I only done a couple of group trips. 1 time we all got a group picts and left our sperate ways.The 2nd group trip,we all sat in a giftshop/resturant/cavern tour and munched on burgers-fries and sucked down gatorade and offending all the people,who got too close to us. We were on a three day 26 miler and no streams to wash off in the end of May so you could imagine all four us of stinking up the place. When I go solo,either a day hike or an overniter or two,I get the biggest chocolate chip blizzard or Ice cream cone at the nearest ice cream place and just slowly enjoy the flavor(Yea Right )and then suck down the coldest drink I can find.

Well like most other it depends on the hike.
day hike =some jazz, shed some outer layers, and a snack or two on the drive home

A mutilpe day hike is about the same except that I usally sit down some where and eat, sometimes I'll have a cold meal in the car ready to eat, but usally go somewhere nice. I might even have a nice smoke on the ride home

I ALWAYS go hiking/backpacking/camping with my brother in law. Our standard "end of trip" celabratory ritual is 1 shot, 1 brewski, and a stogie. Nothing beats a victory shot of makers followed by ice cold sam adams and an AVO churchill at the end of a long trip. I'm not much of a cigar smoker, but I've always smoked one in celebration of a long trip; so now it's just become tradition. :-)

I took my two daughters, 13 and 9, who had some backcountry experience, and my 12 year old nephew on his first trip for 5 days in the Wind Rivers last July. After some first-morning-away-from-mom-much-less-out-here-in-the-middle-of-nowhere jitters from my nephew, the trip went pretty well. We ate great, and had a good time.

We finished up in Pinedale and spent some time looking for a celebratory meal. We ended up at the Stockman's. After making the phone calls to let moms know everyone was alive and well, we ordered. I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger and a Heineken. When I took my first bite of that burger, my eyes welled like I was going to break down right there and then. My kids thought I was nuts (so did I, for that matter)!

I'm a teacher and musician. I spend my days searching for the elusive "aesthetic experience." I've found them in symphonies, sunsets, and perfect moments sailing.

I never thought I'd find one in a bacon cheeseburger...

Man, what a burger...

we take a 6 pack of Shiner Bock (Good Texas beer), wrap it in a trash bag and bury it under boulders in the river. Then we mark it with the GPS.

When we walk out a week later we have cold beer at the trailhead.
we all pop the top, slam it and throw the empties at our feet.
the last one done cleans up the mess.

Ive never heard of a "good" beer coming in a can, unless yout throwing bottles.

Shiner is in bottles...and although I'm an Arkansan and prefer Diamond Bear, Shiner Bock is a very good porter...for Texas :-)

When a group of texans is competitively slamming beers in a parking lot, some of the social niceties can get lost in the hubub. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

we have used bottles AND cans of shiner. it comes in both.
this is the only way to keep beer cold for a week to 10 days.

two years ago we went to retrieve the beer only to find a guy fly fishing virtually standing on our hidden cache. after a few minutes he moved over, we lifted the rock and pulled out the beer. he was impressed and said something like "nice catch"

jb:

I'd have to use a GPS or I'd never find it.

Well my personal fave is wolfing down two elk burgers and three beer all at the same time after my Grasslands thruhhike. I invited the tall, cute naturalist from the interpretation centre over to the pub and asked her help identifying all the wildlife. (I showered first, as she was really sweet and I didn't want to clear the pub as her Uncle owned it.) I thought I better leave town right after that as I was salivating a bit too much for Uncle's liking, over the elk burger of course!

The ritual is getting food cooked by someone that isn't using an alcohol stove and a sporke. And of course. a couple of frosty beverages.

For me its hitting "Five Guys" a regional chain that makes some of the best burgers I've ever had. The default burger is a double patty. They are so awful for you (in terms of nutrition) that I limit myself to getting them only after I have hiked for at least a couple of nights. Somewhere about midmorning of the last day, I really start jonesin' for a burger and fries.

Long hot shower, clean clothes, good meal cooked by someone else and an ice cream cone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I kick off my Chaco's and slip into some nice clean dry Smartwool socks and trail runners and crank my 3 thousand dollar sound system with some underground hip-hop. Then I laugh and go straight for the best Mexican food and frozen Margs w/Xtra salt!

Joy!!!