summer on my yearly CDT section, the snowpack was RIDICULOUS. I didn't have the tools (crampons, axe), so I bailed out 2 days early. Know your limits.
I am speaking to myself... Just stop doing stupid crap. Accidents happen. That's enough on its own. Don't help Mom Nature by doing stupid things because you think??? "I got this" or just laziness. Really hard to believe that I made it to 60, alive and in relatively good shape. I have rolled the dice way too many times, and I have changed my wicked ways. Well, most of them at least. Turns out that being over-cautious and under-zealous makes my trips much more fun. I'm still "out there" and mostly solo but just more careful. Thanks, dude. 👴
Here is what I don’t understand. I think twice he said “hundreds and hundreds” of hiking trips. How did he get this far, and not learn relatively basic risk management (ignored weather) and trip planning? You make a mistake, and you learn from it. And as a 20+ year outdoor educator who is actively dealing with skin cancer…. YES! Take care of yourself. Eric, I wrote a book about trip planning that I will HAPPIly send you for free. Just reach out.
I'm a bad planner because I believe that with my skill level I don't need to know all the details. Plus, with my lifelong disposition I have a general belief that it will all work out for good.
Hey man nobody is perfect, pretty hard on yourself. Knowing what other people’s capabilities are is rather difficult. But to blame yourself 100% isn’t fair, the people that join you are intelligent humans. They are just as capable to access their own capabilities for a trip
everyone shares some amount of responsibility on these as I didn't force anyone to go. But, I still think with my experience level I need to assess regularly where my weaknesses and blind spots are. I don't say this to hate on myself but to provide an opportunity to learn, for myself and others.
Fascinating. I would have never imagined you are bad at planning with all you've done! I used to be a backcountry nps ranger and LOVED backpacking. But I abhored the planning stage of packing and did just as you with food. Larely due to that, my activity evolved into trail (and off trail running) where I carry nothing but a handfull of raisens in my pocket and feel free as a bird. But I do, at times, miss the magic of the multi-day trek..........
Hi Eric, congrats for you honest video. One trip, there is a youtuble nutricer exppecialized in hiker, Backcountry Foodie, maybe it will be a big oportunity for both chanels !!! Thanks for all man, take care.
I appreciate your being forthcoming about your bad habits and the potential or problems. People can learn from it and it takes a bit of courage to share this with others. That said, don't beat yourself up. Most people can't accurately read others or what they're experiencing, even trained medical physicians, at least not in the 'heat of the moment' so to speak, say while actually facing tough conditions in the GC. We humans are also pretty bad at determining risk, but that's in part because risk is almost always a non-zero number, which means that an event actually occurring is non-zero and sometimes actually happens despite odds are being almost indistinguishable from zero.
I appreciate that you're recognizing and being honest with your failings, but that flash flood in a slot canyon thing, based on how you describe it, would be an immediate and permanent blacklist for me. It's too big and fundamental of a failure in judgement.
We become stronger by doing the things that make us feel weak. You have identified your weak points and now you can work out how to do those things better.
My worst backpacking habit is procrastinating packing for trips. I out it off until the last minute and then I have to scramble to get everything together. This year, I started packing way ahead of time, with limited success. I will keep trying though.
Adding segments in videos or full videos highlighting things like hats and skin protection stuff including sunscreens, gloves, etc. would be great. I have had pre-cancer cut off me and there definitely aren't many videos that really touch on this stuff.
Please remember mosquito protection. 9 years ago I lost my bestie to West Nile Virus. We'd been hiking in the SoCal coastal hills where the TV show M.A.S.H. was filmed.
an easy way to think about the food thing.. about 2.5-3lbs of food per day is 4500-5000 calories, so if you are walking the big miles on a long walk, use that. If you know you wont decrease your pack weight, then start slinging some weights..swings, squats etc. The reality is, IF the weight is not bothering you, and you are able to walk with “those other guys” then what is actually the problem? That whole “oz == pounds, pounds == pain” is a misnomer..
Eric, on your review, I got the Bridger 55, with a tiny wife I carry most of the weight and the bridger is great at that. At almost 63 I've had 4 skin cancer surgeries, with good insurance, it's still almost a 1000 per surgery. Sun block is way cheaper.
