How to Backpack
Don’t get too fancy. Publications that make their money
selling ads for gear make you think you need a lot of fancy stuff. The gear is
cool, but for the most part unnecessary.
Remember the basics. You need shelter, water, and food. You need it in
that order. Lastly you need some tools and something to carry it all in.
The backpack: The backpack the kids use for school won’t cut
it. You need a waist belt, shoulder straps, and a chest strap. Good packs
normally have an internal or external frame. Most of the weight in the pack will
ride on your hips. The chest strap transfers weight from your shoulders to your
chest. If your pack doesn’t have a chest strap, you can improvise one with a
bandana or something similar. Avoid a cord, over time it’ll cut you. Plenty of
pockets are handy but not necessary. When you load your pack, it’ll probably
work better if you keep the heavier stuff on the bottom. A lower center of
gravity is more stable. Do put emergency and commonly used items where they can
be easily accessed. Don’t hang a lot of crap on the outside of your pack; it’ll
drive you crazy when it’s swinging around.
Shelter: Weight counts and less is more. Dome tents can be
very light. Pup tents are usually a little heavier. I prefer to take just the
rain fly from my dome tent along with some cord. I’ve rigged a shelter that
kept me dry in a torrential rain. A lightweight waterproof nylon poncho can
double as a shelter. Before you start, use waterproofing spray and seam sealer
to make sure the shelter is waterproof. An emergency poncho or even a large
trash bag can work as a shelter.
A big part of shelter is something to sleep in or on. You
won’t want to carry a heavy air mattress, let alone blow it up. The foam
sleeping pads don’t weigh much and help a lot with comfort and warmth. I
usually tie mine to the top of the pack. A sleeping bag is good, but can be
heavy. I’ve used a Mylar space blanket as a ground cloth and a fleece blanket
to cover up with. Just remember that most of the cold comes from the ground
you’re laying on, so insulate under you. If you have plenty of dry leaves you
can put them under you for insulation. You can also fill a trash bag with dry
leaves and make a mattress. Just remember that you won’t be able to call the
front desk for another blanket, so plan for the absolute worse weather
possible.
Water: this is heavy. Carrying enough for 2 or 3 days can be
backbreaking. Carry some inside your body by drinking two quarts before you
start. If you are where the map shows streams and ponds, carry 2 or 3 quarts in
your pack. The Nalgene water bottles are best because you can put hot water in
them and use them for extra heat in your bed at night. Do not drink unfiltered
or untreated water unless it is an emergency. Take a purification pump or
purification tablets, or both. When you finish drinking the first quart of
water, find a way to replace it. Remember that if you don’t have to pee, you’re
dehydrated.
Food: You want the lightest food with the most calories. Mac
and cheese, ramen noodles, instant rice, and the like are light. Lighten them
more by removing from the box and putting the contents in a zip lock bag. Cut
out and include the directions. Tuna, chicken, and other proteins are available
in pouches. Jerky is OK, but makes you thirsty. Peanut butter is available in
pouches or small cups. Trail mix is good. Granola bars, breakfast bars, and the
like pack a good calorie punch. I have taken a frozen steak in a zip lock. It
was thawed by dinner, and tasted good after a hard hike. Always remember to
keep all food away from where you sleep. You don’t want late night visits from
raccoons or something bigger. Hanging your food bag in a tree is a good idea.
Tools: I carry a multi tool and a good pocket knife. You
normally won’t need an axe. I sometimes carry a fixed blade knife as well. I
rarely need it, but I like to have it just in case.
String is a tool. Strong twine is OK but para cord is
better. It’s very strong and light. Rope isn’t needed unless you’re going to
rappel. Take twice as much string as you think you’ll need. Also carry a couple of feet of string in your
pocket.
Take at least 3 ways to start a fire. I carry my trusty
Zippo, which I fuel up before I start the hike. A couple of disposable lighters
are good. Add some stick matches in a waterproof case. A candle is good for
starting tinder. You can also put petroleum jelly on cotton balls for a fire
starter. Believe it or not, potato chips are good fire starters.
