High Sierra Topix

I showed my wife a Youtube video on using a backpacking bidet and she said the sport is evolving.
I replied, "It's a sport?"
She said, "Well, Yeah! [translation based on her tone of voice = Duh!]."

Link to "Detailed explanation on how to use a Backpacking Bidet": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV-fJbJm8HY

What do YOU think?

Is backpacking a sport?

Would you use a backpacking bidet?

A sport. No Bidet.

It depends on the backpacker. Many young people approach backpacking as a sport. It is not surprising since they were raised on tons of competitive youth sports. Is climbing a sport? More so, I would say. Backpacking is just toned down climbing to some degree. Is fishing a sport? Is hunting a sport?
Most would say broadly yes. A broader designation is "outdoor recreation". Sports can be competitive or "recreational". The same skill sets are used. Then there is the question; is it a "sport" with nobody watching? Maybe not in stands or a stadium, but your "fans" may be on the internet. Those of us who post trip reports are broadly speaking to a "fan base". I think the internet and outdoor magazines are promoting backpacking as more of a sport nowadays.

Outside the "sport" wing of outdoor recreation, I would put; bird watching, wildlife watching, eco-tours, family camping, sight seeing, to name a few. There is a lot of overlap in terms.

My own transition over time from youth to old age has been: from climbing (a sport) with backpacking just a necessary part, to backpacking and exploring somewhat sporty, to backpacking for scenery (photography), to more simple appreciation of just being in the wilderness, along with fishing (sport) to fill the hours I no longer want to walk.

This may seem like a stupid exercise in terms, but I think it has an important impact on how wilderness areas are managed. Traditional management is struggling to deal with the increase in "sport" backpacking". More people are using the wilderness as a venue for their sport, and exciting a fan base on the internet, thus driving a lot of current use. The Forest Service and Park Service are somewhat blindsided by all this.

Sport, no sport, I don't care. I've run (slowly) a dozen+ marathons. At my speed, not sure that that's a sport.
Bidet, yes. Used one last year on my 8 day trip, and the only TP I used was at the loo at Little Yosemite Valley. I really liked the fact that my nether regions were quite clean, which helps prevent other problems. And if your campsites are secluded or you go at night, you can air dry for the most part.

A few of my friends claim that chess is a sport. I just roll my eyes.

No bidet for me, but I have found these to be helpful:

https://goodwipes.com/collections/goodw ... edar-scent

To be a sport, you have to be able to place bets on the event, and spectators must be able to drink beer.

Does backpacking meet that criteria?

YAWN. Oops. I meant HYOH....

Bob Burd does his Sierra Challenge every summer. Ten peaks in ten days. They keep score, give bonus points for extra peaks. That would meet the criteria of a sport. Each person also probably keeps track silently of who gets there first. While they do backpack from time to time, most are long day hikes. All I know is that I've done some serious cross country backpacking, and it's ten times harder than any football practice I've ever been a part of. Even two a days in the summer. My vote is yes.

dave54 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:10 am To be a sport, you have to be able to place bets on the event, and spectators must be able to drink beer.

Best reply in thread so far

Maybe, but probably slightly doubtful teetering on very likely to be unlikely. Realistically it is a hint of this and a hint of that, with a dollop of ?