🏞 | The Great Outdoors Club | 🏕

[Shy]

Welcome to The Great Outdoors Club! From alpine skiing to ziplining (and everything in-between!), this club is a place for CS users who share a love of nature to discuss their favorite outdoor activities. Here, you can:

Discuss/share:

◆ All aspects of your favorite outdoor activity/sport.
◆ Stories, journals, and photographs detailing your outdoor adventures (please remember that you are not allowed to share images of yourself, friends, or family members unless all faces are completely blacked out!).
◆ Tips, tricks, and pointers to help other members of all skill levels.
◆ Personal progress lists, such as personal records, mountains you have completed, etc.
Suggest/recommend/request information about:

◆ General locations, such as beautiful hiking areas or your favorite ski slopes (you are not allowed to share your city of residence or specific address!).
◆ Resources such as books, informational guides, maps, etc.
◆ Outdoor gear and what to pack on your outdoor excursions.

Any outdoor-related discussion is allowed here as long as it follows all site and thread rules

Introduction ◆ Rules ◆ Resources ◆ Members ◆ Stamps

[Shy]

Site/Forum Rules:

◆ Please make sure that you are familiar with all site/forum rules before posting. Here are some examples of these rules as they apply to this thread:

◆ If you see a post that violates site rules, please use the report button, do not reply to them.
◆ Any sharing of personal information is not allowed. Be careful that you are not sharing the city that you live in when posting, though you are allowed to share your state/country.
◆ Any photographs must not contain images of you, your family, or your friends. If you want to share images that contain people, all faces must be completely blacked out.
◆ Please double-check that any resources you link are CS-appropriate.
◆ You must treat all users how you would like to be treated.
◆ Do not create spam—this includes double posting, bumping while this topic is still on the front page, posting "marking", etc. All spam will be removed.
Thread Rules:

◆ Please try to reply to others when making a post. Though this is not required, it encourages community participation and meaningful discussion.
◆ Keep everything on-topic. Please flag any off-topic discussion by PM'ing me directly.

Introduction ◆ Rules ◆ Resources ◆ Members ◆ Stamps

[Shy]

Copy/paste the following code to add your resource to this list! Member recommendations are marked with *
More resource categories will be added as more members submit resources!







Code: Select all

[u][b]Resource Recommendation[/b][/u]
[b]Resource category:[/b] text
[b]Resource name:[/b] text
[b]Resource link:[/b] (this can be your own post, if you choose)

General:

◆ An amazing list of guides/advice from experts (from REI)
◆ Outdoor etiquette

Backpacking:

◆ Ultimate backpacking checklist

Camping:

◆ Camping Checklist
◆ Camping for beginners
◆ Find a campsite
◆ How to build a campfire

Hiking:

◆ Choosing the right pair of hiking boots
◆ Hiking checklist
◆ How to fit a hiking backpack

Paddleboarding:

◆ Paddleboarding for beginners

Introduction ◆ Rules ◆ Resources ◆ Members ◆ Stamps

[Shy]

Copy/paste the following code to add add your name to this list!
You are not required to fill out a membership form to participate in this thread.







Code: Select all

[u][b]Membership Form[/b][/u]
[b]Username: [/b]text
[b]Preferred Nickname: [/b]text
[b]What are your favorite outdoor activities?: [/b]text
[b]Tell us about yourself!: [/b]text

Name (Nickname): Favorite Outdoor Activities
Please let me know via PM if you would like for your entry to be changed, thanks!

01/2021:

◆ Shy: Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, and Water Sports (Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding)
◆ Fawnie (Fawnie/Fawn): Skiing, Paddle boarding, Kayaking, Camping, Hiking, etc.

Introduction ◆ Rules ◆ Resources ◆ Members ◆ Stamps

[Shy]

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Introduction ◆ Rules ◆ Resources ◆ Members ◆ Stamps

[Shy]

Open for posting! 🏔 I’ll start us off:

Membership Form

Username: Shy
Preferred Nickname: Shy
What are your favorite outdoor activities?: Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, and Water Sports (Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding)
Tell us about yourself!: I am from Colorado, and more or less grew up outdoors! I have a lifetime of experience in all of the above activities (except for climbing, kayaking and paddleboarding—I started these sports about 10 years ago). I would be happy to talk to you guys about any of these if you would like to learn the ropes!

