Keep On Backpackin'
Economic woes can't keep you off the trail and out of the wild
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Oh, BACKPACKER faithful, we never should’ve doubted you. In a recent poll, we asked you:
Money’s tight. Do you cut out camping or keep backpacking?
1. Cut the camping
2. Keep on packing
Overwhelmingly, you guys chose to stick it out on the trail—over 95 percent of respondents said they’d continue to camp, hike, and spend time outside in the face of a withering economic recession. To the frugal few (less than 5 percent) who would rather sacrifice outdoor pursuits than spend extra coin, we’ve got one piece of advice: You should probably reassess your priorities.
Since we know most of you will head out into the wider, wild world regardless of a diving Dow and a labored stimulus package, you might as well have great places to go. Check out BACKPACKER’s guide to snow climbs, ice hikes, and winter workouts. And, just in case, learn how to survive frostbitebefore you challenge Jack Frost to a hardman contest.
—Ted Alvarez