6 DIRTY SECRETS No One Told You About Backpacking

[@DGColin]

I HATE getting out of my sleeping bag to get going in the morning when its cold. Worst thing ever.

[@john_kelley]

Always!

[@happyfuntimereviews5600]

I've had my vehicle broken into at trailheads twice now. Maybe not an 'on trail' hazard, but definitely a bummer when you finish your hike...

[@john_kelley]

That’s awful!

[@msburrage74]

Yea I hate a thief and always worry about that. I was just reading the other day in a Fb group for the Smokey mountains on Mt Sterling TH that someone’s catalytic converters was cut off those vehicle. I’m thinking local opportunists did it.

[@nedanother9382]

Thats an incredible bummer....I've never had that happen and tend to hike the mountains from the same direction to keep that going. The eastern sierra nevadas seem to have little or none of that going on...not so sure about the west side. Were you able to learn any lessons from the break ins? I'm building out a trailhead pickup camper shell to spend the night before at altitude. Went through 10000 iterations of truck build outs and ended up, in part for this very reason, with an incredibly simple zero storage (a little hidden storage) insulated comfortable design that is out of the wind warm in the freezing and like a shady tree in the hottest weather. I built two silly over the top fur covered chairs that fold down into two fur beds. When I hike I fold up the beds and cover them with a dirty sheet...it looks like I threw a car seat in the back. With nothing to steal it's my hope that no one will break in....I treat it like food with the bears.

[@kattidee]

Hogs. Wild hogs are scary...from what I hear, even bear spray isn't very effective with them, they travel in packs, and aren't as spooked by people as a moutain lion or bear usually is.

[@john_kelley]

They’re delicious fried, though. 😋🤤

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

Agreed!!! I was hiking in GA and NC this summer and I was warned about them while I was on trail. There were so many sections of chewed up/torn up vegetation - definitely got my attention! Fortunately, I didn't encounter any. Can't imagine what I would do if I did! Uh oh...I see another KZbin rabbit hole to fall into

[@mtminded4498]

The one dirty secret you forgot was, when hiking, you’ll get dirty! LOL Keep up the good work/content.

[@john_kelley]

Lol. True story!

[@razzbazle1582]

My number one suck is I never sleep well when I'm backpacking. I love backpacking and I cherish sleep

[@DoseofDirt]

The best things in life have challenges and obstacles to deal with. Backpacking is no exception. Are some days terrible? Yes. But are most days amazing? Absolutely yes! Great video, man!

[@john_kelley]

Thanks, and I agree completely!

[@kennethstarr5545]

Over used is exactly why I don’t use what everyone else uses. It really upsets me to see that people, using the outdoors, don’t follow LNT.

[@BackpackingWithJason]

I always wondered why you ask me to lead on the trail….. spiderwebs 😂😂 Getting injured is definitely going to happen. Good stuff brother. Loved that view

[@john_kelley]

Dang it!!! The secret’s out!

[@BackpackingWithJason]

@@john_kelley 😂😂😂😂

[@kimberlymayo9951]

What happens in a video...stays in a video...LoL!

[@john_kelley]

@@kimberlymayo9951 😂

[@BackpackingWithJason]

@@kimberlymayo9951 😂😂

[@JeremiahStringer]

Love hope you wrapped up the video with the positives too 😃

[@john_kelley]

The positives WAY outweigh the negatives.

[@gregmortonoutdoors]

Rude people with Bluetooth speakers. Mountain bikers who do not understand or care about the right away rules on trail.

[@john_kelley]

Good stuff

[@winslowwalks]

No one ever told me there were so many backpacking KZbinrs! 🤣

[@john_kelley]

We’re like a plague. 😂

[@pboone1231]

Who makes that alpaca hoodie again? You mentioned it in a video a while back and I can't remember which video it was. Thanks. Enjoy your content.

[@john_kelley]

Thanks! It’s Appalachian Gear Company.

[@glendabaghian1145]

Silk blazing. Guilty here. Stinks: the mountains making their own weather. Raining when reports call for clear.

[@john_kelley]

Yeah. Higher elevation always means higher risk of crazy weather.

