Backpacking 101

Agenda

  1. Types of Backpacks
  2. Evolution of Backpacks
  3. Goals of Backpacking
  4. Comfort Zone
  5. Gear to get you there
  6. Trip Planning
  7. Nutrition
  8. Leave No Trace

Types of Backpackers or Styles of Backpacking

  1. Ultralight
  2. Lightweight
  3. Regular
  4. Heavyweight
  5. Kitchen Sink

Why Lightweight?

  1. Less Stress on the Body
  2. Less fatigue
  3. Fewer injuries
  4. Less wear on gear
  5. Move Faster
  6. See More
  7. Do More

Lightweight EvolutionMilitary Driven

Source for gear:

  1. Military Surplus - Rucksacks
  2. Kelty redesigns and sells an External Frame Pack – 1950
  3. Wayne Gregory designs and sells the Internal Frame Pack – 1982
  4. Ray Jardine Publishes “Beyond Backpacking” and is instrumental in the Lightweight Revolution -1992
  5. Whole Companies dedicated to lightweight gear -1990
  6. Frameless Packs

Backpacking and Hiking Goals:

  1. Purpose?
  2. Relaxation
  3. Exercise
  4. Challenge
  5. Exploring
  6. Attitude?
  7. Hustle
  8. Plod
  9. Wander
  10. Wonder
  11. With Whom?
  12. Gung Ho!
  13. Experimenters
  14. Drafted and Dragged
  15. Fitness Level
  16. Energy Level
  17. What are their goals?
  18. What is their attitude?

Gear:

There is an inverse relationship between gear and skill. The more skill you have the less you are dependent on gear.

In the book, Beyond Backpacking, Ray Jardine documents the relationship between pack weight and one’s ability to hike. As pack weight goes down so do aches and pains, blisters, and fatigue, but up goes mileage, enjoyment and personal confidence and satisfaction. (for most people)

The gear you take will be determined by finding that Comfort Zone that is the balance of gear and weight VS hiking mileage that allows you to feed confident and secure, yet light enough to enjoy the hike.

Even on weekend and overnight hikes, there is a starting point, desired destination, and return schedule. So although, as backpackers, we like to think of ourselves as being “born free”, we still have self or group-imposed goals, and especially as we are just starting out, we are at the most challenging point in just keeping up, yet are the most likely to overweight ourselves with gear.

So for beginners, ignore the “accessories” get the basics and develop some skill. Adding gourmet cooking supplies and posh comfort accessories could be added later once you’re sure you can pack them.

In addition to whatever other gear you pack, consider “The 10 Essentials” as a starting point. (Information on the 10 essentials is found on the website)

Gear: Two things can RUIN your trip: Packs and Footwear

Backpack:

Types of Backpacks

  1. External Frame Packs
  2. Good for Desert or Hot Weather hiking
  3. Not good for bush whacking
  4. For heavy, bulky or odd sized loads
  5. Does not flex with the body
  6. Internal Frame Pack
  7. Form Fitting
  8. Hotter
  9. Flexes
  10. Generally Smaller and Lighter
  11. Frameless Packs
  12. Form Fitting
  13. Hotter
  14. Flexes
  15. Also small and even lighter
  16. Accessories
  17. Hunter Orange Cove
  18. Rain Cover
  19. Pack Liner

Packs are made differently for men and women.

Ospry & Gregory are very adjustable and are expensive.

Kelty is also good but is less adjustable and less money.

One brand has a moldable hip belt. Heat it up in a microwave and strap it on and it forms to you.

Temperature Control:

Means of Heat Transfer

Conduction – contact

Convection – heat rises

Radiation – hands out toward fire

Respiration – out with hot air, in with cold air

Evaporation – perspiration

Controlling moisture

Gear: Sleeping Pad – A Barrier against Conduction

Thermarest

Z-Rest

Foam Pads

NOT an air-only mattress – compresses insulation

NOT a hammock – compresses insulation

Gear: Sleeping Bags – A Barrier against Convection, Radiation and Evaporation

  1. Types
  2. Square – Slumber Party Bag – possibly with flannel lining
  3. Mummy Bag – traps less air for your body to heat and reduces the area of the bag loosing heat – hoodie bag
  4. Tapered Square
  5. Quilt – Foot pocket, sides and top – no hood – uses sleeping pad for protection beneath
  6. Blanket, Poncho Liner, Army Blanket (Grandma Gatewood)
  7. Features
  8. Fill: Down VS Synthetic
  9. Matching/mating zippers
  10. Pad belts
  11. Hang Loops
  12. Stuff sack

