I have found with aging that I have to make a point of staying in shape all winter, because I can no longer get back in shape as easily as before. However, at our age, if some medical issue requires a long period of not being active, it does become hard on the next season you backpack. Knock on wood, but thankfully that has not happened to me yet. So I am not ready for "semi-base camping" at this point. I am making a great effort at lightening my load, though.
Carrying extra weight because of children along is a very short term issue. I think GB may have a couple of great Sherpas in a few years!
Tale of Three Drainages: S Fork Merced, Merced, San Joaquin 7/20-26
- Wandering Daisy
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- wildhiker
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Re: Tale of Three Drainages: S Fork Merced, Merced, San Joaquin 7/20-26
Unfortunately, by the time your kids make great sherpas, they are off doing more challenging adventures with their friends, not with their parents.
- windknot
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Re: Tale of Three Drainages: S Fork Merced, Merced, San Joaquin 7/20-26
Another excellent odyssey! What a great and creative route, and the fishing doesn't sound like it was half bad either. Thanks for sharing, GB.
- Harlen
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Re: Tale of Three Drainages: S Fork Merced, Merced, San Joaquin 7/20-26
John, it sounds like your dad found one of those made by the infamous Procrustean Packs.... One of these torture racks had back frame vertical members (part of external frame) located perfectly so they dug into my shoulder blades, which were bloodied by trip's end (I think I was 9 at the time)
Wd, you should have started that gear company long ago.
And John, hope you are enjoying your 60's! Are you going to retire and start that Micro-brewery we've all been waiting for?
Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.
- SweetSierra
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Re: Tale of Three Drainages: S Fork Merced, Merced, San Joaquin 7/20-26
SSSDave, about your foot issue: I'd recommend checking with a podiatrist about your foot and have specialized inserts created to use inside your boots. I had pain in the ball of both feet several years ago. It came on suddenly. I experienced the pain during a normal daily run and it became so painful I couldn't run. The pain went away almost immediately after I began to use the new inserts (in my backpacking boots and running shoes) and the pain has never returned.
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