To firmly resist dh's plan to carry all the camping equipment on the three day hike he has planned for the BH?

[ScribblyGum]

Dh has planned an adventure for this weekend. He wants the family to walk a three day 34 mile trail, camping for the two nights, carrying all the stuff. Dh is strong and fit. Dd1 (14) has just done bronze Dof E so she is up to the task. Dd2 (13) is used to doing long walks but hasn’t done a two or three dayer carrying her stuff. The dog (8) will be fine. I am reasonably strong and fit, I walked for seven hours last BH but I've got a dodgy back, a dicky hip and two crunchy knees.

I can do this walk but I'm not sure I can do it carrying a back pack of stuff.

I just packed my rucksack with the two man tent, a sleeping bag and roll mat, put it on and thought FUCK THIS IS HEAVY.
I’ve got to threedays of approx six hour walks carrying it, holding the dog and I haven’t added water, pants, snacks and deodorant in there.

Do you think it would be unreasonable of me to insist that we transport the camping stuff by car (ie use two cars and there and back drop of thing in the morning)?

Swap bags with dd2 or put all stuff between dh and the dds.

Carrying a heavy rucksack is not good for knees or hip and will hurt your back.

I don't understand the 2 cars thing.

How do you feel about walking alone? You could drop dh and dds at the start of their walk, drive to the campsite (or arranged spot) and then walk towards dh and dds, this means if you have to go at a slower pace they will meet you closer to the destination.

If not then dh and dd1 start the walk, you and dd2 use the car to get to destination and then walk the opposite route to meet dd1 and dh.

I miss walking and camping OP, make life as easy as you can so that you can continue to walk.

It's even easier to sleep when the rain is pelting down on the campervan roof. It's a soothing sound. And then the low hiss as the heater comes on .

Forget camping, book B&Bs.

You should easily be able to pack a bag of less than 12kg (easily carryable) with enough stuff for a three day hike. Are your tents older and heavier than modern lightweight tents? Do you have lightweight sleeping bags? Are you overpacking clothes and food? Is the bag itself heavy? Surely DH could carry a slightly heavier pack too? Both DDs will need to take at least 40L packs I would have thought, rather than one having just a daysack.

DH and I did 100 miles over 4 days self supported wild camping last Aug BH and had no problem with weight, even carrying all our food so it’s definitely possible to pack light enough!

Possibly not helpful, but I think it sounds great 😳 do you mind saying where you are going?

Thank you sashh for your advice. The two cars thing is each morning to drive in two cars to the destination of that day's walk, leave one car (A) there (with all the camping stuff in), return to the start leaving car (B) there, do walk, drive back to the start in car (A) to pick up car (B), return to the campsite with both cars. Repeat the next day for the next stretch.
It’s a bit of a monumental faff tbh and dh will be all over me with the

Don’t really want to split up. Kind of wanted to do this all together, bonding in the lovely countryside under the syphilitic rain.

If he thinks it would be a lovely thing to do, then he can do it. Everyone on the trip should want to do it. You don't (and I don't blame you at all) so you should do something that you find lovely, preferably that involves your own bed.

Be careful. Permenantly damaging your knees will mean an end to all future walking trips. Do not get pushed into more than you are comfortable with.

The tents are reasonably lightweight StarFish, not ultra light but still, they are designed I think for back packing. terra Novas. We have lightweight down bags and just the foam roll mat. Rucksacks are old (20 years+) but don’t have the money to replace them with fancy new ones.

Not taking food or cooking stuff as eating in pubs.

Not taking any clothes either, apart from clean pants. Was going to sleep in clothes.
Will have to take waterproofs of course.

Sandstone Trail in Cheshire butterfly.

Is there not a recommended % of your body weight that you shouldn't carry more than. (Does that make sense?)

I suggest you can do it with one car. Drive to A.
Wave off DH, DC's. Drive to B.
Amble in the other direction along the route DH &DC's are walking.
Walk back to B with family.
Repeat.

The pack is always the bastard on those things. If you have bad knees and a bad hip, don't risk it. Just dump the pack as you can and do the actual fun stuff.

Sounds like a wonderful family bonding experience... which you should excuse yourself from and enjoy peace, quiet and long hot baths to soak your knees instead.

I’m jealous of people with campervans. Really want one! My only concern is that my DH is a giant and I’m not sure he’d sleep at all in the short beds. Might need to rent one next summer and see if we enjoy it.

TrappedByATurtle has it - except they forgot to add in the stop for a leisurely coffee and read before ambling off to meet the family.

How about making a pile of all the stuff you need to take as a family, weighing and then evenly distributing?

Sorry if this is obvious and you have already tried!

He takes the three man tent.

You stay home and bake some nice cookies for their return.

The end.

I do think people are ignoring what the OP is saying. She likes walking. She finds walking lovely. She doesn't want to spend the weekend in bed The issue is the pack.

To be honest OP the idea with the cars does sound incredibly faffy! If I was you I would look at maybe cutting down on the stuff you have to take, take your bag as light as possible (and maybe adjust Sunday plans due to the rain!)

It sounds like a lovely idea except for being loaded like pack mules (a pack mule is what you actually need here) and the probability of rain. And arriving wet at your proposed site after several hours of walking in the rain, pitching tent in the rain, etc etc.

TrappedByATurtle's idea sounds good, with the added benefit that if everyone votes to jack it in any evening, you have the car handy.

Thank you

Btw my parents do walking trips with a company called Sherpa (I think) who lug their bags to the next destination while my parents just stroll with a daypack. Maybe something to try another time?

Your knees aren't going to take it lass.

I think you are being rather silly to contemplate ruining your health over it - what happens if you have a really bad back whilst you are there? - it would be miserable. I think you have to either divide stuff up so that your pack is light enough for you to be confident that you can manage or do the 2 cars thing. Wearing the same clothes for the whole weekend sounds pretty grim - don't be surprised if people move away from you in the pub! If you do the 2 cars thing, at least you can take more clothes.
Have you checked that neither DD will have their period? - that also might be fairly grim on such an ordeal.

This?

I do a lot of this stuff, coast to coast/offas dyke etc etc and carry my camping stuff. I have bad knees and a hip problem too. Yes the pack is going to be bad.

Walking poles might really help if you have some, they reduce the stress on your knees a lot.

The distance you're doing isn't that bad, 12 miles a day is very doable.

Do you know anyone that can lend you a "new fancy pack"? they really are so much better than the old Karrimor style ones.Hell if you're close to me I'll lend you mine if you promise to bring it back.