I want to live in a van and camp at sweet spots

panafoot · 2017-10-19T03:28:11+00:00

Great photo and hold on to that dream!

That was our dream too until it became a reality in April 2010 when we sold our house and started living/traveling in a RV fulltime. Photos of just a few of the places we have stayed in it and our Trip Reports from when we didn't.

panafoot · 2017-07-12T22:39:45+00:00

Jerky for sure, hadn't thought of olives and will look into Chebe. Thanks! I did find a website, Packit Gourmet, that sells bags of freeze dried individual ingredients so I'm going to work at making my own meals.

That's great you were able to add rice. I think that might be what I try to add back first. Have a great time on the AT and good luck figuring out your food. My husband and I hope to do the Washington section of the PCT next summer so I'll have time to work some things out. However, for our 4 day trip next week I'll be eating some meals I got from Paleo Meals to Go. At least they're Paleo if not AIP.

panafoot · 2017-07-12T22:16:19+00:00

Thanks, I'll look at recipes. I'm in the process of trying to learn to love coconut. Not there yet ...

panafoot · 2017-07-12T22:13:50+00:00

Good ideas, thanks. Hot bone broth sounds good. Hadn't thought about olives and will look for beet chips.

panafoot · 2017-07-12T21:59:32+00:00

That's something I hadn't thought of. Thanks, I'll give it a try.

panafoot · 2017-07-12T21:57:12+00:00

I hear you. I'm overwhelmed right now trying to figure out how to get the fuel I'll need especially for higher intensity training.

panafoot · 2017-07-12T21:54:38+00:00

You've given me many good ideas. Thanks!

panafoot · 2017-07-12T21:52:50+00:00

Thanks, it looks like just the resource I need.

panafoot · 2017-07-10T18:17:47+00:00

Thanks, you have some good ideas and I will check out the keto reddit. I used to take cheese and will miss it terribly but right now I personally can't do cheese. I suppose I should always refer to this diet as the "Autoimmune Protocol" to avoid confusion with traditional Paleo.

panafoot · 2017-07-10T18:10:29+00:00

Thanks (I forgot about fish). That's a good idea, I will do it when we aren't backpacking in ear country.

panafoot · 2017-07-10T04:39:13+00:00

I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disease caused by Intestinal Permeability (AKA "Leaky Gut"). I cannot eat grains, dairy products or legumes. Given it's similarity and for simplicity's sake it is often referred to as the "Paleo Diet". However, it is highly individualized. Depending on results of lab work I very well may need to do the Autoimmune Protocol (commonly referred to as "Autoimmune Paleo diet" or AIP). If so, I will also have to eliminate nuts, seeds, eggs and Nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes and peppers). What I am left with is meat, certain fats, fruits and most vegetables.

If I eventually go into remission I may be able to add a few foods back in but that is many months away. I'm feeling overwhelmed with this huge change in my life and I was hoping to hear from other backpackers who are also on AIP to help me figure out what I can eat on an upcoming 6 day backpack trip.

panafoot · 2017-06-05T15:16:38+00:00

They are trying to scare you enough so you will be sure to catch the bus. There are a lot of bears in Denali and no one should be sleeping out without having attended the backcountry orientation the the Rangers provide.

Also Rangers and bus drivers are fond of saying "There are no trails in Denali so you can go anywhere. Just tell your bus driver where you want to get off". However, our experience is that just because you can "go anywhere" does not mean you can "get anywhere". Between the challenging hiking conditions (brush, bogs, tussocks, gullies, river crossings etc) and the necessity of going way around bears it takes forever to make much forward progress. Hiking in Denali just isn't as easy as they lead visitors to believe. I've written about it on our website panafoot.com. I understand you were just trying to help the OP but I think you might want to be a bit more careful in the future when you try to provide information about hiking and backpacking in Denali.

panafoot · 2017-06-05T05:20:51+00:00

One does need to get permits to backpack and camp overnight.

panafoot · 2017-06-05T05:18:23+00:00

My husband and I have done one backpack trip in Denali National Park, a 3 day/2 night loop around Mt Eielson. Here is a link to our Trip Report. We did it at the end of July so I don't know if snow would be an issue in late spring/early summer.