Even though I'm from Colorado, I've only gone skiing a few times in my life (when I was a kiddo)! I'm planning on hitting the slopes this February (socially distant, of course), and if anyone is an avid skier I'd love to hear a few tips for beginners before I go tumbling down the bunny hill. :')

[Fawnie]

Membership Form
Username: Fawnie
Preferred Nickname: Fawnie or fawn, is fine :)
What are your favorite outdoor activities?: I love skiing! I just got back from a skiing trip just a few days ago, so I was delighted to stumble upon this club! I also enjoy paddle boarding and kayaking, camping, hiking, skiing of course, and honestly just about everything outside!
Tell us about yourself!: I grew up in a very woods/forested area, so I'm very accustomed to spending tons of time outdoors! Most of my outdoors activities includes making/marking trails in the woods for hiking or walking, or going fishing in the lakes nearby. However, I've never backpacked or rock climbed-- the more "official" of my outdoors sports includes skiing, paddle boarding and kayaking. I would LOVE to learn more about what to expect on a more serious hike (example backpacking/rock climbing) and I'm excited to hear some stories and tips :)

[Shy]

Hi there! I've added your name, I'm so glad that a skier saw this, haha. I'd love to trade tips with you! :^)

I can write up a bit about things that I've personally learned on more serious hikes that I've done—what to expect and what I'd do differently, if that helps at all?

I think for me with regard to skiing is the question of "where/how do I start"? I have an understanding of the fundamentals (making a wedge to stop, basic turning, etc.) in theory but am unsure if I'll be able to do them again in practice after so many years. Is there any way that I can practice these things at home, or am I going to be stuck learning the on the fly? There is going to be a limited amount of people on the slope due to COVID (had to make reservations), so I'm hoping that there will be less people out for me to run over!

Also, do you own your own gear? If you do, were you renting before you bought? Do you have brand preferences?

[Fawnie]

Yay! As far as skiing goes, in my experience it has been like riding a bike! However, every time I go on a trip (which yes your assumption is correct! the slopes were pretty much empty because of COVID- I ski in New Mexico, but I imagine it’s the same everywhere) I end up spending my first day teaching my beginner friends :)

For working on skills at home, I suggest anything that betters your balance! With myself, and in my beginner friends, I see the most trouble in balance. It can be scary to trust your body when your shins are pressing hard into the boots and putting you in an awkward squat position. My ski rental go-to shop owner HARPS me about leaning forward in my ski boots and practicing squats at home. So that would be my two recommendations- which I think yoga is great for (plus you could always do yoga at the top of a climb/good clear hiking spot- neat right?)

I have rented ski equipment every time, but I will be buying my own next time. I usually have no problem, but this past trip everything was so uncomfortable it caused me to pull some muscles in my legs. So far, I’m looking into Solomon and a few others I have written down at my desk at home. ^^’ I also find that shorter skis are MUCH easier for beginners while also allowing you to go faster once you feel comfortable!

Feel free to ask any more questions and I’d be happy to explain the best I can! Yes wedging is important, but it is also super important to learn how to “make s’s” - which is taking wide turns down the hill, kind of like a slithering snake! You’ll learn a lot just by watching how others ski.

Yes I’d love any tips and advice! My hiking partner is a huge brand stickler and wants *the best of the best* meanwhile for me, if it works it works! I see a lot of horror stories about people being horribly unprepared for hikes. My mother road tripped to Colorado last year and couldn’t do hardly anything but enjoy the pretty views because things are a little different in those neck of the woods Lol!

[Shy]

Thanks for the awesome advice! I've never done much yoga, but I have a mat so I'll try to work on that in preparation for skiing. :p Also, it looks like the place I'm renting from is going to be giving me Salomon brand, so it's comforting to know that that's a brand that you use too.

On that note, I'm personally not a stickler for brands, but I do always look for quality, especially for clothing/boots and tents. I like to read reviews and find products (regardless of brand) that check all of the boxes. Since some brands are known for having consistent quality, I understand why some people are diehard brand-supporters. For example, I've had one too many tents fail on me in my life, so I generally stick with North Face tents for backpacking.