First off, I think you make truly beautiful content. I also know I have been hard on you about how much crap you carry. I would love to see you truly try and go lighter say a base weight of 8 to 12 pounds not including your video gear. Maybe reach out to other content creators and get some tips on reducing weight. Using the Liter Pack web site really helped me. I was able to see where all my weight was coming from and then I reduced it by purchasing lighter gear. I made some mistakes but it's now pretty dialed in. We tend to pack our fears so that is where I assume all that extra food is coming from. I don't mind being a little hungry, I hate carrying lots of crap. As far as making poor decisions I think we all have. You have been given a couple of hall passes, learn from them and don't do them again. If you are hiking with others, you are only as strong as your weakest partner. Don't be afraid to turn around, the mountains will always be there. If you are to hike with truly fit hikers, you would soon find out that carrying all that extra gear is truly not cutting it. The weight wears you down. When I am finishing a thru hike or a long few hundred-mile section and I run into those just starting off many I can tell are carrying way to much crap just by the way they move, walk and their slower pace. Don't be to hard on yourself, make the changes and move on. You are correct on the skin cancer. My wife is 51 years old, and she has had two spots removed and it's no joke. I am wondering how many pounds of camera equipment it takes to help you make such beautiful videos. Your filming is first rate and I think the best on RUclips when it comes to backpacking. Take care
If you're increasing your pack weight due to skin protection and self-care, wouldn't it be better to accept a heavier pack (including backup nutrition) and avoid scenarios that would be riskier with a heavier pack, than to reduce your safety margins and pack weight which might lead you into attempting riskier scenarios because you think you're safer with a lighter pack?
I wouldn't worry too much about the too much food thing if I were you. If you're comfortable carrying it, everything is fine, isn't it? But then again I have a hard time to understand the "my pack is lighter than yours" attitude of some people, going lighter the ultimate competitive point. 🤷♂
Are you sure you don't have ADHD because my wife has it and she struggles with all these things too.(esp the planning)! But at least you're aware you struggle and be kind to yourself, we all have areas of blindness and good friends will not only reign you in, but complement your strengths and weaknesses!
I saw my self in you. I always tell my self not to make these type of mistakes but i do them anyway. Even though my mistakes are not the same my approach is just the same as yours. Maybe its time to embrace our mistakes and not be so harsh to our selves. I plan throughly my food intake and pack them. Buttt i don’t eat them and end up giving the food away or feeding the stray cats and dogs with the tuna packets that i didn’t touched. I wake up late don’t eat breakfast and sometimes even skip lunch… i dont know why i am so careless. But i cant stop my self to take a decent brake and enjoy eating proper food. Different mistake same approach… take care
Arrested for camping 2 feet from a legal spot and getting a record 🤔 maybe you should have spoken in a foreign language and asked for asylum? Or become part of the DOJ. Just saying.
“I feel like I can make it, then everybody should make it” is perhaps my worst attribute as a human. Adventure tolerance is real and not all tolerances are equal.
My biggest worry, which impacts us all, is ppl saying they are ok when they are NOT.. now i frontload to get to know the folks i treck with...i dont like trecking with ppl i dont know.. trust is vital
Your candor and humility is very refreshing! It speaks a lot to your character and integrity. I share with you the challenge of carrying too much in my pack. And, as I get older, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to "tough it out." Gonna have to work on my self-discipline of packing light...😞
thanks so much! Yeah I don't like having to be disciplined. What's the fun in that?!
@@eric_hanson For sure...
I like the fact that you humble yourself by sharing your flaws. We all have them and are aware, but still ignore them. It’s called being human. Love your content Eric!
I had to learn to give myself a break about my poor planning. Having ADHD, my executive functions and working memory are not my strong suit... I now make lists and checklists for all my trips and have my husband or a fellow hiker friend go through them to make sure I haven't forgotten anything or added something that's not necessary or relevant for that trip. Then, I follow and cross out each step once done.
We really appreciate your honesty @Eric Hanson 💯
Glad to hear it! Thank you!
Great topic, Eric! The hardest step is the first one: That our actions are not necessarily the best course of action. For me, it was wanting to always seek 'a better spot' to stop hiking and start enjoying the backcountry. Even as I aged (I am now 67), I would always skip a great spot to set up, for that possible better spot. I have now tempered that, and find the trips much more enjoyable.
It’s very insightful that you’ve been able to discover these things about yourself. It’s so easy to see things in others, but so hard to see things in ourselves. Hopefully, we are experiencing these adventures with other people that can act as a mirror to us, and help us see these aspects that we need to change. Nature is an uncompromising teacher….she is the ultimate “mirror”.
Yes! Mother Nature is the ultimate teacher like you say.
Thank you for sharing this, so that we can all learn without having to make these same mistakes! Sharing these experiences goes a long way towards making us all safer in the backcountry.
This honesty is amazing! Love your content man!
Thank you! I hope it's helpful for all of us.
Takes a big man to admit their mistakes/errors in judgement, especially in public. Respect for that, Eric!
Regarding packing too much weight, the backcountry hunting crowd have a good saying for that: don't pack your fears.
