Most Enjoyable Items in your Pack

As I was looking over the "Most Useful items in your Pack" thread, I began to wonder what some people brought that isn't necessarily useful for backcountry camping, yet is enjoyable to have. I know some of this will overlap with the last thread, yet I think it will be interesting. Also, maybe the topic, "Most random item in your pack". For example, one time my brother brought a spaghetti strainer becuase... well I'm not really sure why. Anyway, it was funny. Also it was only a two day trip so at the start we decided to be a little frivilous, and it goes for good memories.

The most enjoyable items in my pack are probably a harmonica and frisbee. I don't know why i like frisbee's so much, but it's fun to throw on a lakes edge. A harmonica just sounds cool in a quite woods next to a fire.

Well, happy posting.

I really like having a candle lantern along even though I don't need the light as I have a headlamp. I rarely make fires and just enjoy having the candle light.

Second is a good book to read. I don't get as much reading time as I would like and really enjoy the time laying in my bag and reading until I doze off.

It most definetly would have to be my thigh-high leather boots with the 6" spiked heels.

I really enjoy popping out of the brush, wearing nothing but these boots and surprising people coming up the trail.

I usally greet them with a friendly: "hello dawling. Helga is here to please only YOU."

Teddy (the Teddy bear) and Richard Scarry's Lowly Worm Storybook

Well, really these are my 2-year-old’s most enjoyable items in my backpack, but since I carry them I’ll claim them.

The first time we took our son backpacking we had our gear so stripped down (bringing a 30-pounder and his own gear quickly adds serious weight to the loads of two adults), that Teddy and books weren’t even close to being in consideration. Our son has been day hiking and car camping since he was an infant and generally occupies himself with sticks, rocks, singing songs, and making his own fun. I didn't think he'd miss anything I left behind. But that first backpacking night in the tent he asked where was Teddy, who usually shares tent space with us, (oops) and then wanted to know what we were going to read before bed.

So…a few days later when we went backpacking again Teddy came along, as well as Richard Scarry's Lowly Worm Storybook, which at only 3.4 ounces and featuring five engaging stories is well worth its weight and slim size. Both items are now on my backpacking and camping checklists.

Ed,
I know youre kidding - theres no way you can "jump out " of any bushes in the swamp in spiked heels, unless the bottoms of the spikes have rather oversized heels attached, you would just sink into the mud.

Now I'm thinking maybe a "cargo dress" with lots of pockets would be nice and airy down there in the swamp. Youd want some net stockings to keep the mosquitoes off.
Jim

Enjoyable items -

Harmonica (I'm assuming that you mean most enjoyable to ME) - I do respect the opinions and rights of others - and no - I don't do 2AM concerts.

Ancient Stella 0 sized guitar (not IN my pack - but rather strapped to the outside of it) - it comes with me if I'm planning to hike into a location and hang out for a couple days - quite light but also rather fragile and again - I'm sensitive to others rights for quiet. As a musician / songwriter it's just nice to have along.

Steve

Candle lantern...always had to have it. I know, it was a luxury, but it was one of my essentials for "ambience". Continued to use it for car camping with the family:Wine, candle lantern, book...

I got two things in my bag my Am/Fm, TV, and weather band radio with loud speaker so everyone can hear. And The most favorite item in my bag is my Sven 15inch pack saw. Got to love having big long bomb fires out in the middle of no wear.

I think my most enjoyable item would be my Backpacker Magazine.

I guess that is a bit pathetic. But I don't get to read as often as I like and kicking back in my tent at night under the moonlight setting of my headlamp and endulging myself to the mag is quite nice. The only problem is, I usaully finish it the first night. :)

I would carry a frisbee but since I am often alone, I don't think it would do me much good. :(

-John

Interesting choices "Stormen" - although setting the woods ablaze while watching "the simpsons" really isn't my cup of meat.
As for the weather radio - I can tell you what the weather is just by peering out from under the edge of my tarp - and generally it doesn't matter - I'm going to be out in whatever nature happens to offer up for the day ...
That having been said, hey, if it makes you happy, and the loud speakers aren't pissing off your neighbors, and you can somehow rationalize lopping down trees and building a big fire to yourself, who am I to say you're wrong?

Peace

Steve

Norm, just out of curiosity, how big is your fire?

I love to sit around a nice fire and tell lies with my buddies.

But I think I would be afraid to do it in the wild. My luck, I would start a forrest fire.

