Part 1
When the Earth was created, some of the most pristine and amazing places were situated in the most remote and out-of-the-way areas. As Earth continued to develop, some smart individuals opted to keep them this way, rather than lead the masses in by road. Then somewhere, a person of questionable intelligence decided it’d be fun to put gear weighing as much as a first-grader in a bag, strap it to his back and walk into these places. He called it “backpacking.”
Every year, thousands of people strap food, clothing and bedding to their bodies, and walk countless miles in search of unspoiled beauty… and do it willingly.
You’re thinking, “HEY, sounds GREAT! I’d love to strap 50 pounds to my body and walk uphill hours on end, and sleep in dirt for a few days. But where to start?”
I’m here to help.
I’ve been hiking for a long time but only recently decided that “backpacking” might actually be more fun than the creatively named death march.
When it comes to preparation, people have created numerous acronyms to help. The 5 P’s comes to mind. Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. That’s certainly sage advice. I’ve modified mine to include a GNB. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, God, No Bears.
Now that that’s out of the way, you need stuff to strap to your back.
1. Backpack. Plan ahead of time. This contraption will be strapped to your back for an extended stay. It should fit comfortably. Wear the pack you plan on using around the neighborhood a few times. Put your 4-year old inside. See how it feels. Imagine carrying it at an incline. Feel like screaming? Find a new pack.
2. Shoes. Get comfortable shoes with good support. Blisters at mile marker 1 of a five-mile hike will ruin you. You won’t go home after starting. Nobody has ever said, “Well, guys, I got a blister. I‘m going back. Have fun.” You’ll keep going, getting more and more blisters. Find good shoes. They’ll save you.
3. Shelter. Tent? Bivy Sack? Tarp in the dirt? How comfortable you are with nature and how light you want to travel will decide your shelter. I would carry a steel-walled tent if they made one light enough, but they don’t, so I use a regular tent. You’ll never find me open-air sleeping on a tarp. Ever.
4. Sleeping bag. Adjust for the conditions. If it’ll be cold, bringing the kids’ “Go Diego Go” sleeping bag will probably get you laughed at as well as frozen solid. Sleeping bags of every possible weight and climate rating exist to suit your needs. I use a summer bag (25/40 degree flip) and a winter bag rated to 0 degrees.
5. Sleeping pad. Sleep on a pad or rocks and dirt. You decide.
6. Clothing. Personally, I enjoy scuzzy,and wear one change of clothing for up to three days. Saves weight, and hey, I’m not out to impress anyone. I also don’t shave or brush my teeth very often while backpacking, but that’s me. I’ll wear shorts and t-shirt, and bring a layer of thermals if it gets cold at night. Always bring extra socks. Wet feet are horrible things. If backpacking in winter, more clothing layers are necessary.
7. Food. I know someone who has packed in whole pies and canned food. Their fellow campers appreciated the gesture. The individual who carried it nearly passed out in the process. Dehydrated foods are best. I’m a big fan of dried soups. Backpacking meals are taste gambles at best. The spaghetti and lasagna options are usually safe.
8. Stove. You need to prepare your awesome dehydrated meals. A variety of lightweight cooking stoves make boiling water quick and easy.
9. Water purifier. You decide whether you think the water is safe to drink, but if it’s not, blisters will be the least of your concerns.
These are the basics you need for your own death march, er, “backpacking trip.” In Part 2, I’ll discuss extras you can bring to make the journey a little more pleasant, as well as a few places to go so your first backpacking adventure is not your last.
Brian Rueb is a north state writer, photographer and educator. For more photography please visit www.flickr.com/photos/rueb.
