My preferred trip is two night three days. I end up doing longer trips if I have to drive quite a ways but if I am near home I usually leave early AM and start hiking mid morning. I am a morning person so I am usually awake by 5:30/6:00 and I like to quit early afternoon. Usually no later than 5:00.

Since I am retired I can decide that I am going hiking for a couple of days and just leave tomorrow morning. I usually have enough food prepared for several days so I can be packed and ready to go in an hour after supper to leave in the AM. My food tastes are very simple so preparing and packing food is easy. I much prefer to hike solo so I do not have to work around anyone else's schedule or style. Retirement is great. After working 50-60 hour six day weeks for all of my working life it is great to just have the freedom to go when and where I feel like going.