Hello

My name is Kimberly and Im a student at Syracuse University. Im currently doing a project for my Writing class, and I need to ask some questions about "backpacking". Would anyone be interested?

Figi,

Ask away! You may want to change the title of your thread to something more appropriate(




Did a moderator move this in mid-typing?

i'm down...I'm not too far removed from school, and have a decent amount of experience in my 27 years, from minimalist survival camping, car camping, and my new additiction UL backpacking....

feel free to email me - marknmielke#gmail.com

I get bored at work and love talking about bping!

Happy to help. With two daughters of my own just out of school, I miss these assignments!

I grew up near Syracuse and my wife is an alumna, so I would be happy to help!

Hello

This is Kimberly again! I appreciate your cooperation!! These questions are open to any and everyone. I need as many opinions and information as possible. Sorry if the questions seem long winded, answer them as truthfully as possible. Thank you all again!!

1) What is a backpacker?

2) Do you consider yourself a backpacker? Why or why not?

3)How long have you been backpacking?

4)Why did you start backpacking?

5)What do you think all backpackers have in common?

6)What do you think is the ratio between men/women/age?

7)What type of connotations (if any) do you think the term backpacker carries?

8)Because you or someone you know is a backpacker, how does that effect his or her personal life, forming families, marriage, maintaining friendships etc?

9)How do backpackers differ from mainstream society, and what do you think mainstream needs to understand about what you do?

10) After all of my research, I haven't found how a backpackers past, or childhood plays into their passion for traveling; whether money, or lack thereof plays a huge part in wanting to see the world. How do you feel about that?

Thank you so so much!

My email address is
dobabygirl290@Yahoo.com

Kimberley, are your questions about European-style backpacking, in other words, low-budget travel? If so, you may be on the wrong forum. This forum is about American-style backpacking, better known to Europeans as wilderness trekking. Most of us have done the former type at some point, but our focus is on the latter. You may get some answers you didn't expect!

#1 A backpacker is a minimalist, willing to carry what they need to survive to experience the next veiw or solitude of the great outdoors!
#2 Yes i do as I could do without other people and feel close to nature and god when in the backcountry.
#3 I stareted backpacking at age 14 with my dad. So I have been at it on then off and on for 32 years.
#4 Dad encouraged it, God bless him!
#5 Love for nture and the outdoors.
#6 70 % men 30 % woman. Seems more woman are the pampered type, Sorry ladies. Age is very diverse but predominant I would guess at 22 to 26 as they just grad college?

#7A love of the outdoors and solitude. Getting away from the concrete jungle is paramount to me.
#8 Well my wife does not backpack so my trips are limited time wise. She supports all my interest. I hike and we travel weekends on the Harley together. We cant change others but we can compromse to do what we love.
#9 Who gives a dam about mainstream!
#10 False, always vacationed as a child with the familly. I have allways tried to with my own. I Dad hadent encouraged me to backpack as A child, I doubt I would have bought gear and tried it today. Life is so hectic, to slip back to simplicity is the ultimate Quest!

1) What is a backpacker? Anyone who is willing to leave a few creature comforts behind…in return for experiencing a few days with Mother Nature at her beset.

2) Do you consider yourself a backpacker? Why or why not? Yep. We’ll do 4-5 trips a year, about 100 miles or more each summer. It’s an important part of our attempt to stay sane.

3)How long have you been backpacking? First trip was when I was 12. That makes it 45 years or so.

4)Why did you start backpacking? Because this way you see and experience nature unlike anything else.

5)What do you think all backpackers have in common? A backpack. I haven’t found a common political position or philosophy. Of course we really appreciate the natural world—but some hunt and fish, some only take pictures. Some are vegan, some try to live off the land.

6)What do you think is the ratio between men/women/age? Overall, there are far more men than women. But we see more even gender mixes in the younger generation…maybe there’s hope for the future.

