i generally have to tard-wrangle my brother when we go /out/ together. it hasn't happened since the VT eclipse, which was a step up in logistical difficulty and weather conditions, but IRL got in the way. i started planning in october 2023 and it was great, we made it to the center of totality camping for free, perfect weather.
>often brings 12-packs of beer in glass bottles
>the alternative is a glass bottle of madeira wine
>constantly running out of cigarettes and alcohol
>i also smoke and drink but at like 1/3 the rate
>inexplicably throws out water used for sous vide cooking
>"i'll just melt snow for drinking water" - it's my fuel and fuel bottle
>takes like an hour to clean up dinner and move a bear canister away from camp, in the green mtns in early spring
>hiking any distance is generally not an option, best case is going 0.25 mi off trail, setting up camp, and exploring in a small radius
>at least he has a reliable tent and sleeping bag
>he's also reasonably good at building fires
>he's diligent about applying permethrin to clothes
>but he snores extremely loudly

i get that he's a poor wagie who can't afford to drop $1000 on fancy ultralight gear but that's a non-issue. i'm happy to lend him spare gear like ditty cubes, 2nd table from the old cascade wild bundle, spare fuel bottle, etc. and my mother happily buys him safety gear like a bear canister.

i learned yesterday that he puts no thought into his backpacking setup. the main problem is an apparent lack of motivation and curiosity, and the result is that i'm pretty much responsible for everything except his shelter and carrying half the food. i should ask him to take some freezer bags and put all his clothes in a gallon; electronics, toiletries, 1st aid, and shitting in quarts; and money, keys, and small essentials in snack bags.