Flying with a backpack?

[Farmer17]

On Wednesday me and my girlfriend are flying to Denver and we will be camping out of our backpacks for the first time and we will be staying at about 10,500 feet in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. I bought a big duffel bag for my backpack so the airport luggage handlers don't rip the straps off of it and I took the fuel out of my stove and will buy some there. I have a Kershaw OSO Sweet knife in the checked bag so I guess that's OK, and my girlfriend wanted me to take a gun since we're in bear country but I've heard it's a big hassle at the Denver Airport and you need figure an extra hour or two to be taken with an armed guard to a special Xray machine, so no gun on this trip. I am required to have a commercial hard sided Bear-proof food container which I bought for $75 bucks. The weather forecast calls for a chance of rain and the high will be 65 and low will be 47 degrees and I think we're prepare for everything I just haven't flown with a backpack before, anyone have any experience flying with a camping backpack?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I think the duffel bag over you backpack is much better that the "Travel Packs" of the 1980's. Lock the duffel with a Homeland Security approved padlock!

Don't forget the pepper spray, and jingle bells! Bears like music when they eat spicey food.

Ivan

 

[1sailor]

A couple of years ago my son and his buddy went camping in Alaska. They wanted to bring some protection because of bears etc. They had the guns flown there on Alaska Air and when they arrived in Alaska they went to the airport and picked them up. Pretty simple really.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Photo of my granddaughter (R) and her friend who traveled Asia like this.
More recently, a young Swiss couple dropped in for a visit here in SC and were using internal framed backpacks.
None mentioned any problems with that mode of travel.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[sigp220.45]

My kid flies in and out of DIA all the time with a handgun in his checked bag and has never had a problem or a delay.

 

[glenncal1]

I would be more worried about 2 legged predators than 4 in the Colorado mountains (and if you are worried about 4, its more likely to be a cougar), as stated above it is no real trouble to check a handgun in your luggage just make sure you have plenty of check in time. Have a great time.

 

[robvious]

I have been camping in the mountains of Colorado exactly once... was told you MAY see a bear... make yourself BIG and don't panic or run... a mountain lion may see you, you won't ever know... if you do see one, it probably won't do you any good to have a firearm... they sneak up on deer, and deer are food... if you see a moose, find a big tree and put it between you and the moose... You are more likely to be harmed by the moose...

 

[HardToHandle]

My kid flies in and out of DIA all the time with a handgun in his checked bag and has never had a problem or a delay.

So… I have found United and DEN to literally be worst airport in the US for a handgun. Several times I have had to check in, get the bag tag, then wait for employee to walk me across the terminal (three blocks) dragging my luggage, wait 15 minutes for the TSA to check the gun box for 30-60 seconds and then walk back to the check-in counter to drop my bag under the supervision of the United employee.

After my first experience of nearly missing a DEN flight checking in a full two hours early with handgun, I now budget 2.5-3 hours early for DEN shenanigans.

The DEN United employees (it is a United Hub) are universally negative when I declare the firearm… Probably because they get pulled away for 30-45 minutes for a long walk to nowhere, leaving the check-in counter even more understaffed.

PHX, Dallas, Vegas, Orlando, Miami and half dozen other airports in the last five years with a handgun… No comparable drama. The only other negative experience was flying American out of San Antonio about six years ago, but that was 15-minute process. DEN often takes 30-60 extra minutes.

 

[venomballistics]

I don't always fly... But when I do, I'm the pilot.
I'd rather take my chances in a 40 year old junkyard refugee pulled out of a farmers back forty than do anything mass transit

 

[Rudi]

I'd rather fly with a parachute.

 

[waffles]

"Rocky Mountain National Forest" isn't something I've run across out here. I'm not turning up anything on a quick google, are you talking about Rocky Mountain National Park? If so, are you staying in one of the many campgrounds, or actually backpacking?

e: by the duffel bag comment in the OP I'm guessing the former. I live in Denver and haven't had an issue flying with a handgun in checked baggage. I've also spent a lot of time in the park, and over the years I've had exactly one time where I considered going for my pistol (chanced upon a grumpy moose while bushwacking through brush trying to get to a better fishing spot). The park is incredibly busy, if you're sticking around camp or on any of the excellent hiking trails I wouldn't sweat it. If you're worried about the gun, or if it adds any undue hassle, just leave it at home and enjoy yourself. It's an absolutely gorgeous park and quite safe.