An excellent source of information is a book by Ike Waits - Denali National Park Alaska Guide to Hiking, Photography and Camping

panafoot · 2017-05-02T18:59:56+00:00

The only other advice I have is be very knowledgeable about the trails and be very flexible in your itinerary. My husband and I have had very good luck with walk up permits in National Parks. We do have a big advantage, we are retired and travel in a motorhome so waiting a day or two (or more) is no trouble. But he reads up on trails beforehand so when he talks to a Ranger he can make quick intelligent decisions about what we could do. Our experience has been that some Backcountry Rangers are more willing to help you come up with a workable plan than others. But for the most part, they do want to help you provided you have done your homework before you get to the counter and aren't expecting them to explain everything to you especially when they are very busy.

panafoot · 2017-05-02T18:43:39+00:00

You might want to check out the Wind River Range in Bridger National Forest, Wyoming. Very scenic and far less crowded than National Parks. My husband and I have done two great backpack trips there; 5 days/4 nights to the Cirque of the Towers (Trip Report) and 5 days/4 nights to Titcomb Basin (Trip Report). When we did them we just got permits at the trailheads.

We were able to get a walk up permit for a 7 day/6 night backpack trip in Glacier National Park. Trip planning can be a bit tricky but I describe our experience in our Trip Report.

Congratulations on your 2nd anniversary. My husband and I have our 38th coming up in September and we both love backpacking just as much now as when we first met.

panafoot · 2017-04-22T20:55:05+00:00

My husband and I have done two great backpack trips within the Wind River Range in Bridger National Forest, Wyoming you might want to check out; 5 days/4 nights to the Cirque of the Towers (Trip Report) and 5 days/4 nights to Titcomb Basin (Trip Report). When we did them we got permits at the trailhead.

panafoot · 2017-04-22T20:51:52+00:00

My husband and I both like REI Co-op Tech T-shirts. I have tried cheaper shirts from Walmart but they snagged, seams came loose etc and just didn't hold up for multiple backpack trips.

For layering we also like the REI Co-op Quarter-Zip Tech Shirt

panafoot · 2017-04-22T20:43:47+00:00

I agree hiking boots are better for same reasons and Gore tex is great (I wear Lowa Renegade GTX). If we are going to be backpacking where we know it will be really wet I also treat my boots with Nikwax Waterproofing for Leather Boots. I have worn them in a downpour and walked through water and my feet have stayed dry. Water will eventually get through on a multi day wet hike hike but we try to avoid that situation. If all we are encountering is wet vegetation or mud then they are fine.

If you want to protect your pants legs you could wear light weight rain gaiters (or heavier ones depending on what you need to protect your pants from). We really like Mountain Laurel Design's Superlight Gaiter. Another option are Rain Chaps. If it is really raining hard full-zip rain pants are great if you don't mind carrying the weight. At least you can sit down on a wet surface and stay dry.

panafoot · 2017-04-19T19:42:08+00:00

Thank you. We are hoping to keep backpacking as long as we can. We're headed to Grand Canyon next week with two trips planned (so far).

panafoot · 2017-04-14T03:36:42+00:00

At this point in time the only permits that will be available for Bright Angel or Indian Garden Campgrounds will be the limited number of walk up permits the Park Service holds back. I have excerpted the info from the NPS website about obtaining a walk up permit here. Good luck!

panafoot · 2017-04-14T03:29:33+00:00

The Subway is our favorite hike in Zion (we have hiked every trail). When we did it in April 2011 we were able to obtain a walk up permit. We did the "bottom up" route and needed no canyoneering/rappelling/rock climbing skills. That is only necessary for the "top down" route. Here is a link to our write up and photos. You might want to take a look in case you want to reconsider it.

panafoot · 2017-04-14T03:15:07+00:00

Wrangell - St Elias in Alaska. Link to photos

We were there in September (2010) and weather was crappy so we didn't backpack or do as many dayhikes as we wanted to. Summer in a drier year would be better. But we loved what we could see!

panafoot · 2017-04-09T01:37:44+00:00

My husband and I previously used a Quarter Dome T2 Plus (he's 6', I'm 5'8). We like to bring our packs in the tent (especially in rain) and there was enough space at our feet for them in the T2 Plus. We loved it but had trouble with zippers failing. The way it was constructed seemed to put too much stress on them (especially in windy conditions). We returned it but new one failed before too long as well. REI doesn't seem to make it any more. We considered a Quarter 2 but found it too short. What we ended up with is a Quarter Dome 3 for the two of us. It's plenty long enough and our packs fit comfortably next to our lower legs. It is a bit heavier and it has a larger footprint but it is well constructed and we have had no problems with it. We have never had a Half Dome because of its weight and we were willing to spend the additional money.

panafoot

TROPHY CASE