The backpacking experience

[SSSdave]

We should add that some kinds of road trip camping will offer much the same experiences as some of you have related with backpacking. Especially for those of us that disperse camp way out off about lonely dirt roads then day hike out in those local zones. In late winter and early spring that is in fact my preference as a photographer in our Southwest arid and desert backcountry since a vehicle allows bringing along much more water for a base camp. An example of what I am relating here:

http://www.davidsenesac.com/2017_Trip_C ... 017-3.html

But there are differences in the experience versus backpacking. The key facet is that one is carrying everything one will need that has limitations of weight and bulk where one might stop to create a campsite at unlimited locations versus bringing a whole lot more types and numbers of supplies in a vehicle while being limited to near roads as to where one might stop to camp or sleep within a vehicle. The former requires much more careful planning and checking while the later can be tossed together leisurely without much effort and equipment or food problems and any issues that result are likely fixed with a drive off to nearest civilization. The former results in more feelings of accomplishment when done well because it is more effort and more difficult to be successful at.

Additionally backpacking can bring one to more of our planet's most incredible mountain landscapes and environments with inspiring scenic wonders versus like places one might visit near roadsides even by day hiking. The Sierra Nevada in particular has a long list of outstanding destinations only we backpackers can really enjoy the way they were meant to be experienced. One can day hike 7 miles from Devils Postpile to Minaret Lake, but by time one reaches the lake with the Minaret spires rising above, it will at least be late morning or noon. Mid day in mediocre harsh light with afternoon breezes already well established making wavy waters. Thus only the backpacker experiences warm sunrise orange and red light on the peaks reflecting in quiet still reflecting lake waters while sounds of many small creatures and birds carry long distances across chilly still early morning landscapes. Only the backpacker will marvel at the intense color of a light at 8am making it all too wonderfully surreal.