I will say this, if I hear some loud music while in the high country, I am going to come looking for the marshmellows. :)

Enjoy,
John

My penny whistle and my journal. I love the sound of the whistle in the woods, esp. against an echoey draw, and I like going back and re-reading about my big adventures! (and I like a small fire to heat water for hot cocoa :))

As long as I don't hear Norms radio the woods will remain a peaceful place. Then again, I don't suspect he lugs all that rubbish very far into the woods.

It's not rubbish, it's one's personal choice of tools.

Guitar and mandolin playing in the forest is just as annoying as a radio or TV.

When I'm on my backpacking trips, anyone polluting the quiet of the night is gonna have a surprise visit from Helga.

"surprise visit from Helga." Who's Helga?
A TV in the woods is not a tool. I may, however, classify the person carrying it as such. As a songwriter, a guitar is a tool (for me). Note that, unlike the radio carrier, I don't advertise that I'll bring along an amp so "everyone can hear" (as he advertises his loud speakers). I wouldn't presume to "impose" music on anyone. Nor would I build a massive bonfire (not bond fire, by the way). In fact it's rather unlikely that I'll build any fire, unless I'm suffering from total stove failure OR have misjudged my fuel supply (perhaps due to changing weather conditions) and have no choice.
As for Helga - assuming that Helga is a dog - go ahead - sick the mutt on me - let her bite me - see you in court.

What??? Helga a dog? No way. If I do say so myself, she's actually quite cute.

I'll sue you for Helga defamation. See you in court Mr. Songwriter. You'll have plenty of time to be singing with your bunk muffins. Bring your harmonica.

After six months you'll be wailing "oh lord, bring back, bring back, bring back my Helga to me, to meeee. Bring back, oh bring back..."

12 bar blues in A

Folkie -

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought that this thread was about what you might take on the trail which might be considered a little unorthodox, something which you enjoy but someone else might deem "rubbish". Therefore just because you wouldn't take it doesn't automatically make it a bad choice. Also, I'm pretty sure that if you read the original post by Norman, it's a TV band radio, meaning he can pick up TV stations on his radio. I don't know how up on technology you are, as a folkie, but you can't watch TV on a radio.

A second can of beans!!

I'm pretty sure Steve is just joking around with the rest of us.

Anyone that drives an old Saab has got to have a sense of humour.

Well, They dont take light to read them. They dont need batteries. They do help you play music without an instrument ( although no volume control). They do keep the neighbors away. They keep away mosquitos, or at least burn thier eyes so they cannot find you to bite. But yes YOU do need to open the can and process them, about three hours recommended!

Whew, I almost took Ed up on an offer to show me his swamps!

So what are the advantages of 6 inch spikes over longer or shorter ones? Remember, I'm a rookie (and the more I read this thread, the more I realize it. And glad of it, I think).

Blackbeard

6" spiked heels makes it so much easier to hang the boots up in trees at night.

A tidy tent is....well... come to think of it, I've never had a tidy tent.

If I was camping in an area where a neighbor could hear the sound of my harmonica, I probably wouldn't call it camping. And if by chance others were near me in the woods, they would probably believe my harmonica was the voice of an angel. Now if an angel came up to you in the woods and started singing to you, I doubt you would say, "Hey, I am trying to listen to nature here, shutup angel." At least I know I wouldn't say that to it.

So maybe this is a little far fetched. But... Nah, it's pretty accurate.

Call me Crazy,

-Daniel

One persons rubbish is anothers treasure I suppose. I'm still curious about Helga, though!
How up on technology am I? I've earned a PhD in computer statistics, so I suppose I'm fairly well learned regarding serious technology and how it can be applied to resolve problems. I will admit that my personal knowledge of tech toys can be eclipsed by that of the average 12 year old American.
I derive the most pleasure (enjoyment) while backpacking from the wilderness itself and the inspiration it can provide, I derive comfort, more than pleasure, from those items I carry with me into the wild, which can make situations, sometimes quite stressful and foreign, seem more familiar and therefore easier to deal with.
Perhaps it's because of my constant immersion in the noise and technology of the modern world that I find electronic devices in the wild to be somewhat offensive.
Then again, it could be that I'm just a cranky old bastard currently working with some uncooperative software with a rather noisy, intrusive neighbor in the next office that's helping to form my opinions and their expression.
I do, however, love to drive my old Saab ....

Steve

Crazy,

if I thought I was seeing angels, I'd quit eating the mushrooms I find in the horse poo.

ED:

"What??? Helga a dog? No way. If I do say so myself, she's actually quite cute."

