What I did this summer

[ERage]

So A very good friend is getting married this October and we threw him a bachelor party last month. We wanted the traditional hooker's and blow fare that is easily accessible in Vegas but we also wanted to do something a little different.

We decided to precede the hookers and blow/gambling with a couple of days of strenuous backpacking. Seems smart right?

We hiked to the summit of Mt. Charleston which is just an hour north of Vegas. We climbed about 5,000 feet of altitude over 8 miles of hiking in the first day, and descended back to our starting point over 10 miles the second day. We camped just off of the summit.

There were no water sources available on this trail so we had to pack in 2 days of water per person, there were 4 of us, in addition to all gear and food.

I don't know if any of you guys are interested in backpacking or the outdoors but the views were awesome from 11,900 feet altitude. Here's a bunch of the pics from the hike and vegas happenings.

Spoiler

I'm the skinny guy for those who don't know me. These pics are a little out of chronological order so you'll have to put it together in your head.

Little Richard is hidden in there somewhere, see if you can find him.

 

[b_sinning]

That looks like an awesome trip. I could really use a vacation like that.

 

[kiwi]

I had NO idea there were lions in the mountains of Nevada.

Very cool. I've been on a few backpacking trips (a couple 3 day and a 7 day) and they were all a blast. I think we should plan a UF trip one day.

 

[ERage]

I had NO idea there were lions in the mountains of Nevada.

Very cool. I've been on a few backpacking trips (a couple 3 day and a 7 day) and they were all a blast. I think we should plan a UF trip one day.

Vicious lions all over the place. I of course fought them all off with nothing but my trusty swiss army knife's cork puller.

Of course these were the lions in the habitat located within the MGM Grand's Casino.

But there are actually many mountain lions in the area we were hiking through.

 

[Thorn Bird]

those pictures are incredible. someone really knows how to get the shot!!!
what a great idea for a bachelor trip. i'm sure it was very refreshing. thanks for sharing!

 

[plot]

awesome pictures.


how was the cell phone reception? did your laptop do ok with the backpacking? it'd be awesome to game out in the middle of nowhere like that.

also, i've decided if i ever want to see the views at 11,900 feet, i'll take a ski lift.

 

[ERage]

those pictures are incredible. someone really knows how to get the shot!!!
what a great idea for a bachelor trip. i'm sure it was very refreshing. thanks for sharing!

Those pictures are courtesy of Mr. Justin Colhoun, one of the groomsmen. More of his work can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbc16

Drop him a line if you are a flickr user, he's a good guy.

And yes, the trip was great but extremely strenuous. Both trails cover massive amounts of altitude over not so many miles. We were all sore as hell after that one.

 

[ERage]

awesome pictures.


how was the cell phone reception? did your laptop do ok with the backpacking? it'd be awesome to game out in the middle of nowhere like that.

also, i've decided if i ever want to see the views at 11,900 feet, i'll take a ski lift.

I actually placed a call at ~11,100 but I had to be sure I was standing on the top of the ridge so that the town of Mt Charleston was visible to me. I was looking at a tower that was just at about 3 or 3.5 miles straight line away from where I was standing. I kept the call for about 5 minutes then lost it, which sucked because I had to hike an extra mile (roundtrip) from and back to camp that night just to make that call.

I am a nerd but no, I did not bring the laptop. I was already carrying ~55 lbs of gear + water and did not care to add another 10 lbs to the load.

 

[eileenbunny]

Hiking I don't mind. Altitude sickness gets me terribly though. I'm glad you had fun.

 

[Jonny_B]

that sounds like an awesome trip. i've done several backpacking trips, but alas none in the last ten years. I'd love to do some, but I can't take long vacations for it, and there are only day hiking trails in my area. I soothe myself by car camping and doing day hikes. I don't miss the gear weight much.

 

[Jonny_B]

oooohhh! external frame pack! how deliciously retro. I used to have one of those until I took it to school to use as a prop in drama class and had it stolen from one of the wings.

 

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

very cool!

 

[ERage]

that sounds like an awesome trip. i've done several backpacking trips, but alas none in the last ten years. I'd love to do some, but I can't take long vacations for it, and there are only day hiking trails in my area. I soothe myself by car camping and doing day hikes. I don't miss the gear weight much.

It's been a decade since I have been on a backpacking trip as well.

oooohhh! external frame pack! how deliciously retro. I used to have one of those until I took it to school to use as a prop in drama class and had it stolen from one of the wings.

Proof that it has been a decade since I have been on a backpacking trip.

Hiking I don't mind. Altitude sickness gets me terribly though. I'm glad you had fun.

I feel you; I was coming from sea level no less. Yay headache!

 

[water]

Why didn't you come by fkr? Look how close you are!

 

[Thorn Bird]

you are a trip, knyte.

 

[Onnotangu]

I see a distinct lack of debauchery and boobies.

And frankly I'm pleaased by that.

erage.. please eat something.

 

[ERage]

Why didn't you come by fkr? Look how close you are!

 

[water]

REESES FOR BREAKFAST????

 

[ERage]

REESES FOR BREAKFAST????

Yes pls.

 

[water]

All I did this summer was fight a war against tyranny, oppression, allergies, and Kimie's sisters.