Thanks for being open, honest, admitting mistakes, and sharing the bad, with the good. I recently started therapy and have found it beneficial.
So glad to hear! Therapy was a life changer for me.
Excellent set of tips. Many of us should probably confess to several of these habits that we can improve on.
Thank you for your honesty.
I actually like your ballz to the walls attitude to backpacking. Makes you unique in a sea of ultralight backpackers. And you can see the benefits of it, like carrying heavy loads means you are maintaining larger muscles, so you can achieve more without being injured. Also it means that if you ever went on a thru hike, your body would carry those loads easily and be able to enjoy the hike a lot more. Mainly since the Thru hike will force you to carry ultralight gear, and the overall weight will end up being even less than what you are carrying nowadays. Question, isn’t a sun hoodie enough cover against the sun? It goes over the neck and covers the ears well, do I really need the wide hat in addition? It’s a cool hat, just wondering if it’s really needed.
Appreciate this PSA. One thing I do is pack then open it all up a day later and judiciously repack with the goal to remove. I suspect you may not be putting enough time into prep and plan so budget more time to do it. Throw everything in the first round then start taking stuff out in repacking. I also have 1 primary bin for all the minimal essentials and start there before reaching into backup bins of stuff. Thats my suggestion.
"I feel like I can make it, then everybody should make it” I have this mentality too, but it stems from low self-esteem, ope. I have been guilty of ignoring an annoyance (pebble or sand in my shoes, beginning of chafing) during hikes and running ultras and end up with avoidable injuries. I'm glad you're taking better care of your skin! I feel like that's something that's kind of common with millennials, ignoring sun protection or not taking it seriously. I've a family member that's has skin cancer removed, that really opened my eyes to how foolish I was being at times.
Hey, when we hiking again?
Thanks for sharing this, Eric. 👊🏻
Yo Devin! You know anywhere cool?
Thanks for sharing your honesty. I can’t carry more weight than I need, wait until you’re 60. :) I do carry too much food, but that is because I bring the food that I know I’ll need, but end up not hungry. I’ve had melanoma removed twice, my cousin died from it. Worth the extra weight to take care of properly. Just to share my own folly, I need to be better with my own hygiene..wash face, dirt off legs and feet, etc.
I love videos like this. Having successfull, great trips is all great bit we can really learn from others how to set yourself up better and be safer. Ive been a SAR tech for two years and i have completely changed the way i plan and execute a trip. I really try to mitigate the risks. I will plan shorter legs if its a long or dangerous hike. I now carry an inreach and i carry more med gear (im technically always working being SAR). I too have abused myself in the sun in years past but have embraced the long sleeve life as well. I always have gloves on me now as well. Really enjoyed this one! Be safe.
Hardest part is to admit one’s faults and learn by them, adjust them and improve for one’s own benefit and the benefit of others. So well done kudos 👍❤️
You should ditch Better Help as a sponsor. It's gotten some pretty bad RUclips press lately for not having properly licensed therapists.
He dont care lol, free cash
It’s not the license that’s important…..
If someone gets help…
@@SS-qk8ocare they helping though?
@@ricker76er That’s my point: it’s whether clients found Better Help helpful or not, not whether the therapist has a “ proper license”.
The poster was pewling about “bad RUclips press for not having properly licensed therapists”, not whether any clients had found the help they sought or not.
I have no opinion about Better Help at all, just wanted to point out that the effectiveness of the therapy is important thing, not the licensure…..
@@SS-qk8oc right. Who needs a properly licensed doctor to perform surgery. If a “therapist” can’t meet the minimum professional requirements to be a called such. Then they have no business treating patients.
thank you for that honesty! it helps us all that are starting in this outdoor world and look up at you as someone to learn from. thanks from Brasil!!
I believe it’s always good to be humble in the backcountry, being humble and honest about can save lives, including our own.
I’m an over-planner because I’m anxious, I’d sooner bail on a trip than risk something potentially dangerous. But I definitely overpack on food every single time.. I’m dialing it in a little bit though, figuring out what’s really necessary (always way less than what I expect) and I need to work on my water and electrolyte usage too.. I have a bad habit of saving water and not drinking enough as I hike :/
humility is a good trait for backcountry adventurers. As for water, it's much more helpful in the body than in your pack!
Very courageous Eric allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Well done.
OK, but you now own a good suit like a proper grownup, and you got some epic footage of a flash flood. How many people ever capture a vid like that?! :)
Food: One of the take-aways from Dan's GC experience should be that protein is the macronutrient that we need in the greatest quantity every day. Carbs are lighter, but skimping on the protein can have serious consequences. Learn from his experience.