A couple of small flashlights are good to dig through your
gear at night. You can get an LED light that is the size of a quarter. A LED
headlight is very handy. Glow sticks are OK, but are one time use.
You need to take any meds you are prescribed. A few NSAIDs
and a few antihistamines could be useful. Band aids, alcohol pads, and
antibacterial cream are a must. Most importantly take moleskin. You’ll use it
when you first feel a hot spot on your feet. Cut a piece to go around, not on,
the hot spot. Blisters are the enemy on the trail.
I don’t carry a lot of clothing. I make sure I have plenty
of good socks, and a couple of bandanas. Just remember cotton is “dead man’s
clothing”. Cotton is cold when damp and can give you hypothermia. Wool,
polyesters, and fleeces should stay warm when wet. The clothing you wear should
be treated with permathrin to keep bugs away.
Get a trail map and a compass. GPS is for sissies. Study the
map before you leave. Learn how to use it with the compass. If you learn where
you are in relation to major highways you can always go cross country if you
lose the trail.
Toilet paper is a very valuable tool for obvious reasons.
Bury or burn used TP. It’s nasty to pack it out. A small plastic trowel is
light weight and useful digging a cat hole to use as a bathroom The TP stays
there and you cover it up. Like in the movie “Up”, dig the hole before you go
to the bathroom.
Aluminum foil is the most versatile thing you can take. It’s
a cup, it’s a skillet, and it’s a hat. Use it for a roof over your fire in even
the hardest rain. Wrap your cold toes in it to warm them. Put a few sheets of
the heavy duty foil in your map pocket of your pack. You’ll be glad you did.
Here’s how I make camp. I look for a high spot as close as
possible to water. If it’s hot I try to catch the wind. If it’s cold out I try
to be sheltered from the wind by topography or a stand of trees. Never camp
directly under a tree.
After I find a spot I rake sticks, leaves, and other debris
away from where I’ll sleep. I use my small bottle of DEET and spray the area so
I’ll be bug free all night. I rig my canopy, lay my sleeping mat, and lay out
my bag or bedroll. I make my fire away from my shelter and on the downwind
side. I set about getting water and making dinner. I find a place to hang my
food bag to keep it from the critters. By dark I’m all done with chores and am
ready to enjoy the fire. When I turn in I undress and roll my clothes up for a
pillow. I never wear my clothes when I sleep. They can be damp from
perspiration in the morning and can give a chill.
Safety on the trail
If it’s hunting season wear an orange vest or hat. The
reason is obvious.
You’ve seen the guy with the outdoor adventure shows that
does all of that daredevil stuff in the wilderness. Don’t do that. If you try
climbing sheer cliffs and hopping over wet boulders the coroner will get to
examine your mangled remains. If the path is treacherous go another way. Go
around a steep place instead of over it.
If you have to cross a stream undo your waist belt and chest
strap so you can drop the pack if you slip. Pick a crossing where the water is
moving slowly. Use your walking stick on the downstream side to make you more
stable. Go slowly. When you get out on the other side, empty the water out of your
boots and change to dry socks to prevent getting blisters.
While we’re on the subject of walking sticks, you don’t need
to get fancy. You can find one on the trail that works fine. I started taking
to cheap light wooden canes. I carry them backwards and sort of sling them
forward as I walk. They slide well in my hands and have never given me a
blister. I also look real cool as I hike with them.
Be wary when going downhill. You’ll want to hike faster, but
you are more likely to get injured if you speed up. Steep descents are easier
if you go down at an angle. That’s why most trails have switchbacks on hills.
If you meet another hiker the one going downhill has the right of way.
Its night and you’ve finally laid your sore and exhausted
body down. Every sound is magnified. A field mouse in the dry leaves sounds
like a grizzly bear. If the ground isn’t shaking, it probably isn’t big enough
to eat you. Probably not.
As you look out the night is pitch black because you’ve got
the light of your fire and your flashlight killing your night vision. If you
must have light, put it several feet away. You’ll want to light the campsite,
not yourself. Only use the light nearby for close work, like finding your pills
in the pack. Besides, bugs and zombies will be drawn to the light, so keep it
away from you.
Oh yeah, and have fun.
