I'm an old F BUT, my first trip was 1989. Things have not changed a lot since then except for PERMITS! UGH! I hate deciding where I'll be when and someone else deciding where I'll sleep. I go to Big South ForK in Tennessee/Kentucky almost exclusively becasue you can still pick your own site. I enjoy finding a secluded place, staying the night, and not being unable to tell I've been there when I leave. That's backpacking at its best IMO. I just wish I was younnger I'm 59 now and WAAAAAY overweight but still going on sissy packs...light loads, short distances, flat traile, slow pace)