Toenails: Yes! How is it that _nobody_ makes titanium straight-edged clippers for backpackers?!!! Come on, Vargo, Ruta Locura, Suluk46, LoopAlien -- we NEED those!
It's true that inadequate protein right before a severely taxing exercise (such as the GC in snow) can lead to a higher likelihood or worse symptoms of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, but to say that we should eat more protein than any other macro flies in the face of all nutrition research. Excessive protein has its own problems, including potential kidney damage.
@@carl13579 That is just plain wrong. Look up "essential amino acids" and "essential fatty acids". We need robust amounts of the former and only tiny amounts of the latter. Everything else is just calories (speaking about macronutrients).
Dan did far more damage to his kidneys by not eating enough protein than he could ever do by eating "excess" protein. Most of the fears about THAT are not well supported by the data.
@@carl13579 That is just plain wrong. It is well known that essential amino acids are the nutrients that we need in greatest quantities. Write your own post If you want, but please don't troll mine with misinformation. You could hurt someone.
@@billb5732 You can look up any health site - 10-35% of your calories should come from protein.
One failing is to not properly evaluate all participants before the trip - then having the ability to tell those who don't pass muster that they should not (or won't be permitted) to participate. This has translated into less enjoyable trips - for the entire crew as well as for the participant. However, this could also lead to situations that threaten the well-being of the participant as well as members of the crew.
Overdoing it has been my biggest hurdle. I started noticing that I was making little mistakes… which lead to more little mistakes… and then injury. Could have been hiking, snowboarding, cycling, running… I’d stop listening to my body and listen to someone who was cheering me on… ya… I don’t do that anymore. I focus on my own state of being and state of mind. But it took a long time to figure it out.
Maybe do more research on your sponsorships.
I trail run and I am such a dingus about my stupid toe nails. I’ll get a cut/blister from my middle toe nail cutting my other toe while running at least once a month! You would think I would remember to keep up with it. Add ingrown big toenails on top of that and it’s the worst! The thing is my toenails look fine and upkept but something about the impact and repetition of running/hiking just does a lot of damage. I’ve yet to find the perfect shoe too because I’ve got wide feet and my toes want to spread out which means I often have to size up in shoe and then it just feels loose with more trip hazards. 😡
As always, enjoy the content. No matter hiking the Grand Canyon, slots, across Glacier or Yellowstone, weather is a huge consideration along with hydration, nutrition, rest, foot care, sun protection, preparedness, planning and communication.
Many consider hiking and backpacking, the same as taking a long walk - far from it.
We literally train, practice, plan and prepare for every adventure. I often think back to our half and full marathons, our ultras. Never would or could I conceive of doing one of those distances without training, practicing, planning and preparing, let alone going those distances day after day like on a transcontinental journey.
We think more needs to be written or videoed on long distance athletes. We are in our late 70’s and our ability didn’t just happen nor were we naturally able, whether on our feet or on a bike.
I have become a long sleeve wearer as well. Bugs and sun…I have not started wearing a wide brim hat yet, but Imma gonna look on line for one now. Thanks for the umpf…I just started watching your videos and I like them- the trips are fabulous and in amazing places. Thanks for sharing this- I definitely need a checklist pinned to the door and to use it. Im always forgetting something…🥰🥾🥾😎⛺️
Thank you for being honest. It takes courage. I’ve had a chunk taken out of my forehead from skin cancer and appreciate the PSA. Also - ignore the clowns bashing you. Chances are they don’t have half your knowledge , or half your sincerity. Stay safe!
Thanks! I appreciate that. I generally am not bothered by criticism. If the feedback is valid I can learn from it. If it's totally off base, it probably says more about the person writing it than me. Anyway that's my take.
I used to have the same issue with bringing to much food. Then I switched to opsak’s for each day and it helped me better plan what I had for food that day in each individual bag. It helped me shed at least 5 lbs of over packing.
I appreciate you telling us this so we can make better decisions. I don’t want to be a person who only believes lard is greasy by sticking my hand in the bucket! You gave a great list of items we can buy to give you credit, but what about that bracelet?
May God continue to watch over you and give you more wisdom and insight.
Hey thanks! If you want the bracelet, you've got to pay a visit to Maria up in the Andes of Peru. It is the way.
My biggest mistake is overestimating my ability. I learn my limits and I work with what I can do. You never know until you try. And I set new goals. That is what I love about hiking and backpacking
My worst habit is getting really silent and losing myself in thought and how pretty the scenery is and forgetting to make lots of noise. I live in Alberta, Canada and everywhere we hike is prime bear country. I always bring bear spray though!
lol, I'm the total opposite. I have to plan everything out. I am very uncomfortable with just winging it or figuring things out as I go. If I'm interested in a topic, I'll research it to death beforehand.
