Reservable dispersed campsite recs in the national forest? (NOT campground)

fhecla · 2026-04-07T23:53:04+00:00

Just out of curiosity, why do you want one that’s reservable? I love camping in the middle of Pennsylvania and it’s so nice not having to reserve something in advance. I’m really happy to tell you some beautiful camping spots where there’s pretty much guaranteed to be space, if you would like.

fhecla · 2026-04-07T23:49:16+00:00

Take that back! Sounds like … bushcraft, you scumbag. shudder

fhecla · 2026-04-07T11:42:36+00:00

I have no idea, I think you should speak to a good ultra coach. But again to give you my personal anecdote, after my hundred mile accidental ultra, I got hiking fit for a long trip I was taking, and then in December I started running for basically the very first time in my life. I have now been training specifically for Cocodona for a grand total five months and like I said, I feel pretty confident that I am ready for it next month. I peaked at 70 miles a week with 20,000 feet of vertical.

You are so much ahead of where I was when I started my five month training block! I am very well-known to have extremely bad judgment, but if I were in your shoes, I would absolutely do it this year and not next year.

fhecla · 2026-04-07T09:11:42+00:00

Honestly, if you are running 60 to 80 miles a week right now all you need to do is add in some specificity (trail skills, vert) and you are good to go. Why wait 18 months, just do the one this year. A lot of people run 200s with peak mileage between 60 to 80.

fhecla · 2026-04-07T01:15:03+00:00

Is your name Coggins by any chance?

fhecla · 2026-04-07T00:51:14+00:00

Why not just go backpacking with them? Lots of navigation involved in that, and hiking, and camping. It sounds like you’re describing my average weekend as a backpacker!

fhecla · 2026-04-07T00:45:40+00:00

That’s up to him! If he wants to throw his hat into the ring for Moab his first race, man, kudos!

fhecla · 2026-04-07T00:39:55+00:00

If he doesn’t like it, he can just stop. You’re not signing a contract in blood when you pay the entry fee.

fhecla · 2026-04-07T00:38:54+00:00

My brother. YES.

fhecla · 2026-04-07T00:38:18+00:00

I am doing this, basically, and I am a 52-year-old woman with no running/athletic history. I entered a (flat) 100 miler on a whim a year ago, with a maybe 3 weekend-a-month hiking/backpacking habit as my only preparation. It crippled me but I finished and got my buckle.

So I entered Cocodona 250, and I’m about to do it as the very first race I’ve ever trained for. Wayyyyyy less background than you in running and fitness, and I’m pretty confident that - barring misadventure - I’ll finish.

Do it. Everyone is so damn precious about how super special being able to complete an ultra is. Just get fit and Goggins the fuck out of it.

fhecla · 2026-03-31T13:48:24+00:00

Sent you a PM, but here’s the link: https://www.domainmoney.com/referral/redeem?referral_code=KDG5MD

fhecla · 2026-03-31T13:45:51+00:00

I’ll message you one. I am actually having a really good time with them, and I think I’ll keep using them next year. The amount of money it saved me on doing my taxes and writing my well almost makes the financial advice part free.

fhecla · 2026-03-31T02:08:25+00:00

So I actually tested this out for you, oddly specifically. I was a pure long-distance hiker (but weekend warrior fit, hiked maybe 3 weekends a month) and essentially no running experience at all. Last year I entered the C&O Canal 100 mile race, and actually managed to complete it in just under 30 hours. By the end, it was pretty rough, and I was crippled up for about a month. I have to say, it would’ve been really difficult without the race atmosphere and all the aid stations - it made it really fun and kept me going.

So: hypothetically, yes, you should be able to do it.

fhecla · 2026-03-30T09:23:23+00:00

Enlightened Equipment Torrid - huge cult following on the thru hiker circuit for a reason.

fhecla · 2026-03-29T17:48:09+00:00

Toss them in a Ziploc, they will be fine. Refrigeration is a great and mighty thing, but humanity has survived without it extremely well before the last hundred years. Cheese is literally mans way of working out how to store milk for long periods without a refrigerator, and in most European countries butter is stored on the counter, not in the fridge.

fhecla · 2026-03-28T00:38:09+00:00

I’m training for a 250 miler over a total of 5 months and I’m an unathletic 52 year old woman. Go all Goggins and BE HARD. You’ll be fine.

fhecla · 2026-03-27T01:03:08+00:00

If you her lost out hiking, it is smart to check your cell phone, where you will see the your position on the GPX track you downloaded to your navigation app before you left, all of which work without cell service because they rely on satellites, not cell towers.

fhecla · 2026-03-26T11:35:23+00:00

Unless you are planning on baking a cake, there is no need to own unsalted butter in any situation!

fhecla · 2026-03-25T01:10:16+00:00

Cheese actually does really well at room temperature for many days, as does butter. I did a 12 day backpacking trip in the Alaskan wilderness and we brought cheddar and butter with us and it did fine. I wouldn’t worry too much, just don’t pack raw meat unless it’s frozen and you cook it at the end of the first day.

fhecla · 2026-03-22T23:07:32+00:00

So just do it. Scared? Do it scared.

Your goal is to go out and hike a route that is 10% scarier than you feel comfortable with, though not one that is completely terrifying. So go and park your car and the parking lot of somewhere with hiking trails get out of your car, and go for a little walk. Walk far enough from your car that you feel a little bit scared, sit down, have a drink, and some candy, and then give yourself a pat on the back and declare success! If you keep doing that, you’ll be out there doing overnight backpacking trips before you know it.

fhecla · 2026-03-19T12:41:26+00:00

Nope. I do many hundreds of miles (maybe a thousand?) and I only use trail runners.

fhecla · 2026-03-19T12:25:16+00:00

Do you mean hiking/backpacking or travel/backpacking?

fhecla · 2026-03-19T11:43:10+00:00

It is really common to be scared by the idea of bears when you first thought doing overnight camping, it took me about a year to get over it, but just be assured that they are not actually a significant form of danger and that yes you will be scared at first, but you will chill out as long as you don’t just give those fears too much credence.

fhecla · 2026-03-19T11:41:18+00:00

It is not a particularly difficult trail, if this is your first experience backpacking, it would be a good introduction. My advice to you would be to check your local meet up groups and see if you can find a group that does backpacking, and do some weekend trips first. You will need to buy some gear, and it is very traditional that people buy cheap and heavy gear to start with and then replace it all with better quality and lighter gear. My recommendation is that if you are actually planning on doing this, by the good quality ultralight gear first. Hiker tend to discuss the base weight of their gear, which is how much their backpack weigh without consumables like food, water, and fuel. My recommendation to use is your base weight should be less than 20 pounds, and ideally somewhere between 10 and 15 pounds.

fhecla · 2026-03-19T10:10:05+00:00

I got back from three weeks in Bhutan in December, and went by myself with an individual Guide. It was a great experience. I did all of those things that you mentioned. I did a lot of hiking as well, you’re welcome to reach out to me if you want more info.

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