Yet Another Step in the Great Adventure
In this post I will start discussing my thinking on gear selection for a week long adventure.
As you might imagine, even if you are not a hiker, that the right gear makes a difference in the hiking experience. It didn't take too long in my backpacking (day hikes are a lot different here if you ask me) experiences to discover heavy is not much fun. So I have gradually tried to get on the ultralight path. Ultralight backpacking is defined as having a 10 lb base pack weight (everything in the pack plus the pack minus food and water). And I have come pretty darn close without making big sacrifices by substituting light items for heavy items with the same function and leaving out the unnecessaries (like a radio or camp shoes). Side note - In his book "Ultralight Backpacking Tips" Mike Clelland says he knows people that meet the definition of ultralight but then carry a lot of water in terrain that has plentiful water sources - well that describes me, so I am trying to work out how I can change my habits to really make a difference in pack weight (water is really heavy!). For example, the N-P Trail crosses numerous streams and even a river or two. It would be silly not to plan the water container situation accordingly. So that means looking at the map and guide book and figuring out how far between possible water sources and whether I need to keep multiple containers full or not. Of course, I hate to stop and fill up water containers when I would rather be hiking. Just thought I should mention I carry an Steripen for making water safe to drink. I like it better than anything else I've used. Just have to make sure the batteries aren't dead (like happened to me last year). Always good to have a backup method.
The other major weight item is food. For non-hikers it might seem trivial, but for a backpacking trip it is really important. Because backpacking burns up calories like there is no tomorrow, you need calorie packed food and here's the kicker, without being very heavy (like 2 lbs or less per day). For a seven day trip that's 14 lbs (Mike Clelland says 1 1/2 lbs per day is okay -hmmm we''ll see) on top of the 10 lb base weight plus water (~2 lbs per quart - and I often start a hike with 4 quarts or 8 lbs). That's 32 lbs at the start (and that's an ultralight strategy, imagine a 'traditional' backpacking strategy and it almost doubles). That amount of weight, for a normal person, will feel a little heavy so you see why picking the right food (heavy on calories light in weight) is important. I have tried things I like to eat but I get sick of them fast plus I tend to lose my appetite after the first day. Variety is important, but its hard to find appetizing (for me) and that is also not heavy. I have read much on the subject, but personal experience trumps all the suggestions in print. By the way - some of the normal advice when eating at home goes out the window on a longish backpacking trip. Like cutting back on fat, fat is packed with calories that are needed. Anyway, I have my eye on a few newish things - like the ready made sandwiches from Bridgford or one of the freeze dried meals. I'll write more about food when I am closer to actually purchasing supplies.