I do the exact same thing with food 😂 as a Alaskan I either have way too much (usually backpack hunting) preparing for being weathered out for up to a week or I do the exact opposite packrafting and hiking in the summer. Think oh yea I don’t need much I’ll have all the fish I want and then get down to the last couple days and be like well I guess I have to spend time catching dinner if I want to eat today
I also do the I can do it everybody can. Some people just can’t take living for a week to 10 days in a mild hypothermic state or I can packraft that creek out no problem so this person can. It just made me be very very picky about who I go with. Just because someone says oh yea I think I could do that well if I haven’t seen you do somthing worse I’m probably not inviting you.
As a rock climber I like to say if you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough. Each mistake is an opportunity to grow, and your transparency surrounding your mistakes shows a good mindset of being honest about where you need to improve. Thanks for sharing!
That's true. There is something about wanting to push yourself and grow you abilities that only comes from going to the edge of what you can currently do.
I am bad at taking too many clothes and not enough food…still working on this…the human condition…maybe do a round table discussion video with Dan and Frozen about planning…that would be a very popular video 😊🇨🇦
Something I am really bad at is communicating how I am feeling. Because of my connective tissue disorder, I can have blood pooling issues. I can go from feeling fine to "icky" pretty quick. Then communicating that icky-ness is more difficult because brain fog is one of the symptoms.
oooh that's a really interesting one. Communicating with partners is a really important thing, and nobody wants to feel like a burden so it's common to feel like you just need to tough it out. But ultimately that can be even more dangerous!
Skin cancer..ah yes indeed. I burn at the slightest suggestion of sunshine. When i spent a lot of time outdoors in Colorado.. i put sunscreen on, usually stopping about my eye brows. Who wants sunscreen running in your eyes. Many years later, basil cell carcenoma, a MOHS procedure above my right eye brow, 2 years later spots above my left. One was pre cancerous, got it frozen off. Sun damage is cumulative. I first went to a dermatologist when i noticed a large thing in my ear. It wasn't cancer. I see a dermatologist once a year now for screening. If anyone spends time out doors, you might want to consider having a dermatologist look you over ATB
yep, skin care isn't just for the fair skinned folk. I'm hoping I have shifted some habits there in time to not haunt me more.
Hi Eric, I have a favor to ask. I've seen your video where you shared a setup you use with your wife, specifically a double wide sleeping pad so you can cuddle. I am unable to find which video was that. Could you help me find the video or recommend what sleeping pad you use for 2 person setup? Thank you very much. 🙏
It’s a Big Agnes Doublewide
Yo! It's the Zenbivy Double. It's soo good! And the video was from our Kauai backpacking trip on the Kalalau trail, one of the best ever!
Just did that trail so good…(and hard) was actually me and my 17 yo’s first backpacking trip 🤙🏽
My longest trips are only 5-7 days max but I just guess approximately how many calories I’ll need per day and then make a pile of food that gets me there with each pile being one day. I tend to overestimate my needs by a few hundred calories which leaves me with enough food for an extra day or so. You’ll do it a few times and then the challenge will be to mix it up rather than over packing.
I'm pasty white myself...but don't overdo it on covering up your skin, or else you could end up vitamin D deficient.
I've ended up in 32-degree water twice. I got swept away by a flood-swollen river at a usually tame ford once. At age 47, I ignored & rationalized the signs & symptoms of a heart attack while hiking a long-distance trail. I ended up having "the big one" less than a week later. I almost got stomped by an elk in Yellowstone - a motorcyclist saved me. Dumbest move of all: I drove over a bridge with overflowing water during a flood with my infant daughter asleep in the backseat...I don't know how my car didn't get swept away because the water was way deeper than I'd thought.
I hear that on the Appalachian Trail, there's a shelter called The Priest (in Shenandoah NP?), & folks write down all their "sins" & shortcomings in the trail registry as some kind of catharsis...we both ought to go there some time! ;-)
Don't beat yourself up, brother...just keep going & sharing & loving & learning & experiencing & serving others & laughing! Woo! :-)
wow you've got some stories too! Yep, going to see the Priest might indeed be a good idea.
Sun damage is permanent, you just increase the risk. I screen up just to go on a 20 minute bike ride these days (I'm older). You'll also find out, at some threshold of age, the too-heavy pack can damage your joints and joint damage turns into arthritis. I, fortunately avoided this, but you don't want to go there if possible.