[@Oldsparkey]

I don't mind the webs as much as that one spider I missed and is crawling down the back of my neck or up my sleeve. Here in Florida we have one we call the Iron Web Spider ( Golden Silk Spider ). It's big , black and yellow and has a strong web. I find a lot since I like to solo hike. The weather , That's part of being out there , in fact it really can make a trip. I have camped in 3 Hurricanes here in Florida over the last 65 years. Last trip with unusual weather was a Tornado in Texas ( Brazos River Apr 2, 09 ) . Those were trips I will always remember and still better then anything else.

[@john_kelley]

Type 3 fun can definitely make some great memories.

[@MiyagiontheTrail]

Ah yes….Silk Blazing. Trips hates that! 😂 😂

[@john_kelley]

🤣🤣🤣

[@johnpetry6753]

Spider webs have been teaching hikers martial arts since forever.

[@john_kelley]

🥋🥷

[@coffeetimeWEC]

OOOOHHH!!!! SPIDER WEBS!!!! I usualy take care of that by making my son take point on the trail. 🤣

[@john_kelley]

That’s some good parenting right there! 😂

[@coffeetimeWEC]

@@john_kelley builds character! 😁

[@john_kelley]

@@coffeetimeWEC yes it does!

[@FreezingToad]

For me, one of the worst parts of backpacking is wet feet. I can handle most pain, crappy weather, or being cold. But when my socks and feet get wet, it's an automatic bummer. Last thing I want to deal with on a long hike is trench-foot. I've dealt with a mild case before and it's awful.

[@john_kelley]

Yeah. Wet feet can be miserable.

[@harryhayen6092]

Overcrowded trails suck!!!! Since the pandemic hit us and restaurants, sportclubs, cinemas and so on were closed or limited every "couch potato" started hiking and 90% of them don't care about nature and "leave their traces" everywhere ... espacially ladies after doing their #1 ... on some trails you can't even walk 2 minutes without finding paper handkerchiefs even on the trail. 🤮😤😡

[@john_kelley]

Yeah. That’s no good.

[@kamilliasaylor1000]

Lol my husband and I take turns walking first for spider webs (with me going first more often because I don't mind the actual spiders as much), but somehow even when I am behind him and walk the same path I still manage to find them. He is 10" taller than I am, and a lot bigger so you tell me how that happens! 😆

[@john_kelley]

They’re evil and apparently they practice black magic. 😂

[@review-crunch7635]

What clothes, layers. And coats are you using for your cold backpacking?

[@john_kelley]

I’m playing around with several different combinations.

[@chriseidam7319]

Litter - the worst thing about backpacking,...followed by vandalism...then graffiti,...then those stupid painted stones with eyes. They ain't art, they ain't special, they ain't creative and they ain't where they should be if they are in the woods and on the trails. If you leave these around, please stop. As far as stuff that sucks about hiking directly? Putting on a soaking-wet shirt on a cold morning before you continue your multi-day hike. I really don't get bothered by actual hiking realities, such as being dirty, biting insects, rain, cold temps, etc. Those are all interwoven features of the total hiking experience, all which can summed as "roughing-it challenges".

[@john_kelley]

Good stuff.

[@jeanprefontaine4432]

Worst thing for me are mosquitoes and black flies... Deet stuff is out of the question because I carry expensive camera gear that is made of plastic... I've tried Icaridin before but it's not as effective. Any suggestions?

[@john_kelley]

Picaridin has worked for me with mosquitos and ticks, but I haven’t found anything outside of feet or a big net that works with black flies. They’re pure evil.

[@kimhenningnielsen2882]

it sucks, to get out of the sleepingbag when its freezing out side, and the boots are frozen, the water is frozen, BUT then when you get it a small cup of warm coffee, Then its all nice again 😍😘😎

[@john_kelley]

Coffee definitely brings back those good vibes

[@firestarter8202]

Hyper-psycho dogs.

[@john_kelley]

Have you hiked the Sheltowee Trace? 😂

[@firestarter8202]

No, so can’t make that connection, LOL! Just hate unleashed dogs racing up to me barking while their inattentive owners lag around the corner somewhere…

[@john_kelley]

I actually had to pepper spray a dog on the Sheltowee. 🌶 🐶

[@firestarter8202]

@@john_kelley yeah, I actually had my P-32 in my hand as two dogs were aggressively charging me. Fortunately their owner finally showed up and we had a “discussion.“ I would’ve felt terrible having to shoot an animal let alone whatever legal repercussions, etc. I carry pepper spray, too, but my “live or die” survival switch got turned on. Close one.

