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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: gunwharfman on 11:14:00, 04/05/19

Title: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:14:00, 04/05/19
Three experiences come instantly to mind. On a wet morning, either because of rain or condensation I always try to get out of my tent without getting a large splash of water on my back but I rarely manage it!

The other experience is when I decide to rest after hiking a while. My back is usually damp with perspiration which then quickly cools when I take my rucksack off. Putting my rucksack on again is for me a horrible sensation, so cold as my damp clothing and the back of my rucksack comes together once more.

I get my tent up, organise everything and get going to the pub. So annoying when I realise I've forgotten my small torch and even more annoying when my phone needs a charge and I bring the wrong connection lead with me! I have an Anker battery which uses one type of lead and a phone which needs another type to charge.

Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: richardh1905 on 11:54:23, 04/05/19

Getting cold hands from handling metal tent poles whilst breaking camp on a frosty morning - sure to put me in a bad mood!


Experienced similar in a minor way this morning whilst timekeeping at the Kirkwall Parkrun - the north wind was VERY cold, and I had to keep busy with the stopwatch. Poundland gloves not up to it!
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Owen on 12:29:49, 04/05/19
Do these not come under the general heading of "first world problems"?
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Ralph on 13:38:43, 04/05/19
Getting cold hands from handling metal tent poles whilst breaking camp on a frosty morning - sure to put me in a bad mood!


Experienced similar in a minor way this morning whilst timekeeping at the Kirkwall Parkrun - the north wind was VERY cold, and I had to keep busy with the stopwatch. Poundland gloves not up to it!
[/quote


Don't use metal poles or cheap gloves, problems solved.


Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: bricam2096 on 13:56:58, 04/05/19
The other experience is when I decide to rest after hiking a while. My back is usually damp with perspiration which then quickly cools when I take my rucksack off. Putting my rucksack on again is for me a horrible sensation, so cold as my damp clothing and the back of my rucksack comes together once more.

It's a horrible feeling. I now wear compression tops under my main tshirt, this is snug against the skin. Then, when I put my rucksack back on my outside tshirt presses against the compression top and not the skin which means no cold sensation. Also, my outer tshirt doesn't get as sweaty and therefore not as smelly as the compression top (supposedly) wicks the sweat away.

As for the different leads for Anker and phone, sometimes you can buy small adaptors meaning no need to carry two leads.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: richardh1905 on 15:41:49, 04/05/19
Do these not come under the general heading of "first world problems"?



Indeed. My choice to go camping.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: richardh1905 on 15:42:20, 04/05/19
Fibreglass poles are rubbish, Ralph.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: BuzyG on 17:02:00, 04/05/19
Midges.  Hate the little critters.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 17:15:41, 04/05/19
Midges.  Hate the little critters.
Same for me. Fortunately, they prefer my wife to me.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Pitboot on 17:28:28, 04/05/19
Bob's Law, it follows me everywhere.


To explain; No matter where I go, campsite, lonely boulder with a nice view, secluded bit of beach, layby in the hills, path through the woods, anywhere:


Some one will ALWAYS turn up, sit or stand close by, and ruin it. I could hire myself out to jungle or desert expeditions, they would never lose touch with the rest of the human race because in a very short time someone will arrive.


My wife laughs, it happens all of the time. Thank god we have a lock on the flat door.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: fernman on 20:21:54, 04/05/19
Bob's Law, it follows me everywhere.

To explain; No matter where I go, campsite, lonely boulder with a nice view, secluded bit of beach, layby in the hills, path through the woods, anywhere:

Some one will ALWAYS turn up, sit or stand close by, and ruin it. I could hire myself out to jungle or desert expeditions, they would never lose touch with the rest of the human race because in a very short time someone will arrive.

My wife laughs, it happens all of the time. Thank god we have a lock on the flat door.
Lol!  ;D
Like the time I arrived on top of the Chiltern escarpment on the dot of 1:00 pm and spied a simple little bench where I could eat my sandwich and enjoy the glorious view. As I walked towards it a young female jogger appeared out of nowhere and beat me to it. Then all she did was fiddle with her phone while I glowered at her from my seat on the grass a few yards away.

