I’ve had to bite the “I’m older” bullet as well. I’ve found just getting over the mental hurdle helps me to focus on enjoying my trip as opposed to focusing on how many miles I can possibly get through. I gotta enjoy this while I can still do it. I’m very fortunate I even can still do it.
Thats where I'm at with things as well. I've accepted, some trips will either take me a week or longer to complete, or I just can't do them, and I'm ok with it. I've been fortunate to have found backpacking over 20 years ago, and put thousands of kilometers on trail, and seen many many incredible places.
Sometimes the worst animal encounters aren't the big scary ones, it's the little annoying ones. Chewing your gear, eating your food and keeping you from getting enough sleep.
porcupines have been the bane of my existence so many times. I've hiked out of fryatt valley in Jasper more then once, with chunks of boots missing, laces chewed up, trekking pole grips chewed off
I’m looking forward to bringing my kid on her first backpacking trip. I hope she doesn’t get sick! Sorry that happened to you, but you did the right thing.
Definitely wasn't a fun time for anyone! I used to get bad car sickness as a kid, so our next attempt im going to try some gravol, see if that helps his tummy
I sometimes have ambitious goals and end up getting turned back. Still have a great time. It’s about the persistence and journey. Good for you for persevering.
Your story about your first backpacking trip with your son reminds me of the time I thought I'd take my elderly mom, and then 4 year old son on a backcountry canoe trip by myself. There was lots of type 2 (and maybe some type 3) fun involved. My little guy also got sick. He started coughing on the way to the access point, but he has Asthma, so I just thought it was allergies. He was a trooper, but just got worse and worse. Eventually, he threw up a couple times at the campsite, which is fun to clean up in bear country. It was only an overnight trip, but I spent the whole trip worried about him, and when we got him home, we found out he actually had a fever. Poor guy. We also had to deal with a torrential downpour thunderstorm, and our beach became alive with bees that emerged from it the next morning, which made exiting the place very interesting. Too many other things to mention. 🤦♀️ Anyway, still glad I did it, but it was HARD!! Yes, sometimes it just SUCKS! 😅
Having my kid get sick in the backcountry was something i thought in the back of my mind as one of those "this would really really suck" kind of things.. I never pictured it happening on the trip there. Still unsure what the cause of it was, because he was completely fine as soon as we got home, and he was mad at me we weren't going hiking still. I'll be giving him a children's gravol before our next attempt, hoping that helps settle his stomach if he ends up being cursed with car sickness like I am. Hopefully the first experience didn't leave too bad an impression on your mom and little guy!
@MattyOutdoors yes, my first thought was maybe your little guy was just car sick, especially since it was such a long drive. Better to be safe than sorry though! The Gravol might be a good idea, and more stops making the way, maybe?
Great video. I've had times where it's rained hard for a couple of days and it sucked, and last time I got it a new poncho and first trip out did 20km in the rain and I was stoked that I wasn't all sweaty!?! Funny how our brains do that? Decide what's good and bad so arbitrarily? One thing you didn't mention, which I think is important is just how you feel mentally sometimes? I've had one trip where I went out solo for a quick overnight, where nature usually grounds me, and I feel infinity better 99% of the time....that one trip it just didn't help, and I felt sad, and a bit lost out there on my own. So the next morning I went through my normal ritual, packed up and cleared out. I remember at the time feeling better for it afterwards, but it sucked all the same. I'm glad for the most part it's so restorative.
Im sorry to hear about the trip that didnt pan out. I've had sad moments on trail, but have never had it to the extend you mentioned.. I would likely go the same route you did though, pack up and try it again next time
@MattyOutdoors yes, there's something to be said about the perseverance that is required when it gets hard and you are out there, a fair way from assistance. Like regardless of what is making the trip suck, you have to focus on "getting on with it" as best we can at the time. I guess that's the definition of type 2 fun right? Feeling proud of working through the suck!?
Been on many trips that didn’t go as planned, but I’ve never been on a trip that sucked. I guess each person is different on their view, and that’s ok, we should all be different so the world isn’t bland ❤️
@@MattyOutdoorsmeant to say, I’m glad your kid was ok! I’m with you about nerves, it happened to mine on his first trip. Pretty much did the same as you.
