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Long time! This topic made me tune in as I am dealing with so many challenges right now! After a lifetime of serious tripping I wonder if I will ever see my favourite lakes again...
I am scheduled for my second hip replacement September 28. I also have osteoarthritis in my back and will be seeing a back specialist in early August. Pain from both of these issues cause my knees to hurt. It's really hard not to get depressed.
I have a canoe/camping trip into Brain Lake last week of July. I want to find the old growth areas between Brain and Stretch. I also have two backpacking trips planned. Highlands last week August and part of the Western Uplands from Rain Lake last week of September. I come out two days before my surgery.
How will I cope??? I keep asking myself that question.
I still weight train with moderations to my work out and I still hike daily. I think staying as strong as possible is important as we age, no matter the challenges.
Voltarin and ibuprofen
Walking Poles have been an amazing addition taking weight off my joints and helping with balance under load
Really good boots and socks
Ultra light everything…
The best sleeping pad ever
The biggest strategy when heading out right now is not pushing on too far. Just get out there. I plan 1/2 day travels and build in a rest day between travel days. My hip and back really need this so I can continue.
I’ve been planning this summer since February... I can hardly wait and I am trying not to be too worried.
If anyone has any suggestions or other strategies I would love to hear from you!
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Sorry to hear from that Tess. I can empathize with your pain. My hips and knees are starting to fail. Besides strength training (which I need to start doing) and staying active, my answer is ultralight everything. This is especially true for backpacking or trips with a number of portages.
It seems you are on that path but when you mention really good boots and the best sleeping pad ever, I know you are making compromises. I get that too. The other compromise I bet you are making, is you bring dogs. Dogs bring along a lot of extra weight with them. Some things are necessary even with the extra weight.
Everyone I trip with knows I go very light. And I see others try to do it too, but stop with one or two major ultralight pieces of equipment. A canoe or a backpack. Or they pause at the price and feels it's not worth it. If it keeps you out there for a few more years, it's worth the price.
Look at everything! Your bear hang only needs to 2.5 mm rope (Dyneema). You don't need 5 roll top dry bags to compartmentalize your stuff. Put all your dry clothes, sleeping bag, air mattress in a big ultra Sil rolltop bag. You don't need a toiletries bag a zip lock will do, you don't need a filter, use tablets instead. Most people's cook kits are 2 to 3 times bigger than needed. Like wool socks? Use thin lightweight hiking socks. In fact every single piece of clothing you bring can be a third or half the weight if you take the time to layer better or think critically about it.
My biggest advice is to look at everything you bring, make as much as possible do double duty, cut things out, and cut absolutely every last thing down in size. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.
If none of this really works for you, trip with someone younger and get them to carry the big stuff!
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Hi Martin! Lots of good advice!
When I am backpacking the boots and smartwool hiking socks are not a compromise as I never take them off (except at night)! Canoe trips are a different animal of course, so if there are lots of difficult portages I will take lightweight hiking boots. You don’t? What do you wear on portages?
My air mat is a Thermarest Neoair, weighing in at 710 grams. I bought it because my ultra light air mat could not support my back and hip, at all. So that is one of those necessary compromises.
Another compromise I made was a tent. On my first backpacking trip I used a 800 gram Bivy tent. Nice to carry, very difficult to sleep in. You cannot dress in it! So I went back to my 2 kg tent. I am sure if I could scrape together the money I could buy a much lighter backpacking tent that I can sit up in.
What is really interesting after a life time of canoe trips was the new experience of backpacking. In terms of packing the two are unrelated!! I have an excellent Osprey pack and everything I need for a week has to fit in it. I learned Not to tie stuff to the outside. I am still figuring things out.
And yep, on the really long canoe trips I sometimes had a whole blue barrel devoted to dog food. Backpacking I do not take a dog. Canoe tripping I take two.
I never thought of tablets rather than my filter. I am going to try them when I hike the Highlands.
But yes, your points are well taken. The money is absolutely worth it if it gives you a couple of extra years. I am now looking at ultra light tents I can sit up in. Very expensive for sure…. Do you have any suggestions? I think this is a necessary purchase.
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