Didn't mean to offend - few people have offered to send any female relation my way to quiet me down!

"Helga defamation" - none intended - again - with the rather limited information available and the general feel of the note, I made an assumption. Once again, I was mistaken. Were it not for humans being error prone there'd never have been a need to put rubber on the end of a pencil.

"12 bar blues in A" - I prefer E or Bm for blues - but hey - if A is your key - have at it!

Here's the item that I find brings the most enjoyment if I'm (for some odd reason) staying in a shelter on the AT (and if you're planning on doing so, I really do recommend them) .... they're quite light.

ear plugs.

Without them, rest assured, you'll discover tones and volumes of snoring that you only thought possible in three stooges films.....

I wouldn't consider it camping if there were horses allowed either. Just as much as if there were people within earshot of my harmonica, A.K.A that sweet music from heaven.

-Daniel

I actually have had to wear earplugs while camping, so I know what you're talking about. They are pretty helpful.

WOW guess I should not have told the world of trailspace I carry a radio. This thing I cary is NOT a TV. It is smaller than a ipod and ways less than one to. And I can say I have never annoyed anyone with it. I have had threw hikers on the AT ask in the morning to here the weather report from the weather band. Most the times I use it is when I am all alone in the woods when I have not seen ppl in days. And if its on when a fellow hiker come by camp it gets turned off. Also the weather band comes in handy U can NOT handle anything nature throws at u know matter how prepared u are. Hiking in the winter time in the mountains its nice to no if a sudden storm is going to kick up so you can drop elevation. Also this Little device has a EAR phone jack so if I still want to listen to it I can without anyone hearing it. Still nothing better than sharing stories with other ppl. this unit is to be used when I am bye myself in the woods which seems to happen a lot.

"I wouldn't consider it camping if there were horses allowed either"

Daniel,

There are places on earth where horses run free. Just like the birds and the bunnies.

"I wouldn't consider it camping if there were horses allowed either"
hmmmm .... I find horses to be far better company than many people.

"I wouldn't consider it camping if my neighbors were mushroom eaters either."

Call me Spectacular-Just want to see if you take everything literally.

-The King

Honestly, I don't believe that if there were horses it wouldn't be camping. Like it was said, there are wild horses in many areas. I am just amazed at how rude this community is. I start a post so that people can talk about odd yet interesting things they have brought backpacking, people post things, and then some vultures come by to rip apart what other people like to do. We have Stormen who like to bring pretty much a weather radio, and people automatically assume he is bringing a 62" Plasma Screen on the trails with a backup generator. Why can't you just go, "Oh, that's interesting, I wouldn't ever bring that, but I guess I am not the only person in the world."

There have been some good post's but if this is supposed to be a website for people who enjoy camping/backpacking/climbing to post topics and relate to each other since nobody they talk to in a normal day gives a crap, why do people love to rip on others so much? Is it becuase you can just write things and not have to deal with the repercussions? It just baffels me.

Overall I am just asking people have a little more respect for their fellow camper.

Thanks,

-Daniel.

Oh ok. Now I see you went from being Crazy to being Elvis.

I find it hard to believe you never ate a mushroom - I bet you did!

No, we don't take things too literally, nor do we take things too seriously.

Your spaghetti strainer story kind of set the tone for this string and it's good to have a string to let it all hang out now and then. We can be serious on other topics.

Relax man, enjoy the ride with your angels.

Speaking of angels, when I was four years old I used to be in a tricycle gang named Heavens Devils.

No good looking babe under the age of five was safe from us.

Daniel,

Well, since I'm probably the one responsible for your getting rather upset (mom used to say "if you sense guilt then chances are, you're guilty") I'll respond. If I'm not the guilty party well, then I'll just spit on the ground and whistle down the trail.
What Stormen said was not that he brings a weather radio but rather (and I'm quoting from his post):
"my Am/Fm, TV, and weather band radio with loud speaker so everyone can hear."
I suppose it was the loud speaker part that torqued me a bit. In my mind I saw more of a ghetto blaster than an iPod - my mistake, and I imagined someone listening to MTV or the Simpsons rather than checking the weather.

How'd you find ANY leather boots that only weigh 4 ounces?

Seriously, I made a cribbage board out of small box (1 1/2"by 21/2") that I also carry dice in for Yatzee. It's nice to have some companionable games along, especially on down days. I also love to take UNO to play with the kids when we go as a family.

The cribbage and mini-cards only weigh about 3 ounces. I make my son carry the UNO cards :)