Drinking Beer on "The Summit"

[DayTrip]

. While I love beer, I am not a fan of warm beer so the effort to keep it cold (it can be done) along with the wasted 16 oz of weight makes it not worth it to me.

That's the issue in a nutshell. I am a huge fan of good beer (preferably on tap) but it is just a pain unless you're doing some sort of casual hike or overnight. I had a Guinness sitting in "the throne cairn" on South Kinsman when I finished my 48, which was kinda cool, and have brought one with me here and there but overall it's not worth the aggravation to me. I can wait until I'm back at the car, campsite or somewhere in town. And I would hazard a guess that the kind of person who enjoys beer enough to take one up to the summit is not going to get impaired having one can. All depends on who you are and what you're doing I guess.

 

[JoshandBaron]

You should have shot him, threw his crap in the woods and adopted his now homeless dog. Good thing, I wasn't with you. F'n hippies.

They probably didn't get to sleep until late. There was cell service and we brought the iPad to watch the hockey game. It was a high scoring nationally televised playoff game that went into OT with the Bruins ultimately winning, eliciting purposefully exaggerated celebrations from us with every goal. They probably thought there was a pack of Ric Flairs close by. I'm petty like that, I guess.

 

[sierra]

They probably didn't get to sleep until late. There was cell service and we brought the iPad to watch the hockey game. It was a high scoring nationally televised playoff game that went into OT with the Bruins ultimately winning, eliciting purposefully exaggerated celebrations from us with every goal. They probably thought there was a pack of Ric Flairs close by. I'm petty like that, I guess.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Mike P.]

Moderation and common sense would make it moot, however, as we know, common sense often is not common and if a little is good then more must be better. Walking several miles with a beer, even if kept cold will likely end up with more foam then I'd want. I did have champagne at the end of the 67, I've been to a wedding on Bear Mt. in CT and I've had beer on Greylock but we were staying overnight and hiking down the next day. My days of drunk and disorderly are over.

Those of you familiar with Bolton Notch in CT likely know that in the 60's and 70's the open rock on top was frequently spray painted with Bolton, Manchester, Tolland and Rockville colors each year. I only went up with spray paint after several Green Monsters in the dark on two or three occasions.

If you need a rescue and you have alcohol in your system, I'm thinking you are paying. People have been going into the woods drinking for a long time. The times I've been by the Rattle River shelter, there has been green and brown glass on the ground, it's not far from the road. Social media does make challenges, especially foolish ones easily spread. Having them push it further away from the road and onto harder terrain is a bad idea. Again, a beer or a drink isn't an issue, 3-6 or eight or nine, that very well may be a problem.

 

[skiguy]

Some interesting stories here. I certainly have a few myself. Most of the comments and experiences here seem to be about after hike drinking of alcohol. Which is definitely a good way to kick back. Especially if your in the relative safety of not being mobile. In other words the active hiking is done and your in your campsite or the comfort of your own home. My OP was directed more towards Summit Beers. It was mentioned that my focus was a non issue. I’ll respectively disagree. It concerns me when I see first time hikers scrambling to get that summit shot with their favorite home brew. Maybe they are not consuming but if they are and need a rescue on their way down it might not be such a non issue. I guess I’m just and old fart but there seems to be a rise in use of alcohol by folks actively hiking. Again I prefer an Après mentality.

 

[Mike P.]

Some interesting stories here. I certainly have a few myself. Most of the comments and experiences here seem to be about after hike drinking of alcohol. Which is definitely a good way to kick back. Especially if your in the relative safety of not being mobile. In other words the active hiking is done and your in your campsite or the comfort of your own home. My OP was directed more towards Summit Beers. It was mentioned that my focus was a non issue. I’ll respectively disagree. It concerns me when I see first time hikers scrambling to get that summit shot with their favorite home brew. Maybe they are not consuming but if they are and need a rescue on their way down it might not be such a non issue. I guess I’m just and old fart but there seems to be a rise in use of alcohol by folks actively hiking. Again I prefer an Après mentality.

"A" beer or beverage shouldn't make anyone drunk. For years I've said that when it comes to things I really like, (cookies, brownies, etc.) "A" means two. With Covid vaccinations now being three and four shots, "A" cookie now equals at least three. I agree with you overall on having summit beer"s". Or as the jingle for Schaefer Beer goes, "the one beer to have when you're having more than one". Some won't stop at one and for some, "A means two, (now three or four), has beer added to cookies and brownies. With weed being more legal than before, I could see that also being an issue and it's certainly easier to carry. Getting mellow with "mother nature" sitting above treeline may be just as problematic.

Why summit appears in the first place, you've accomplished next to nothing, your trip is but half over.

 

[DayTrip]

I find this chart to be generally accurate.....

 

[bikehikeskifish]

One beer is nice.
Two beers is too many.
Three beers is not enough.



Tim

 

[Scubahhh]

Just to be perfectly clear, I've never considered wither of these "challenges," not do I recommend either.
6-12-18-24: https://citiusmag.com/podcast/6-12-18-24-challenge-attempt-breakdown/
24X24X24 https://www.reddit.com/r/Appalachia...2424_challenge_what_was_your_experience_like/

 

[TEO]

6-12-18-24: https://citiusmag.com/podcast/6-12-18-24-challenge-attempt-breakdown/

Hahahaha! Brilliant!

24X24X24 https://www.reddit.com/r/Appalachia...2424_challenge_what_was_your_experience_like/

Beer does not dehydrate you, neither does coffee.


@skiguy, if people are having more than one beer on the summit I would agree with you. As others have mentioned, beer is problematic in terms of weight and temperature. As you say, it is much more satisfying aprés hike. On days with long drives, given alcohols soporific effects, I wait until I'm at my abode for the evening.

If a summit beverage must be enjoyed, whiskey works well, when limited to savoring small sips. It also doubles as an antiseptic. (Captain Morgan's is the prefered bevearge to be enjoyed on the summit of the Captain.) Cigars can be a fine way to celebrate an accomplishment, although only if there are no other parties around.

 

[peakbagger]

Beer may or may not dehydrate, but in my experience, downing a beer after a long hot hike yields an instant buzz. I usually have few non alcoholic drinks post hike before having a beer.

I have had a few trail magic beers when I was sectioning the AT. Hard to beat a beer floating in stream in net with a "free" sign on multiday hike.