Paul,

Aaaarrr me Hearties! I concurr, the old days were hard but the hardships gave us character. That's why so many of us Old Timers are referred to as "characters"... with a sly snicker.

Snicker indeed! Go ahead and snicker ye soft ne'r-do-wells. But it is we Old Timers, those of us who lived in a shoebox - of cardboard - in the middle of the road - who have the real grit in our gizzard. WE don't mind a bit of sand in our beer. WE don't mind cooking over a smokey fire, hacking and tearing up,. WE don't mind living in the same clothes for seven days (tho others of lesser grit quail at our passing by then and mutter something about "hygene")

Yes, WE, the Old Timers, have paved the path ye newbies now tread. So pay homage to our sacrifice in the name of backpacking, because WE are the TRUE campers! AAaarrrr!

Eric