High gas prices keep backpackers away?

[rlown]

Doubt you'd get slammed for the observation, WD. It's all true. I don't know how truckers afford it, but obviously, the cost get's passed along.

Not backpacking is never an option, for gas reasons..

[Cross Country]

riown, I agree. It's almost never a good reason. I liked WD's observations about war too.

[ERIC]

For fun and comparison, similar topic/poll I created back in 2008:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rlown]

interesting about the threads. Didn't stop me in 2008. Won't stop me now.

[sparky]

I have used public transport to backpack before, I might do that this summer too.

My time in the mountains is priceless. So no, gas prices would never keep me away.

[Troutdog 59]

While it wont stop me from going, if gas is $5 a gallon it may have an affect on my destination and may keep me more local. I live in Clovis, so the TH's off of Hwys 41, 168, and 180 are close by. I live on a budget cuz I have to. I have one kid in college and my second is only two years away. Again, I still will go, but if gas is $5 a gallon I likley wont go to some of the more distant locations Ive been thinking of like the Trinity Alps or a trip I was thinking of to the Ruby Mtns in Nevada.

[dave54]

Let's put the price hikes in perspective.

Did you worry about the cost when gas was $3 per gallon?

If your car gets 25 MPG, and you drive 200 miles each way to/from your home to the trailhead you burn 16 gallons. If the price at the pump goes to $4 you are spending $16 more than you did at $3 gas. 2 people will spend more than that at the fast food drive thru on the way home. Are you going to give up doing what you enjoy to save $16? If you don't hit the trail on the weekend what are going to do with your time -- go to the mall and buy more backpacking bling?

Recalculate the above figures with your own car MPG, local gas prices, and distance you drive. Then decide if you are going to curtail your arboreal pleasures for the extra cost.

I am not. My time in the woods is more important to me than mere monetary sums.