[@john_kelley]

@@firestarter8202 I know a guy who actually shot a dog on the ST. it was about to bite a lady in their group.

[@owningmediocricy6487]

I eat the spider webs... protein.

[@john_kelley]

😂😂😂

[@shawnr6117]

Not finding a good water source sucks

[@john_kelley]

Very much

[@terryweaver9770]

What sucks is not paying attention to the plant life around U while going #2 & getting poison ivy in very difficult places, lol!!

[@john_kelley]

😳

[@jamesancona3590]

Hansen’s point is great! These are all great things to mention. You’re the first person I’ve heard mention spider webs. They can get really bad in some areas.

[@john_kelley]

They’re so bad at times.

[@bethfrank1981]

When it’s cooler weather how easy it is to get dehydrated 😰.

[@john_kelley]

That’s true.

[@raegolematis5281]

Another thing with the leaves if there’s a lot of them and they’re wet, it can be slippery. I found that out on a day hike yesterday.

[@john_kelley]

100% agree

[@trailheadjunkie]

Long inclines sucks

[@john_kelley]

Big time!

[@poppy3215]

Ticks. Ticks suck.

[@john_kelley]

Quite literally. 😂

[@garyantesr]

closed trails, people short cutting the trail, unauthorized trail cairns .

[@john_kelley]

Yes on all of those

[@Josephhikes]

Poison ivy / oak ! 😱

[@john_kelley]

I HATE poison ivy.

[@BosomBuddyCreations]

I hate how heavy my backpack is.

[@john_kelley]

😂

[@kaiserwilhelmnh932]

I'll take Chafing for $800 Alex

[@jameshershoutdoors]

Spiders, I would have never thought. Thanks for the tip John.

[@markcummings6856]

Word!

[@john_kelley]

👊🏻

[@davidson_oldbull_sectionhiker]

Aw injury, yes a face plant on a slight downhill and my toe caught a Pennsylvania rock. Nice video John.

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

Good stuff, my man! I agree with you 100% on everything! I always thank hikers coming from the other direction in the morning (they return the thanks and we both smile). Other things: bugs in the summer and manual dexterity (the lack thereof) in the winter. All worth it for the peacefulness and the views!

[@john_kelley]

Yes. Great stuff.

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Great video John! Crow✌️

[@mikeroy6713]

I’ve had bad blisters, bad knees and bad weather for weeks and I guess you can call it type 2 fun. There’s just no way to sugarcoat bad poop etiquette.

[@cherylmacklin3578]

hi🌷 keep asking but idk?, does mom need a spot device/Garmin too or do they connect to her phone, land line? I do know ur hiking buddies shud ea have one, I really need to know, they don’t ever mention that part! ? Which device is best for PC newbie , ease of use & cheapest but w/quality( good enuf!) Mom freaks when I’m OUT THERE ALONE! don’t bother me !, usually all in how u carry urself ! But Christmas coming…ild like one ! Will 1 be enuf? ~thanks Cheryl & Buddy 😊🐾

[@msburrage74]

Me and my wife are day hikers from Alabama and we only hike from October- march pending on when it gets cold enough. For us things that suck when hiking is heat/humidity, snakes, and bugs, which is why we choose those months.

[@isabelledrolet4297]

Yeah, wet slippery leaves covering mud... I currently have a massive bruise on my hip to prove it sucks!!! But it could have been much worse as I was able to hike out!

[@john_kelley]

That’s awful! Glad it wasn’t worse.

[@motomuto3313]

People that complain alot

[@gracemartin7797]

Me and the spider webs go back to my childhood. I used to play in the woods near our house. All the neighborhood kids, me included, knew if you were the first one , grab a stick and swing it in front of you while walking.

[@GMiller75]

The worst thing is snotty nose while hiking.

[@christopherchan1776]

What rain jacket were you wearing? I'm in the market for a new one.

[@john_kelley]

It’s a North Face Venture jacket. Not the lightest, but pretty comfortable. I’ll use it for day hikes, but I probably won’t backpack with it.

[@christopherchan1776]

@@john_kelley thank brotha.

