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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,190
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,190 |
We had SUVs when I was a kid, except we called them station wagons (later we got a van). Served precisely the same purpose. As far as I can tell, the purpose of the average SUV is to serve as a platform for making cell phone calls.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23 |
We had SUVs when I was a kid, except we called them station wagons (later we got a van). Served precisely the same purpose. As far as I can tell, the purpose of the average SUV is to serve as a platform for making cell phone calls. ...and to abuse obnoxious amounts of fossil fuel driving 20-30 mph over the speed limit while tailgating all smaller vehicles all the while exerting absolute ownership of the road.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 70
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 70 |
Are you with Troop 773? I grew up in Laguna Niguel, and first got involved with Troop 773 (in about 1973 or 1974). But after a few months I wondered what the point was, as they didn't seem to do anything but hold meetings. Then I heard about Troop 12 in San Juan Capistrano. In those days they were associated with, I think, the Lions Club or one such service group and they met at a special Scout Hut that was owned by the sponsoring service organization (they were not "uniquely Christ-based" as the current website states, thankfully). I joined Troop 12 because they did 11 backpacking trips per year; no car camping, except the annual district Camporee. Sadly, if you look at Troop 12's current website, you can see that now they do very little backpacking at all. They have about one outing a month, but it mostly seems to be car-camping. It's really a shame, as the old Troop 12 was about the best troop I can imagine. I have heard about some of these local troops, and that they are awesome troops, but also heard that they don't do a lot of hiking anymore. I am with Troop 739, based in Laguna Niguel. We're an LDS church-sponsored troop. I worked with the 12-13 yr old scouts for a long time, and now work with the 17 and 18 yr old Ventures. Its a cool experience to see young men make it a goal to get to the top of a mountain, and then persevere to accomplish the goal. It really helps in their development as a person when they can accomplish something like this, and hopefully they will take the experiences with them throughout their lives. Hopefully it will instill in them the same love for the outdoors that my scout leaders gave me when I was a young scout, too. (My boy is now 15, and an Eagle Scout, and he absolutely loves hiking.) I just took my two daughters on a daddy-daughter hike around the Dinkey Lakes area (above Shaver Lake, on the westside) a couple of weeks ago, along with 5 other dads and their dauthers. My daughters are 9 and 13, and they absolutely loved the fishing, hiking, and the overall experience. A great time. We hiked to South Lake and Island Lake, using South Lake as our basecamp for a few days. Not a strenuous hike, but perfect for what we were looking for. A beautiful area of the Sierra.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 15
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 15 |
I did several hikes with Troop 600 in the mid-70's over Mono pass and spent several weeks in Pioneer basin and there was never too much of a crowd, maybe it was just too far for most people to go to. After the hikes we would always go to Hot Creek to clean off, there was always a crowd there as I remember. I enjoyed 'hillbasher's' photo of the Big Horn sheep on Mt San Gorgonio, I did the day hike to the peak on Friday 9/11/09 from the Fish creek trail and probably saw the same herd, I counted 17 sheep altogether with 2 big rams-it was worth the hike just to see'em.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 186
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 186 |
In the 70's when I was in High School (Anaheim, CA) we did one or two camping trips a year (with family) and at least two backpacks (with friends). In a school of 1500, I seriously doubt that even 50 ever went backpacking. Most people simply don't camp or backpack - most people never did (IMHO). The Ski Club always had at least a 100 members, but most of them never backpacked.
I am not convinced that any more/less people (as a percentage) backpack today then in the past. I am sure during the hippie days of the 60's and 70's, backpacking was probably a great way to get away from the parents. It may not have been motivated by mother nature - unless we are talking about the opposite sex.
For some of us, getting out is in our blood (perhaps partly genetic). For most, I think it has always been easier just to stay home.
Oh and by-the-way, people are using internal frame packs for all sorts of things that have nothing to do with backpacking.
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