My biggest issue with myself is eating and drinking. If I have 12 miles to go, I'll just go 12 miles, then sit down and try to eat or drink something. I don't do a good job of eating on the way. This means I usually can't eat enough when I do stop. As a diabetic, this can cause some serious issues.
The failures to plan and figuring everything will just work out go a long way toward explaining your inability to accept culpability for camping in the wrong place on the north rim after the Becker incident. It’s still absolutely baffling why anyone sees any controversy over a permitted media representative getting the book thrown at them for violating the rules after attesting to follow them as a group leader and even having them clarified by rangers onsite.
We all live and learn about these kinds of things we’re blind to, hopefully after not too many lessons!
Eric, remember that preparation, while not 100% will save you 99% of the time. Even though it’s hard, being disciplined in this area will save you a time of trouble later.
Hey one thing I notice is that you appear to be more comfortable on backpacking trips than most people. Do you think that's true?
For myself, I definitely think I've pushed myself and others a bit too far. It's hard to turn off the competitive switch and say "We don't have to make it if you feel like turning back". I hate that idea. Hiking and backpacking are unique sports in that pushing yourself farther is so easy to do. Just pick a harder trail.
No offense to you or Dan, but I think all of us here on the other side of the screen knew that Dan doing that hike in the winter was a bit much for him. You live in NAZ, Dan lives in SE WI. You do big hikes, Dan films videos on his short WI sized trips. The Kettle Moraine system that he goes to when he leaves the backyard, the camps are 1-2 mile hikes if you choose the right parking lot. North Rim is 6600 feet elevation gain, in the winter with snowshoes. That's a big hike, even for experienced backpackers. Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen the video where you guys talk about physical readiness.
It’s easy to think you know better and more when you’re on the other side of the screen.
Sun Days hats!!!!!!!
10-12lbs of EXTRA FOOD is incredible. My base weight is significantly less than that. Yikes, man. That is sketchy. Please just carry an extra meal or 2 per week if you feel the need for a safety net.
6:28 holy shit
I've made bad mistakes in the mountains, too. God's grace prevailed.
Do you have these habits in other parts of your life? Have you ever looked into ADHD?
Appreciate the honesty. I too overpack food. I think it's the "you pack your fears" kicking in. I routinely end a trip with 50% or more of my food weight remaining. I tend to over estimate what I'm going to eat, especially on the first night. It is not uncommon for me to eat nothing by a bar for dinner on the first night. I just don't have an appetite.
I'm entirely self taught. God knows if I'm doing it right or not but I haven't died in the backcountry yet.
Heck yea
Same here. Makes me wonder if what I don't know may kill me one day
well, the best experience is lived experience. I appreciate your style!
Not a single backpacker on youtube talks about taking care of yourself physically. People can walk with a pack. Blisters suck. But if you can not pull yourself up if you fall maybe you should worry a little less about your gear and more about yourself.
Id have more respect for Eric if he got a job instead of plugging better help
I will immediately unsubscribe from any channel advocating for Better Help. Enjoy your money.
Have a good life. Elsewhere.
With some items, I might be going too far with being ultralight.
fucked around and found out XD insane clips in the canyon tho
I usually don’t comment on videos but the Zion canyon experience was completely irresponsible on your part. I am sure others that you hike with look up to you. You put lives in danger because you didn’t think it would rain even though the weather report said it might. You shouldn’t be allowed in a canyon ever again. You come off as this guy who hikes and has all this experience but this made me lose all respect for you. If you can’t be smart don’t take others with you.
I can literally smell the low iq boomer from this comment. What an open mind you have…extraordinary
Well...humans make errors in judgement all the time. Usually they move on to the next error. That's what humans do. The trip was in 2012. I'm pretty sure Eric wouldn't repeat. Please do tell how you live an error free life, inquiring minds want to know.
Well, I hope you unsubscribed and never come back.
Your human... and a rare honest one willing to let others learn from your mistakes. You're also not medically trained, don't beat yourself up over Dan, he's an adult and an experienced backpacker, so much so he teaches a course on it. He made his own decisions. It wasn't your fault.
Glad you’re not a hunting guide …click bait
my takeaway: just because a person has a hiking youtube channel with tens of thousands of followers, corporate sponsorships, and regularly dispenses information as if they are an authority on the subject… doesn’t mean that they actually know what they are talking about. this guy is a total clown.
Unsubscribe and never come back.
first🦾
Sounds like you need to dial back a bit on some things. Slow it down. Carrying extra food is never a bad thing IMHO. Yes you also need to do a better job at self care. You're not in your 20's anymore.
This may be one of the best and most important backpacking videos ever.
Humans make errors. Things happen. Nobody knows everything and that's ok. You need to reflect and try to improve.