7)What type of connotations (if any) do you think the term backpacker carries? Those with lots of experience tend to be pretty confident and self-sufficient, at least in the woods. I sometimes think the backpackers may not quite buy into the massive commericialism of society…until I see some of the equipment in the packs!

8)Because you or someone you know is a backpacker, how does that effect his or her personal life, forming families, marriage, maintaining friendships etc? I can’t make any generalizations about this…sorry.

9)How do backpackers differ from mainstream society, and what do you think mainstream needs to understand about what you do? We slow down and smell the flowers, admire the peaks. And so should everyone else!

10) After all of my research, I haven't found how a backpackers past, or childhood plays into their passion for traveling; whether money, or lack thereof plays a huge part in wanting to see the world. How do you feel about that? My dad was a ranger, so I spent a few summer in the mountains. Nothing calls to me like that scenery, those smells, and those trails.

Happy to help.

1) What is a backpacker?

A person who carries all their gear necessary for their extended stay while traveling on foot.



2) Do you consider yourself a backpacker? Why or why not?

Yes. I participate in activities which require me to fulfill the above definition.



3)How long have you been backpacking?

30 years.


4)Why did you start backpacking?

My father got me into it.


5)What do you think all backpackers have in common?

I would guess most enjoy the outdoors, specifically more natural surroundings as free from human influence.

6)What do you think is the ratio between men/women/age?

Of the people I know, the male/female ratio is 80/20. However it is interesting to note that the female part of the group are usually much more active backpackers. Age? I have been on trips with 5 y/o and 70 y/o.

7)What type of connotations (if any) do you think the term backpacker carries?


Don't know.

8)Because you or someone you know is a backpacker, how does that effect his or her personal life, forming families, marriage, maintaining friendships etc?


I have friends who also enjoy the activity. i also have friends who do not, though they often ask about my trips. My wife doesn't backpack, though she will go on day hikes. If two people cannot "be together" as friends or significant others without allowing the other person to enjoy and participate in different activities, of which one involves being away from the other person for an extended period of time, the relationship will be strained. I am fortunate that my wife and I are able to enjoy different things and this fact strengthens our relationship. We complement each other.


9)How do backpackers differ from mainstream society, and what do you think mainstream needs to understand about what you do?


The biggest difference is we are usually not scared of nature. People pack their fears. Those who have too many cannot fathom carrying all they need on their back as their fears necessitate too much.

The only thing they need to understand is that it is the absence of man's influence which is the desirable in the wild. Actions which begin to compromise this are akin to draining the pool of a swimmer. There already exist a continuum of influences, in each passing generation there is less and less of the "untouched by man". We need to diligent in advocating the conservation of these places.

10) After all of my research, I haven't found how a backpackers past, or childhood plays into their passion for traveling; whether money, or lack thereof plays a huge part in wanting to see the world. How do you feel about that?

A person who grew up participating in certain activities may have a higher likelihood of continuing in those activities or similar ones.

Kimberly,

I only have time to answer one question. I love words and am very happy for your interest in writing. There is a danger in defining an activity by the equipment used. I suspect the dominate use of backpacks is carrying school books, but I am not sure that the students consider themselves to be “backpacking.” Last summer I did overnight hikes with a guy that was recovering from shoulder surgery. He used a lumbar pack with a harness over only his good shoulder. He considered himself to be “backpacking” even though he was not using a backpack.

There is a big difference between writing and keyboarding.

I enjoy hiking, and overnight hiking, backcountry skiing (defined by the gear) and camping.

Beware those dirty, degenerate climbers.

Let us know how your project turns out.

1) What is a backpacker?
Someone who prefers to leave the house, hotel room, and car behind to wonder into the wilderness and commune with nature for periods longer than a day.

2) Do you consider yourself a backpacker? Why or why not?
I consider myself a backpacker because I put stuff into a pack and carry it into the wilderness to camp overnight or longer, even if I am only a few miles from home.

3)How long have you been backpacking?
I have been backpacking on and off for 20 years

4)Why did you start backpacking?
I started when I was eleven and in Boy Scouts

5)What do you think all backpackers have in common?
A love of self-sufficiency, and freedom from society. They also have a deep love of nature.