What to expect for a more serious hike/backpacking trip:

Be aware of regulations in the wilderness area or park that you are going to be hiking/backpacking in. Always look up snowpack, fire danger, etc. when you are preparing for your trip. Some parks require a fee for backpackers, but there are many areas that you can find that allow dispersed camping as long as you are following the state/county guidelines.

For intense hikes (or any hikes, really), always anticipate that you may encounter a worst-case scenario. Although you should be overly-prepared for casual hikes too, it is especially important that you cover all of your bases for serious hikes (such as 14ers).

Bring a GPS unit, phone, solar charger/extra batteries, compass, and physical map. If you have a big budget for GPS units, I would personally recommend Garmin brand. Having a GPS with a satellite phone or some sort of emergency signal is ideal in case you get into a sticky situation. I also use the AllTrails app on my phone as the secondary backup for my GPS. I've found that it's surprisingly reliable, even in remote areas. I really love that app because it has a "lifeline" feature where you can send your exact route (and planned departure/return times) to your designated emergency contacts. The drawback to this is that you must have your route downloaded beforehand, and I don't think that this app has routes for more serious hikes pre-loaded. This is best suited for moderate hikes with designated trails. Just be sure that your phone is not your primary navigation system on a big/remote hike!

Always tell people the exact route that you are planning to take, and don't deviate from it unless you are in cell service range and able to update your emergency contacts (which is not likely if you are going on a more serious hike). Also be sure to designate a "panic" date/time, at which point emergency contacts should contact the proper authorities. This takes practice to estimate, and you have to make sure that people aren't raising the alarm if it's not necessary. If there's some sort of attraction along your hike, such as a lake that you'd like to fish in, make sure to add extra time for that.

Be aware that on most serious hikes, you will not have a physical trail to hike on. It's vital to understand your route, store it in your GPS, and mark it out on a physical map. If you can, use a route that someone has already taken and shared. There are communities of people who like to share their own routes online, which is a good resource. If you are backpacking and factoring in natural sources of water, this may impact your route. On that note, never entirely rely on natural sources of water as they may be dried up or frozen by the time you arrive. Though you should always carry water treatment supplies with you (tablets, filters, LifeStraw, etc.), always have a plan B, and if you find that you are getting low on water, you may have to make the judgement call to turn around.

There are also other factors to keep in mind that may send you home prematurely, the first of which is the weather. Always check the forecast before you leave, and keep an eye on the weather throughout your trip. For example, Colorado is known for its afternoon storms, which is why its generally recommended to depart before well before dawn. These can be incredibly dangerous if you are caught in them, especially at high altitude. Here is a good page that I found detailing lightning safety. Another thing that people don't really expect is altitude sickness. Learn the signs and symptoms of this, and don't take it lightly. If you are normally from a low-altitude area, try to acclimate to higher altitude before embarking on a hike. A lot of people who come to Colorado from low altitudes to hike stay in town for a few days at first to get used to the base altitude.

If you are backpacking, it can be tricky to pack light while bringing everything that you need for an extended period of time. Always have the essentials in your pack. There are lots of good checklists out there, and I will probably be posting my own checklist on this thread at some point. I found that this checklist is decent, except there are a few changes that I would personally make. To name a few off the top of my head, you should bring a camping shovel, multi-purpose rope, bear bells and canisters, and waterproof matches in addition to a lighter (as lighters don't always work in cold temperatures). I guess the point that I'm getting at is to compare several checklists until you have a list that fits your own needs. Always try to travel with your friends (or even a dog, if they are tolerant of carrying a dog pack!). Any extra backpack with you means more supplies that you can carry as a group.

Lastly, always practice good outdoor etiquette and don't overestimate your ability! I'm guilty of having overestimated my fitness level in the past. Take your time to work up to larger and more intense hikes, especially at altitude. There are a lot of things to prepare for, but you are going to have a better time if you are staying within (or only slightly pushing) your skill level. At the start of the hiking season, I always have to work back up to where I ended the previous season.

I'm sure that I probably missed something in here, but these are the main points to think about when you are planning on tackling a bigger and more dangerous hike! Sorry for hitting you with a word wall, lol.