 

[chief38]

The worst part of going through TSA checks is that SOME of the inspectors make up their own rules and break your chops just to show you who’s in charge. I have personally seen them confiscate belt buckles because they did not like the graphics on them-absolutely true! The belt buckle my friends son was wearing had an image of two crossed 1861 Colt army revolvers on it. Just a cast in rendition and the buckle was only about 1.75” x 2.5”. Because the belt was riveted on to the buckle the confiscated the entire belt. That TSA agent must have really liked it. Confiscating a belt because of a picture is absurd!

It seems traveling by air now is subject to opinions of I’ll trained and I’ll informed TSA workers and we are now subject to their opinions, beliefs and feeling that day.

 

[VaTom]

Bear spray is not allowed in carry-on or check bags on airlines. Buy it at your destination. When in Montana a couple of years ago near Yellowstone/ Big Sky on a trout fishing trip some places rent it. Our host at the lodge had some he would let you borrow. People would buy it while there and leave it with him for someone else to use. Spoke with several locals and their preferred carry on bear county is 10 MM Glock. Have fun and be careful.

 

[johngalt]

I think one of the rules when flying with a firearm in a checked bag is the firearm must be in hard case. You might be able to put pack a hard pistol case inside the backpack.

 

[VaTom]

I think one of the rules when flying with a firearm in a checked bag is the firearm must be in hard case. You might be able to put pack a hard pistol case inside the backpack.

Unloaded Firearm must in checked baggage in hard side, lockable case and declared at ticket counter check in for your airline. Ammunition cannot be in case with the firearm. A Pelican type case with two small Master padlocks is what I used when I flew with two pistols several years ago on Delta. When I flew I had to open the case and show the ticket agent and re-lock it. A red card was put inside the checked bag to identify to TSA it had been checked.

Ammunition cannot be in carry on bag. Go to TSA and your Airlines website to make sure you are in compliance.

 

[GaryS]

The firearm must be in a locked case. The locks should NOT be TSA compliant. Unless the x-ray, drug, or explosive tests alert in general the TSA doesn't care if you fly with firearm in a checked bag. Magazines can now be in the locked box, but not ammunition.

At least that is how it was in November, but I always check the TSA regulations before a trip just in case.

The last several times I flew, the airline staff didn't even glance at the gun I was carrying. In fact the last time she didn't even ask me to open the box. She just taped the "Orange card" to the outside of the gun box and checked the bag in.

I think one of the rules when flying with a firearm in a checked bag is the firearm must be in hard case. You might be able to put pack a hard pistol case inside the backpack.

 

[Farmer17]

"Rocky Mountain National Forest" isn't something I've run across out here. I'm not turning up anything on a quick google, are you talking about Rocky Mountain National Park? If so, are you staying in one of the many campgrounds, or actually backpacking?

e: by the duffel bag comment in the OP I'm guessing the former. I live in Denver and haven't had an issue flying with a handgun in checked baggage. I've also spent a lot of time in the park, and over the years I've had exactly one time where I considered going for my pistol (chanced upon a grumpy moose while bushwacking through brush trying to get to a better fishing spot). The park is incredibly busy, if you're sticking around camp or on any of the excellent hiking trails I wouldn't sweat it. If you're worried about the gun, or if it adds any undue hassle, just leave it at home and enjoy yourself. It's an absolutely gorgeous park and quite safe.

Yes we are driving into Rocky Mountain National Park and will be backpacking on the trails with all the camping gear in our backpacks. There are several different entrances and our camping spot confirmation letter doesn't tell us which entrance to use. With several hundred thousand acres, going to the wrong entrance could waste some time and I can't find a phone number to call to get help.

 

[lihpster]

From the website for the park:
Mailing Address:
1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park , CO 80517

Phone:
970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

Contact Us

 

[UncleEd]

Flying with a backpack?

Yes, it's OK as long as it
doesn't contribute to any
weariness in the arms
while flapping them.

 

[Farmer17]

From the website for the park:
Mailing Address:
1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park , CO 80517

Phone:
970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

Contact Us

Thanks a lot Lilhipster! I tried several park phone numbers that either ended in recordings or told me to leave a message and nobody would call back, but the the one you gave me got and friendly and helpful person who found my confirmation number and gave me good directions to my spot. I would have wasted a BUNCH of time without him!