Unregistered

I am looking for a backpacking partner/ friend. I have been on several extended trips, but always by myself. My friends like to camp, but prefer to pull up to their site in a car. I prefer to hike my way through the beauty of nature and escape that busy life. So they never follow.

I live in Houston. I suck at meeting people because I am pretty shy. I am 24 (male), a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, somewhat novice because I have had no one to learn and better with, have phenomenal balance, and an internal compass. I grew up in the woods in Livingston and camping with my parents, so i am seasoned. I have done a 3night and overnight in Big Bend, a 4night and overnight in Pecos Wilderness, NM, and my first experience was a 2night in Medicine Bowe, WY. I have done many weekend trips throughout the Texas State Parks, and look forward to my spring trip this year. I am, unfortantely, a smoker (and i never leave butts behind!). But I am in pretty good shape. Tried to quit, but it ain't easy folks. But I would hope that wouldn't disqualify me. I did 24 miles in one day on my Pecos Wilderness trip at 8000' and up, so I can hang.

If anyone wants to recrute a new partner i am seriously looking to join a crowd. My email is brett@backpacker.com, feel free to contact me here or through email.

Thanks,
Brett

wrongturn

Hi Brett,

My name is David aka Wrongturn. I'm 46, married, live in Cypress/NW Houston. I'm something of a novice myself, having gotten serious about hiking last summer. So far I've done car camping and day hikes, but I finally have all the gear to do overnight backpacking and I want to do the overnight thing. I'd be interested in covering some trails with you. Maybe a day hike would be best to start out.

Hope to hear from you,
David/Wrongturn

copuswalker

Brett, David, Count me in if you set a hike up. I figure if I can get along with Dave I can get along with anyone. 4c is open (no hunters) and I don't have to drive.
Now if we all got motorcycles and then......rode....to....Bi.....B......

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

wrongturn

B...B... Big Bend?

Yep, 4C would be good. Forget getting me on a motorcycle though.

Brett,

A little history is in order. I met copuswalker on a backpacker.com forum and he and I have been on day hikes to Huntsville SP, and the 4C trail between Crockett and Lufkin, and an overnight at Lake Sommerville (car camping). Last time was at Huntsville on Jan 2 and his wife came along too. Both of them walk too fast and I get blisters. Would like to have you join sometime soon.

David/wrongturn

copuswalker

Sorry Dave, Next time I'll have the wife carry you. You need new boots or feet or something.
Seriously though, Never hesitate to speak out. Brenda and I get this "zone" thing going sometimes. She did say she wished she had taken more time at Huntsville. She thinks she was hurrying because the kids? Should we kick her out so we can protect that fragile male ego?

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

wrongturn

Actually I have decided I need new boots. Probably a half size larger, too. After Huntsville I had a blister between the third and fourth toe on my left foot. Not like the hummer of one I had after Sommerville, though. As for feet, God blessed me with a bunch of things, but good ankles and feet aren't on that list.

Speaking of lists. I just added you to my "buddy list" on this board. I guess you're my buddy. :rolleyes: Do you know what the buddy list is for or what it does?

Shannon

From our forums' FAQ, though I admit I had to do a search to find it, since we recently upgraded the forum software around here:
What is the buddy list for?

Some of the features we have enabled here by default, like showing who's currently logged in, lessen the "need" for buddy lists perhaps, but we keep the feature enabled anyway. It can be useful if you need to private message (PM) your buddy list about weekend plans, trip reports or whatnot.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

ploddinTod

Hey guys, I'd like to tag along if you get something going. That is if you don't mind the old man (mid fifties) ploddin behind. Actually, I can keep up the pace fairly well. I'm married, two Aggie daughters, one a senior, one already out and working. (Yea, I just got a pay raise. ) As a suggestion, maybe the Houston area folks could drive north and Copus could drive south (southwest) and we could meet at Hunstville SP. A section of the Lone Star Trail is close by or we could hike the park trails.
As for motorcycles, they're not for me. People just don't see you that well.

copuswalker

Ploddin Todd, I do not mind a section of the L.S. or Huntsville. Pick a date and I will do my best.
As for being old? You have see Dave. He looks a lot older than me.
Does your wife hike?
To bad about the motorcycles. There is still time.

Dave, Thanks for adding me to your buddy list. Followed by what is a buddy list. It's the thought that counts.

Lets pick a date and go for it. Next weekend? Saturday? Somebodys got to do it.

Maybe others on the forum would like to join????