Great video, Eric and thank you for the openness and honesty
I may have a simple but good tip for you Eric for dialing in your food and water.
Just make an Excel file where you define miles, temperature and terrain. Then note down everything once you come back from your trip. After around 20 trips you should get an everage what you need to carry out. You can then make the decision to overpack around 20% until you feel comfortable to get the margins down.
I like this! This is a great idea.
@@eric_hanson Hope it helps. Good luck.
Have a nice day 💪🏼
I do one pile of food for each day. Then add some bars and a Raman (or two if the probability of not making it in time is high). It has worked well thruhiking the AT and the PCT and lots of shorter stuff. It's often not exactly right, but most of the time very close.
I wonder if you should outsource the food part of your trip. Have someone else basically pack your food for you who's very good at it. It seems you have a lot going on. Why try to do everything? Is that why you may have forgotten your first aid kit, toe nail clippers. It's okay not to be Superman.
Great video.
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hey I like that! Ralph was a pretty smart guy.
Better help is a scam
My worst habit? Not telling anyone where I'm going and when I expect to be back. I've been doing this for 50 years. However, I do carry a Zoleo satellite device now.
A device is okay, you need to tell someone somewhere your plans. Sometimes devices fail
Leave a copy of plans on your desk or ‘fridge & let someone know where they’ll always be. Or, text them to someone as you start.
Thank you for your honesty. It’s great that you’re reflecting on these things and actively trying to improve. Keep the content coming!
It's an important thing for all of us! Thank you!
As a fellow ginger boy, l concur with the skin issues. I’ve had a few skin issues and lost a few plugs of skin to cancer/ precancerous tissue. My mom use to warn me about that! Moral: listen to mom!
haha it pretty much always comes back to listen to your mother
Thanks for being honest. This video may save someone's life. Last summer on my yearly CDT section, the snowpack was RIDICULOUS. I didn't have the tools (crampons, axe), so I bailed out 2 days early. Know your limits.
I am speaking to myself... Just stop doing stupid crap. Accidents happen. That's enough on its own. Don't help Mom Nature by doing stupid things because you think??? "I got this" or just laziness. Really hard to believe that I made it to 60, alive and in relatively good shape. I have rolled the dice way too many times, and I have changed my wicked ways. Well, most of them at least. Turns out that being over-cautious and under-zealous makes my trips much more fun. I'm still "out there" and mostly solo but just more careful. Thanks, dude. 👴
Great job makin it to 60! Glad you could learn!
Your propensity to carry extra will change as your health and age changes.
Oh noes! Not betterhelp on this channel, too. 😢
Here is what I don’t understand. I think twice he said “hundreds and hundreds” of hiking trips. How did he get this far, and not learn relatively basic risk management (ignored weather) and trip planning? You make a mistake, and you learn from it. And as a 20+ year outdoor educator who is actively dealing with skin cancer…. YES! Take care of yourself. Eric, I wrote a book about trip planning that I will HAPPIly send you for free. Just reach out.
he's human..........
I'm a bad planner because I believe that with my skill level I don't need to know all the details. Plus, with my lifelong disposition I have a general belief that it will all work out for good.
Hey man nobody is perfect, pretty hard on yourself.
Knowing what other people’s capabilities are is rather difficult. But to blame yourself 100% isn’t fair, the people that join you are intelligent humans. They are just as capable to access their own capabilities for a trip
everyone shares some amount of responsibility on these as I didn't force anyone to go. But, I still think with my experience level I need to assess regularly where my weaknesses and blind spots are. I don't say this to hate on myself but to provide an opportunity to learn, for myself and others.
Thank you for your honest review of self. 👍😎🇺🇸
It's something we all can benefit from. Thanks!
Fascinating. I would have never imagined you are bad at planning with all you've done! I used to be a backcountry nps ranger and LOVED backpacking. But I abhored the planning stage of packing and did just as you with food. Larely due to that, my activity evolved into trail (and off trail running) where I carry nothing but a handfull of raisens in my pocket and feel free as a bird. But I do, at times, miss the magic of the multi-day trek..........
I think I'm bad at planning because I have done it so much. So I feel like I can just wing it and everything will be fine.
Hi Eric, congrats for you honest video. One trip, there is a youtuble nutricer exppecialized in hiker, Backcountry Foodie, maybe it will be a big oportunity for both chanels !!! Thanks for all man, take care.
I appreciate your being forthcoming about your bad habits and the potential or problems. People can learn from it and it takes a bit of courage to share this with others. That said, don't beat yourself up. Most people can't accurately read others or what they're experiencing, even trained medical physicians, at least not in the 'heat of the moment' so to speak, say while actually facing tough conditions in the GC. We humans are also pretty bad at determining risk, but that's in part because risk is almost always a non-zero number, which means that an event actually occurring is non-zero and sometimes actually happens despite odds are being almost indistinguishable from zero.