6)What do you think is the ratio between men/women/age?
Probably 80:20 male/female. The age is pretty spread out.

7)What type of connotations (if any) do you think the term backpacker carries?
Someone who is willing to give up the comfort of a bed and controlled environment to experience what life is really like out there.

8)Because you or someone you know is a backpacker, how does that effect his or her personal life, forming families, marriage, maintaining friendships etc?
It builds on all of these. For me, I take friends backpacking which strengthens our friendship. I take my kids and wife to spend time with them.

9)How do backpackers differ from mainstream society, and what do you think mainstream needs to understand about what you do?
Backpackers don't place comfort really high on their priority list. They realize that with a little more effort, the rewards outweigh the struggle. They are willing to walk a little farther to experience a true wilderness and mother nature experience.

10) After all of my research, I haven't found how a backpackers past, or childhood plays into their passion for traveling; whether money, or lack thereof plays a huge part in wanting to see the world. How do you feel about that?
A passion for backpacking and a passion for traveling aren't related.

1) What is a backpacker?

A backpacker is someone who travels on foot and goes too far to get back to the car in one day.

2) Do you consider yourself a backpacker? Why or why not?

Yes. I like visiting places you can't otherwise get to, unless you drop out of an airplane or something. A backpack is required, usually. Can't get by with just a flintlock rifle, powder horn and tomahawk today, that's illegal.

3)How long have you been backpacking?

Independent trips since 1968; adding supervised trips as a child, since 57. Roughly 50 years.

4)Why did you start backpacking?

I'm always wanting to go places where people don't usually go, and backpacking is how to get there.

5)What do you think all backpackers have in common?

An appreciation of nature and the simple life, plus a high pain threshold.

6)What do you think is the ratio between men/women/age?

I don't understand the question I guess. Seems like a pretty even mix except racially, there's not a lot of ethnic variety on the trails for some reason. I've never counted people.

7)What type of connotations (if any) do you think the term backpacker carries?

Vagabond, too poor for a hotel, wandering around without a lot of money, kind of dirty and usually smells bad. Alternate view: wealthy high tech hiker unable to survive without expensive gear and over-equipped for nearly everything.

8)Because you or someone you know is a backpacker, how does that effect his or her personal life, forming families, marriage, maintaining friendships etc?

I tend to form close bonds with people who share my interests. If people don't backpack, I'm not likely to be anything more than a casual acquaintance. Some torrid love affairs did end for that reason, people sometimes try to make you give up what you love the best and that doesn't work if you're really serious about it.

9)How do backpackers differ from mainstream society, and what do you think mainstream needs to understand about what you do?

I think of backpackers as mainstream society, everyone else is an accessory to the foundation culture. They do outrank us in numbers and I'd not try to change that. Trails are crowded enough as it is. Don't tell them we're here.

10) After all of my research, I haven't found how a backpackers past, or childhood plays into their passion for traveling; whether money, or lack thereof plays a huge part in wanting to see the world. How do you feel about that?

As soon as I was old enough to leave the house unattended I had the urge to find out what was in the woods, down the hollow, over the hill, across the road. It was all new to me and I wanted to see it. I still feel much the same way, although I'm a little jaded by what most would consider "ordinary country" until I get out into it and find out it's also unique. I've never had a lot of money, and sometimes backpacked or hitchhiked partly because of that, traveled thousands of miles that way just so I could say I'd been there, joined the Army for awhile because I thought it was a way to do that professionally (only sort of). But whenever I've had money, I've just put it into plane tickets and taken off to distant places to hit the road or the trail and do the same minimalist thing. I like the people I meet when I'm doing that, either in the wilderness or out in the boonies of some third world country where tourists are afraid to go. It's a view of the world that seems more real to me than cities and restaurants and hotels, so money really doesn't have much to do with it. Money just starts me off a little farther from home.