Another time, I got my camera out on a different bit of the same escarpment. As I composed and focussed, a kid in a bright yellow t-shirt came up the slope and messed about in the foreground. I would really liked to have gone up to him and told him to b*gger off!
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: JohnpM on 20:39:12, 04/05/19
Walking through boggy peat hags. A real low for me. And getting your boot sucked off by mud. Not nice.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Mel on 21:49:19, 04/05/19
I dislike the fact that my achilles tendon starts playing up after about 4 miles and lessens my enjoyment of the walk thereafter (because I'm in pain). 



Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 22:37:27, 04/05/19
I dislike the fact that my achilles tendon starts playing up after about 4 miles and lessens my enjoyment of the walk thereafter (because I'm in pain).
I feel your pain
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Dovegirl on 22:40:02, 04/05/19
Gates that are a struggle to open and shut
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Mel on 22:47:02, 04/05/19
 :D   and those gate latches that make you feel like you're competing in an episode of the Krypton Factor to work out how to open them  ;D
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Mel on 22:47:43, 04/05/19
I feel your pain


It sucks doesn't it  :(
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: fernman on 22:59:46, 04/05/19
Stiles that wobble and have no high pole to hold onto to steady yourself as you go over them.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Jim Parkin on 08:31:14, 05/05/19
Getting cold hands from handling metal tent poles whilst breaking camp on a frosty morning - sure to put me in a bad mood!


Experienced similar in a minor way this morning whilst timekeeping at the Kirkwall Parkrun - the north wind was VERY cold, and I had to keep busy with the stopwatch. Poundland gloves not up to it!
I sometimes take my fingerless cycling mits for doing stuff in the cold - or even scrambling.  They protect the palm of the hand and allow nearly full dexterity. 

No good for the parkrun, but better gloves could work there.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:40:36, 05/05/19
In the scheme of things, mine is a pretty minor gripe, Jim
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Jim Parkin on 12:47:53, 05/05/19
True Richard, but I have found that approach significantly decreased my annoyance
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: mow1701 on 18:13:01, 06/05/19
Kissing Gates that are too small to get through with your pack :( . Case for the prosecution is the first kissing gate as you leaves Hawes on the Pennine Way heading north.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: gunwharfman on 19:02:26, 06/05/19
Another thing I dislike, is it something that only happens to me? I am always amazed by how easy for me to lose something inside my rucksack, or inside my tent! I get myself organised and then think "where did I put that?" So frustrating having to go through everything again and then have to reorganise all over again!
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: Ridge on 21:32:36, 06/05/19
I dislike the way hiking leads you in to a false sense of security about your calorie intake, so you go for a walk and then think
'Of course I deserve chocolate and salted caramel tart for pudding'.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: fernman on 23:06:38, 06/05/19
Kissing Gates that are too small to get through with your pack :( . Case for the prosecution is the first kissing gate as you leaves Hawes on the Pennine Way heading north.

Oh, yes! There's a high one in a stone wall on the North Wales Path above Llanfairfechan. It is absolutely impossible to fit both yourself and your ruckasack in. A closed top prevents you from holding it on top of your head (if you're that desperate). I had to hoist my pack up onto the top of the 2 metre height wall and get it to balance there without falling down, before going through and pulling it down from the other side.
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: BuzyG on 23:56:16, 06/05/19
I dislike the way hiking leads you in to a false sense of security about your calorie intake, so you go for a walk and then think
'Of course I deserve chocolate and salted caramel tart for pudding'.
Yes, but then I would probably eat the chocolate anyway. So the walk can only help.  ;)
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: fit old bird on 09:43:38, 07/05/19
Going along the edge of a field to the gate in the corner into the next field, and finding the whole area is a swamp of mud and cow dung. Trying to figure a way to proceed. Cling onto a wire fence and edge my way along. Try some stepping stones already put there, can my legs stretch from one to the other, will I slip off. Look further along the hedge or wall, is there another place I can cross.


Once I fell off a stepping stone, lost my balance with a big rucksack, splat in the shiiiiite. Another time I looked around for more stones to add to those already there. Picked up a big rock and lobbed it in, splat the shiiiite came up and hit me full frontal, and sank below the water level.  :-[   ::)   >:(


ilona
Title: Re: What I dislike about hiking and camping.
Post by: gunwharfman on 09:58:48, 07/05/19
Falling in '[censored]' trying to do exactly the same thing as you. Something I've done more than once! I'm convinced that cows gather at stiles deliberately, make as much mud and poo areas as they can, then move to another area of the field laughing their socks off! Just their way of getting their own back on us humans.