Watches and sees himself in a bunch of the B roll for this one 😭, we’ve definitely been on some type 2 fun trips over the years! When the trail or weather happens to suck, I’m always happy to be surrounded by a bunch of dudes who are awesome and can bring out the good in all of it 😎.
Hiking down one side of a valley leading to cliff at one end. We look on the other side of the valley and see a grizzly going the same way. Watched him for a bit then reversed direction and went for a different hike as had we stayed on that trail the chance of a face to face encounter was probably likely. We had plenty of time and figured why mess with the bears day and potentially mess with ours so picked another similar hike.
Yea man - when I did the Long Trail, it rained the majority of the time. Chaffing and athletes foot - you can only do so much when it’s that wet for that long. Mentally draining too.
@natehikes For us up here in Canada, to do some of the "iconic" routes, you need to book permits and plan months in advance, so you can't really plan for brutal weather, or smoke, etc.. Becomes a huge downer when you spend the whole trip fighting for oxygen, or soaked to the bone feeling layers of skin peel off your feet
@@MattyOutdoors Rain (esp in winter) has ruined many a trip for me. Those wild fires throw smoke our way as well. Pretty bad. Can’t imagine what’s it’s like at the source. Sorry it’s been such a problem lately - Hoping it changes for you soon. Keep the videos coming, brother 🤘
I've spoken about them quite a few times. One, was with my best friend Joel, hiking along the athabasca river headed towards the glacier, trying to find a spot we could attempt a ford.. River was loud, we were calling out for bears, as we do.. Joel was a few meters infront of me, and started yelling "BEAR LEFT BEAR LEFT".. i looked into the trees, and a good size grizzly was charging towards us.. We had nowhere to go, as the river was a few feet to our right.. Luckily, she stopped about 10-15 feet from us.. huffed a bit, and turned back to the trees. As she left, we saw the cubs with her, thankfully a bluff charge. 2nd, I was solo in the tonquin valley, climbing the switchback portion almost at switchback campsite. I had just finished the last of the climb, and bent over a bit to catch my breath, and heard a loud huff.. Look up to see a big grizzly, who I'm certain was old grumpy (a known resident grizzly in the area. known to bluff charge).. And he did. Came at me, stopped about 15 feet, grunted a bit.. I stepped off trail a ways, and let him pass me. Then I changed my underwear, for obvious reasons.
Used to play Goalie in hockey till i was about 30 (39 now). I ended up having something called FAI and I ended up tearing my labrum. Be careful with your hips as the wait times for surgery are over two years long for arthroscopic work unless you go private ... our healthcare isn't all its cut out to be... I'm probably going to have the same thing on my other hip. I also the clicking and popping you talk about . I still backpack and hike, but i really have to limit my distance as well.
Its usually once I've put over 20 or so km on my hips that the issues start. I limit myself now on my daily kilometers to avoid it as best i can.. But, often my love of hiking pushes me beyond it, and I just accept that its going to be uncomfortable for a bit.
Some tips to improve your hips and knees: - Eat plenty of high quality protein. 1 g per lb of body weight per day. High quality means animal sources. - Supplement with collagen peptides daily. Proven to help joints and connective tissue - Do specific strength training exercises that a physiotherapist might recommend. If you do the above with consistency, you will improve. I did and am better than years ago (I am 48 years old now)
I was supposed to tackle section D of the GDT next week… I guess it will have to wait. I planned this trip for a year, bookings, logistics… not going to happen. I am not sad or upset, is Mother Nature and my thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Jasper 🙏 😞
I feel you on the fire situation. I was supposed to be out hiking this weekend, but we opted to have a simple camp out with the kids instead, to avoid unnecessary smoke inhalation. The trails will be there another time.
That's my thoughts as well, as I deal with motion sickness when im the passenger in a vehicle as well. Will be trying childrens gravol for our next trip, hopefully it helps his tummy
I’ve had to bite the “I’m older” bullet as well. I’ve found just getting over the mental hurdle helps me to focus on enjoying my trip as opposed to focusing on how many miles I can possibly get through. I gotta enjoy this while I can still do it. I’m very fortunate I even can still do it.
Thats where I'm at with things as well. I've accepted, some trips will either take me a week or longer to complete, or I just can't do them, and I'm ok with it. I've been fortunate to have found backpacking over 20 years ago, and put thousands of kilometers on trail, and seen many many incredible places.