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

lost_but_found

sorry it took a while to reply - i guess there were some technical difficulties or something. i appreciate all the welcome. i wouldn't mind hiking a day hike in hunstville, give me the chance to get to know some of you guys. i will try to keep pace, but i definitely get into a groove. i typically blast down trails - especially if i am not carrying the 'stone.' i guess i have conditioned myself to enjoy, not only the scenery, but the entire moment - walking pains included. i have to say this, the most memorable times i have out in the trails are those where my body hurts from head to toe, i keep pushing on with the knowledge of the pain, but unaffected till i reach my goal for the day. i relive those moments much easier than i do the wonderful views. sounds a little wacky, but i keep doing it and loving it all the more!

i always welcome joking around. there's no fun in not having fun!
so maybe this coming up saturday we can trek through the piney hills of huntsville. i have never been on any part of the lone star - scared of the pesty bugs! i've heard horror stories.
keep in touch.

oh, i recently got a website set up where i post my pictures. there's not much from previous trips becuase i just got my digital camera for christmas - manual slr freak. but i gave in to technology. check it out - i try to post any new photos i take, so it is constantly updated. http://brett.cmdx.com {URL fixed by Shannon (Wild Texas) so it's clickable.}

thanks!

copuswalker

Gee, do I want to hike with Wrongturn and Lost and Found?
I guess we can't get to lost?
Brett we will have to wait and see what the other guys say. Give it a day or two.
I can appreciate what you say about hard hiking. Sometimes when I solo hike I will set unrealistic goals and actually surpass them. Never have a hard set agenda though.
I am hoping to through hike the lonestar this spring.... Problem is I want to take my motorcycle and head to Big Bend and West Texas. I will have to be super nice to the wife to get permission?? Then I can do both.
Will keep in touch. I know Wrongturn is busy painting a room at his house (guess he needs the brownie points!).

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

copuswalker

OH yeh Brett, Saw your note about balance. You'll have to come over and ride the unicycle. I used to ride as a clown in the tomball parade.
As for smoking. Won't bother Dave or my wife they are both sinners as well (smokers). Dave lights up at lunch and my wife doesn't smoke unless she's drinking. So now we have to carry a cooler full of beer. And of course I smoke the cigars cause I had to quit the cigs. Ploddin Todd? heck he's in his fifties he surely has some vices? We'll figure em out.

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

ploddinTod

Vices?? Just ask the wife!! She day hikes, by the way. But gotta have the Holiday Inn while on a overnighter.
Sorry to report that I'm working the next two weekends (darn shift work). But you guys go ahead on and plan a trip, I'll catch with you later. Next weekends off are 31st, Feb 1st and Feb 7th and 8th.
Dave, what kind of socks do you use while hiking? I've found that makes a big difference in blister prevention. I used to wear two pairs of socks--a thin synthetic against my skin and a wool sock over that. Worked great. Now they have high tech socks on the market that work just as well--Thorlos, Smartwool, Wigwams, etc. FYI
Brett, now is the time to hike the Lone Star Trail. No bugs, no heat, no hunters. The trail may be a little wet from all the rains but doable.

wrongturn

So the proposal is for this coming Saturday at Huntsville, ploddinTod has to work so it'll be me with the two stallions?

I'm game for Saturday at Huntsville. From having been there a couple of weeks ago, I like it better with leaves on the trees, but still being outside is more enjoyable than being enclosed in sheetrock. I like to look around at nature.

I wear the synthetic Thorlos. The source may be my boots. I know they could be a half size bigger because often my toe nails are sore from jamming the end of the boot. Strange thing about the blisters is I only get them when I'm out with copuswalker , and they never appear in the same spot. I went all over Big Bend in September and had no blisters at all (just cactus quills). My Big Bend pictures are here. There's also one of copuswalker in there too: http://community.webshots.com/user/wrongturn_tx

Brett, what area do you live in? I couldn't open your link and then I saw that it had the colon and the forward slashes reversed and that'll keep copus in confusion.

So for copus, use this link http://brett.cmdx.com and for now you'll get past your computer challenges.

lost_but_found

on the subject of blisters, it is usually caused by wrong boot/ shoe fit and wet feet. if your feet move around any in your boot, the your chances of blisters are dramatically increased. could try moleskin in blister prone areas. i have tender feet, but have been fairly lucky in all my trips to elude those pesky blisters. i don't wear boots, i wear an adventure racing shoe - kind of like a running shoe with tread and gor-tex. i have really strong ankles and my balance is from the ability to pivot them. so i like the freedom of the shoe better.

as for my balance, maybe not so much a unicycle thing. better on my feet. but i appreciate the offer! although i used to be a mountain bike enthusiast. i never ride anymore though... again, no one to ride with.

it sounds like we have plans for huntsville next saturday. awesome! my girlfriend is going to join as well. i have got her into hiking/ backpacking now. she went on her first camping trip ever for thanksgiving. talked her into backpacking out in hill country state natural area. she fell in love with it and has bought all of her equiptment already. she still has a lot of conditioning to do before i am going to trust her on an extended trip, though. but i look forward to the day.