I appreciate that you're recognizing and being honest with your failings, but that flash flood in a slot canyon thing, based on how you describe it, would be an immediate and permanent blacklist for me. It's too big and fundamental of a failure in judgement.
We become stronger by doing the things that make us feel weak.
You have identified your weak points and now you can work out how to do those things better.
My worst backpacking habit is procrastinating packing for trips. I out it off until the last minute and then I have to scramble to get everything together. This year, I started packing way ahead of time, with limited success. I will keep trying though.
Adding segments in videos or full videos highlighting things like hats and skin protection stuff including sunscreens, gloves, etc. would be great. I have had pre-cancer cut off me and there definitely aren't many videos that really touch on this stuff.
Please remember mosquito protection. 9 years ago I lost my bestie to West Nile Virus. We'd been hiking in the SoCal coastal hills where the TV show M.A.S.H. was filmed.
an easy way to think about the food thing.. about 2.5-3lbs of food per day is 4500-5000 calories, so if you are walking the big miles on a long walk, use that. If you know you wont decrease your pack weight, then start slinging some weights..swings, squats etc. The reality is, IF the weight is not bothering you, and you are able to walk with “those other guys” then what is actually the problem? That whole “oz == pounds, pounds == pain” is a misnomer..
Eric, on your review, I got the Bridger 55, with a tiny wife I carry most of the weight and the bridger is great at that.
At almost 63 I've had 4 skin cancer surgeries, with good insurance, it's still almost a 1000 per surgery. Sun block is way cheaper.
First off, I think you make truly beautiful content. I also know I have been hard on you about how much crap you carry. I would love to see you truly try and go lighter say a base weight of 8 to 12 pounds not including your video gear. Maybe reach out to other content creators and get some tips on reducing weight. Using the Liter Pack web site really helped me. I was able to see where all my weight was coming from and then I reduced it by purchasing lighter gear. I made some mistakes but it's now pretty dialed in. We tend to pack our fears so that is where I assume all that extra food is coming from. I don't mind being a little hungry, I hate carrying lots of crap. As far as making poor decisions I think we all have. You have been given a couple of hall passes, learn from them and don't do them again. If you are hiking with others, you are only as strong as your weakest partner. Don't be afraid to turn around, the mountains will always be there. If you are to hike with truly fit hikers, you would soon find out that carrying all that extra gear is truly not cutting it. The weight wears you down. When I am finishing a thru hike or a long few hundred-mile section and I run into those just starting off many I can tell are carrying way to much crap just by the way they move, walk and their slower pace. Don't be to hard on yourself, make the changes and move on. You are correct on the skin cancer. My wife is 51 years old, and she has had two spots removed and it's no joke. I am wondering how many pounds of camera equipment it takes to help you make such beautiful videos. Your filming is first rate and I think the best on RUclips when it comes to backpacking. Take care
If you're increasing your pack weight due to skin protection and self-care, wouldn't it be better to accept a heavier pack (including backup nutrition) and avoid scenarios that would be riskier with a heavier pack, than to reduce your safety margins and pack weight which might lead you into attempting riskier scenarios because you think you're safer with a lighter pack?
I wouldn't worry too much about the too much food thing if I were you. If you're comfortable carrying it, everything is fine, isn't it? But then again I have a hard time to understand the "my pack is lighter than yours" attitude of some people, going lighter the ultimate competitive point. 🤷♂
Are you sure you don't have ADHD because my wife has it and she struggles with all these things too.(esp the planning)! But at least you're aware you struggle and be kind to yourself, we all have areas of blindness and good friends will not only reign you in, but complement your strengths and weaknesses!
I saw my self in you. I always tell my self not to make these type of mistakes but i do them anyway. Even though my mistakes are not the same my approach is just the same as yours. Maybe its time to embrace our mistakes and not be so harsh to our selves. I plan throughly my food intake and pack them. Buttt i don’t eat them and end up giving the food away or feeding the stray cats and dogs with the tuna packets that i didn’t touched. I wake up late don’t eat breakfast and sometimes even skip lunch… i dont know why i am so careless. But i cant stop my self to take a decent brake and enjoy eating proper food. Different mistake same approach… take care
I highly recommend watching Gear Skeptic's videos on hiker nutrition.
Arrested for camping 2 feet from a legal spot and getting a record 🤔 maybe you should have spoken in a foreign language and asked for asylum? Or become part of the DOJ. Just saying.