Sometimes the worst animal encounters aren't the big scary ones, it's the little annoying ones. Chewing your gear, eating your food and keeping you from getting enough sleep.
porcupines have been the bane of my existence so many times. I've hiked out of fryatt valley in Jasper more then once, with chunks of boots missing, laces chewed up, trekking pole grips chewed off
I’m looking forward to bringing my kid on her first backpacking trip. I hope she doesn’t get sick! Sorry that happened to you, but you did the right thing.
Definitely wasn't a fun time for anyone! I used to get bad car sickness as a kid, so our next attempt im going to try some gravol, see if that helps his tummy
I sometimes have ambitious goals and end up getting turned back. Still have a great time. It’s about the persistence and journey. Good for you for persevering.
perseverance is key!
Your story about your first backpacking trip with your son reminds me of the time I thought I'd take my elderly mom, and then 4 year old son on a backcountry canoe trip by myself. There was lots of type 2 (and maybe some type 3) fun involved. My little guy also got sick. He started coughing on the way to the access point, but he has Asthma, so I just thought it was allergies. He was a trooper, but just got worse and worse. Eventually, he threw up a couple times at the campsite, which is fun to clean up in bear country. It was only an overnight trip, but I spent the whole trip worried about him, and when we got him home, we found out he actually had a fever. Poor guy.
We also had to deal with a torrential downpour thunderstorm, and our beach became alive with bees that emerged from it the next morning, which made exiting the place very interesting. Too many other things to mention. 🤦♀️ Anyway, still glad I did it, but it was HARD!! Yes, sometimes it just SUCKS! 😅
Having my kid get sick in the backcountry was something i thought in the back of my mind as one of those "this would really really suck" kind of things.. I never pictured it happening on the trip there. Still unsure what the cause of it was, because he was completely fine as soon as we got home, and he was mad at me we weren't going hiking still. I'll be giving him a children's gravol before our next attempt, hoping that helps settle his stomach if he ends up being cursed with car sickness like I am.
Hopefully the first experience didn't leave too bad an impression on your mom and little guy!
@MattyOutdoors yes, my first thought was maybe your little guy was just car sick, especially since it was such a long drive. Better to be safe than sorry though! The Gravol might be a good idea, and more stops making the way, maybe?
Great video. I've had times where it's rained hard for a couple of days and it sucked, and last time I got it a new poncho and first trip out did 20km in the rain and I was stoked that I wasn't all sweaty!?! Funny how our brains do that? Decide what's good and bad so arbitrarily?
One thing you didn't mention, which I think is important is just how you feel mentally sometimes? I've had one trip where I went out solo for a quick overnight, where nature usually grounds me, and I feel infinity better 99% of the time....that one trip it just didn't help, and I felt sad, and a bit lost out there on my own. So the next morning I went through my normal ritual, packed up and cleared out.
I remember at the time feeling better for it afterwards, but it sucked all the same. I'm glad for the most part it's so restorative.
Im sorry to hear about the trip that didnt pan out. I've had sad moments on trail, but have never had it to the extend you mentioned.. I would likely go the same route you did though, pack up and try it again next time
@MattyOutdoors yes, there's something to be said about the perseverance that is required when it gets hard and you are out there, a fair way from assistance. Like regardless of what is making the trip suck, you have to focus on "getting on with it" as best we can at the time.
I guess that's the definition of type 2 fun right? Feeling proud of working through the suck!?
Been on many trips that didn’t go as planned, but I’ve never been on a trip that sucked. I guess each person is different on their view, and that’s ok, we should all be different so the world isn’t bland ❤️
Yep, we all see it differently.
@@MattyOutdoorsmeant to say, I’m glad your kid was ok! I’m with you about nerves, it happened to mine on his first trip. Pretty much did the same as you.
Watches and sees himself in a bunch of the B roll for this one 😭, we’ve definitely been on some type 2 fun trips over the years!
When the trail or weather happens to suck, I’m always happy to be surrounded by a bunch of dudes who are awesome and can bring out the good in all of it 😎.
