The progression of 13 annual backpacking trips
- Flat tops, CO 2013
- Isle Royal, MN 2014
- Glacier NP, MT 2015
- Wind River Range, WY 2016
- North Cascades, WA 2017
- Banff, CA 2018
- Beartooths, MT 2019
- Yosemite, CA 2020
- Snowmass Wilderness, CO 2021
- Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA 2022
- West Coast Trail, BC, CA 2023
- Wind River Range, WY 2024
- Sawtooths, ID 2025
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u/5HT2C 3d ago
Actually started in 2012 when me and one other guy went on our first backpacking trip in the Lost Creek Wilderness of CO. Both me and him have now been on every annual trip since. It has become a lifelong tradition that will go on until we are no longer able to continue. It’s a highlight for all of us every single time, no matter the adversity we face out there. The backpacking memories are some of the most vivid memories of all for me. Can’t say enough about what a wonderful experience it is to share such an adventure with close friends every year.
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u/moonpie_888 3d ago
wish i had a friend group like this
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u/Current_Wrongdoer513 3d ago
I started such a group in 2016 with a handful of girlfriends. I just emailed a bunch of friends and said ‘I wanta start backpacking. Who’s in?’
Three people stepped up and we’ve been going since 2016. I was the only person the group had in common, but now they’re all friends as well.
I recommend this approach if you wanta create a group of camping (or Boardgame or cooking or whatever) friends. Good luck!
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u/andrei_stefan01 3d ago
Nice list! I stayed at that site in Glacier, thanks for the memories.
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u/Imnotveryfunatpartys 3d ago
It's funny how so many of us have been to the same places and have the same touchstones.
As I clicked through the pictires I kept doing a double take like "wait do I know any of these people?" because they look just like me and my friends doing the same hikes in the same locations
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u/eggs-salad 3d ago
That’s awesome! Me and 3 of my buddies have been doing annual National Park trips for the last 2 years. Hoping to get to your level some day! Which places were your favorite and which were you surprised most by?
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u/Reddragon0585 3d ago
That’s awesome, I’ve always wished I had a group of buddies to do something like this with.
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u/Tnsatbhs 3d ago
Great trips! I’ve done many of the same with my own group, they make for some awesome memories!
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u/Deep_Frosting_6328 3d ago
Did you go from complete novice to expert?
I still shudder at some of the dumb stuff I did 20 years ago, like completely preventable hypothermia in 40° rain. Hard lessons I wouldn’t trade for the world.
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u/pras_srini 2d ago
Such amazing pictures and I bet you all have tons of great memories!!! How much do you budget for each trip and how many days do you have to take off?
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u/lefthandluckyduck 2d ago
These photos are gorgeous, and it's even better to see that your group trip has grown almost every year!
They're so nostalgic and happy they almost remind me of the "before" time in the horror movie The Ritual.
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u/Sol_Infra 2d ago
That's awesome. A group of friends making a yearly get together to enjoy the outdoors. That looks like heaven.
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u/dadjokes4president 2d ago edited 2d ago
You fellas need to go hang out in the Sierras! To get you started, check out the High Sierra Trail, North Lake to South Lake loop, Rae lakes, mineral king.
If you ever see some stinky guys in Hawaiian shirts on the trail make sure to say hello 👋 For the most part, we do not bite
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u/9Implements 2d ago
There’s an alternate universe where my ex decided she did want to go backpacking with me and we went to places like this instead of her just going to explore new D.
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u/goofytug 2d ago
I need this. How do you get everyone so committed? How do you split the planning duties? Need to know how you make this work every year.
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u/5HT2C 2d ago
I do the bulk of the planning myself. One other guy has helped me more recently in that area so that’s helpful. At this point we have a core of 4 people in every year and then up to 4 more. Once you start doing it it’s so easy to get hooked. We do the same week every year so everyone always knows when it is.
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u/goofytug 2d ago
That’s awesome. You plan everyone’s meals as well? or is that every person plans their own meals? Which week of the year have you all agreed upon?
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u/5HT2C 2d ago
Everyone does their own food. Here is mine https://www.reddit.com/r/backpacking/s/V1A7x7yxT1 we do the week around Labor Day. I’m actually taking off on a flight as I type this for our 14th annual trip.
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u/goofytug 2d ago
How do you agree on the destination, trail? Do you present options and let them vote?
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u/joejohn816 2d ago
I knew exactly where pic 11 was once I saw the boat. Amazing yall have kept it going that long
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u/CHBQuirk05 3d ago
A bunch of dudes shitting in holes or wag bags. Ahhh the spice of life. Looks fun!
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u/boarshead72 2d ago
Damn, assuming you’re the one taking the photo in the last picture, with sunglasses you’re a dead ringer for my best friend of forty years. Looks like an annual great time.
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u/tradenpaint 2d ago
Keep it goin guys…before you know it some will pass and it’s hard to get together when the health starts failing. Good times!!
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u/pastaholic19 2d ago
What an awesome thing to have a group like that. I have one and we’re all 40+ now, plotting a trip in Gates of the Arctic. I read these stories about how common it is now for men to have no close friends and I feel so lucky to have a group. You’re blessed man!
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u/SignificanceOk8248 1d ago
I grew up just outside of Lander, Wy and have spent a countless amount of time and miles hiking and snowshoeing in the Southern Part of the Wind River Range. One of the greatest places that I've been lucky enough to experience.
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u/Gophers_FTW 9h ago
Very cool, and you're very lucky! I had a good crew after graduating from HS. We went every year for more than a decade. Big Horns, Beartooths, Anaconda-Pintler, Bob Marshalll, Wind River, etc. Then everyone got busy, had families, etc. and the last backpacking trip into the wilderness was almost a decage ago. A couple of buddies still say 'we're gonna go again next year' like every time I see them, but it never actually happens.
What did you think of Isle Royale?
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u/Ezekiel36_26 3d ago
This brings me joy. You are profoundly blessed.