[@robertewbank1440]

Over packing

[@59chevt]

John your spirit is always uplifting. thanks

[@john_kelley]

Thank you so much!

[@BenjaminParrilla]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these topics, I enjoy them and learn from them as well. Stay safe. 😊

[@john_kelley]

Thanks!

[@Doc_Watson]

Leaves tripping usually doesn't bother me, it's if they are wet and they become slippery. Soles with good traction don't help if what you step on slides too. Other than that, I love walking through the leaves. Overused areas - the deuce & TP issue has become a big problem at several trailheads in the White Mountains National Forest. :-( A couple things that suck with backpacking... Biting bugs Hot days - I sweat easily and I sweat a lot Airing out/drying your equipment afterwards - If the weather is nice, I can hang the tarp, hammock, & quilts outside to fully dry and air out. If the weather is wet, I have to hang them inside and that can take up a lot of room so I hang up one item at a time to dry.

[@john_kelley]

I’m not a fan of the heat either.

[@kattidee]

Leaves can hide snakes from view...don't want to trip on one of those! I agree about drying out gear...so difficult inside the tent! Even more difficult if it's cold!

[@kattidee]

@@john_kelley I carry a 6oz 5000mah lipstick battery bank/Flexible USB Fan (the kind you plug into a laptop usually) combo. It easily hangs from my clothes line inside my tent (with rubber bands) and easily runs all night for 2 nights and keeps me much cooler!

[@Doc_Watson]

Thankfully, we don't have to worry about most of the snakes in New England. The timber rattlers that we have are rare.

[@MsBookishBecky]

@@kattidee I might pick that combo up for next summer! Great idea!

[@bucky716]

I hate that somehow I'm the one always designated to go first. At least it seems that way. All the spider webs!

[@john_kelley]

All of them!!!!

[@robnoodle1]

It’s sucks hiking up a steep mountain trail like “Poop-Out-Pass in Jenny Lakes wilderness, California Sierras. You think to yourself, why did I think this was an awesome idea? But the pay off is the breath taking view, a true artistry of landscape. You think to yourself I own that landscape, cause I hiked that brutal mountain. It sucks when you make mistakes or have unforeseen hardships occur. But what doesn’t kill you, builds character, bravery, humbleness, appropriation, gratitude, insight, foresight, confidence, feeling accomplished, and as a result wanting more adventure. Yo! it sucks when you hike alone, cause you have no camaraderie. But the end result is that your able to see who you really are & what your made of. Just saying is all.

[@john_kelley]

Absolutely

[@GoneFeralWithSquidly]

Very similar to my 10 universal truths of backpacking. Like minds! 🦑

[@john_kelley]

I would say Great Minds! 😁

[@GoneFeralWithSquidly]

@@john_kelley well alrighty then!

[@footstepsahead6504]

I was at Hansen's Point a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful spot.

[@john_kelley]

It’s my happy place

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

That you're getting dirty and stinky, but that's part of the fun right 😅

[@john_kelley]

That’s all part of the fun….unless you talk to my wife when I get home from a trip. 😂😂😂

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

😂

[@mackjenkins7721]

Hello John how you doing. I can agree with you about the leaves on the ground. Just this past weekend we were supposed to do a 26-mile kayak camping trip. But it got cancelled because we had a big East Coast storm. We still went to our vacation house to get away but we decided to go hiking. I stepped on some wet leaves that were laying down on mud with my flip-flops on and I slipped on the leaves and the mud. Lucky there was a tree nearby and I grab the branches so I wouldn't fall completely down. My toes were very muddy , wet , & cold. My foot swelled up a little bit because of Me Slippin & I bruised my wrist from trying to grab onto the tree. My wrist will be in a hard wrist brace for a couple weeks. But me and the family & my wife's co-workers family still had fun hiking.

[@john_kelley]

Hey Mack!!! That’s always rough. Slipping on leaves is no bueno.

[@mackjenkins7721]

@@john_kelley definitely agree with you. You and your family have a nice weekend.

[@john_kelley]

@@mackjenkins7721 You too, brother!

[@nedanother9382]

You left out a big dirty little secret of ultralight....I don't carry a PLB because they're expensive, heavy and the antithesis of fear packing...but mostly I don't take one because everyone else does....like a payphone on every corner. It makes me a bad person....but I'm light enough to carry some of your over packing in a pinch :)