We definitely have. It seems every trip to Coral is beautiful weather in, and cold wet and rainy out
Hiking down one side of a valley leading to cliff at one end. We look on the other side of the valley and see a grizzly going the same way. Watched him for a bit then reversed direction and went for a different hike as had we stayed on that trail the chance of a face to face encounter was probably likely. We had plenty of time and figured why mess with the bears day and potentially mess with ours so picked another similar hike.
Its always nice when you've got the chance to see them ahead of time!
Yea man - when I did the Long Trail, it rained the majority of the time. Chaffing and athletes foot - you can only do so much when it’s that wet for that long. Mentally draining too.
@natehikes For us up here in Canada, to do some of the "iconic" routes, you need to book permits and plan months in advance, so you can't really plan for brutal weather, or smoke, etc.. Becomes a huge downer when you spend the whole trip fighting for oxygen, or soaked to the bone feeling layers of skin peel off your feet
@@MattyOutdoors Rain (esp in winter) has ruined many a trip for me. Those wild fires throw smoke our way as well. Pretty bad. Can’t imagine what’s it’s like at the source. Sorry it’s been such a problem lately - Hoping it changes for you soon. Keep the videos coming, brother 🤘
Would like to hear a more detailed account of your two encounters with bears.
I've spoken about them quite a few times.
One, was with my best friend Joel, hiking along the athabasca river headed towards the glacier, trying to find a spot we could attempt a ford.. River was loud, we were calling out for bears, as we do.. Joel was a few meters infront of me, and started yelling "BEAR LEFT BEAR LEFT".. i looked into the trees, and a good size grizzly was charging towards us.. We had nowhere to go, as the river was a few feet to our right.. Luckily, she stopped about 10-15 feet from us.. huffed a bit, and turned back to the trees. As she left, we saw the cubs with her, thankfully a bluff charge.
2nd, I was solo in the tonquin valley, climbing the switchback portion almost at switchback campsite. I had just finished the last of the climb, and bent over a bit to catch my breath, and heard a loud huff.. Look up to see a big grizzly, who I'm certain was old grumpy (a known resident grizzly in the area. known to bluff charge).. And he did. Came at me, stopped about 15 feet, grunted a bit.. I stepped off trail a ways, and let him pass me. Then I changed my underwear, for obvious reasons.
Used to play Goalie in hockey till i was about 30 (39 now). I ended up having something called FAI and I ended up tearing my labrum. Be careful with your hips as the wait times for surgery are over two years long for arthroscopic work unless you go private ... our healthcare isn't all its cut out to be... I'm probably going to have the same thing on my other hip. I also the clicking and popping you talk about . I still backpack and hike, but i really have to limit my distance as well.
Its usually once I've put over 20 or so km on my hips that the issues start. I limit myself now on my daily kilometers to avoid it as best i can.. But, often my love of hiking pushes me beyond it, and I just accept that its going to be uncomfortable for a bit.
Some tips to improve your hips and knees:
- Eat plenty of high quality protein. 1 g per lb of body weight per day. High quality means animal sources.
- Supplement with collagen peptides daily. Proven to help joints and connective tissue
- Do specific strength training exercises that a physiotherapist might recommend.
If you do the above with consistency, you will improve. I did and am better than years ago (I am 48 years old now)
@jays7318 Im a western canadian farm kid, i only eat animal based proteins :)
@MattyOutdoors 😅 Red meat is a superfood. It has done me wonders. My diet is over 95% meat for over a year now. My health is better than ever.
I was supposed to tackle section D of the GDT next week… I guess it will have to wait. I planned this trip for a year, bookings, logistics… not going to happen. I am not sad or upset, is Mother Nature and my thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Jasper 🙏 😞
I feel you on the fire situation. I was supposed to be out hiking this weekend, but we opted to have a simple camp out with the kids instead, to avoid unnecessary smoke inhalation. The trails will be there another time.
To bad about your son getting “ car sick” motion sickness. I had a friend who got sick when he travelled fine when he stopped.
@johnalexander8614 I'm hoping thats all it was. Will try some childrens gravol when we try again
Sounds like sea sick!
Motion sickness is the official name ( im not a MD, but he got sick whyle driving and feel after awhyle better when not driving)
That's my thoughts as well, as I deal with motion sickness when im the passenger in a vehicle as well. Will be trying childrens gravol for our next trip, hopefully it helps his tummy
It blows
sometimes it can for sure