Gear: Shelter – A Barrier against Nature

  1. Freestanding
  2. Poles
  3. inflatable
  4. Not Freestanding
  5. Poles, stakes and guys
  6. Trees, brush and rocks
  7. Another means of classification
  8. Tents
  9. Pup
  10. Dome
  11. Cabin
  12. Pyramid
  13. Hex (circus tent)
  14. Tarps & Tarps with nets
  15. Other
  16. Bivy Sack
  17. Hammock
  18. Colors
  19. Subdued or Natural to not offend other hikers
  20. Garish for Alpine camping where rescue may be needed

Gear: Clothing - Cotton Kills

Read the Label!

  • Wicking
  • Warm when wet
  • Dries quickly
  • Color Fast
  • Non-shrink

LAYERS

Base Layer:

  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Pants/Shorts
  • T-shirt

Insulation Layer

  • Heavy Socks
  • Fleece pants
  • Fleece top

Additional Insulation

  • Fleece jacket or sweater
  • Mittens or Gloves
  • Toboggan/hat
  • Balaclava

Shell

  • Jacket
  • Pants

Rain Shell

  • Waterproof
  • Waterproof/Breathable
  • Jacket
  • Pants
  • Poncho
  • Frogg Toggs

Gear: Water Bottles

  • Canteens
  • Bladder Camelback/Platypus
  • Nalgene (lexan) Bottle
  • Sports Drink Bottle
  • Wide mouth for adding mixes
  • Don’t heat – chemicals leech out

Gear: Water Treatment

Guardia

Cryptosporidium

  1. Filters – down to .3 microns
  2. Cartridge
  3. Ceramic
  4. Katakyne/Pur
  5. MS Works
  6. Sweetwater
  7. Chemical Agents
  8. Chlorine Dioxide
  9. Iodine – long term use linked to pituitary problems
  10. Clorox
  11. Contact time
  12. Water temp
  13. Micropure
  14. Potable Agua
  15. Polar Pure
  16. Steri Pen – UV purification

Gear: Stoves

  • More in tune with the Leave No Trace philosophy
  • Decreases risk of Forest Fires
  • Doesn’t blacken your pots (& gear) with suet
  • Not dependent on the weather for burnable fuel
  • Better regulated using lightweight cooking gear
  • Animals (wild ponies) eat the ashes of fires

Types of Stoves

Canister – Isopropane

  • Doesn’t work well at high altitude <12,000’
  • Doesn’t work well in cold temps
  • You don’t know how much fuel remains, so carry two canisters
  • Expensive fuel & difficult to find in stock
  • Maintenance and parts
  • Adjustable? (Simmer)

Pressurized Liquid Fuel

  • Gets hot fast
  • Works at low temps and high altitudes
  • Purchase fuel in volume (one gallon)
  • Fuel very available but in bulk
  • Maintenance and parts
  • Adjustable/Simmer

Denatured Alcohol Stoves – Ethyl Alcohol

  • Jet & non-jet
  • Burns cooler that white gas or Isopropane
  • Flames may be invisible – burn danger
  • Fuel or Heet available in most convenience stores, paint/hardware stores & Wal-Mart
  • Lightweight
  • Bulletproof
  • Cheap
  • Uses less fuel
  • Not Adjustable - Simmer is tricky
  • Stove Refueling

Solid Fuel Tablet Stoves

  • Wing Stove
  • Esbit
  • Military
  • Lightweight & foolproof
  • Fuel difficult to find
  • Low heat

Gel Fuels

  • Sterno
  • Canned Heat
  • Low temp
  • Heavy & Bulky
  • Adjustment is tricky

Accessories

  • Windscreen
  • Fuel Bottles

Gear: Cookware – How many, how heavy, how much?

  • Pot: Titanium VS Aluminum
  • Teflon VS coated
  • Size: 2 liter for 2 people
  • Nesting Set
  • Stove Nesting
  • Bake Packer
  • Heat Sink
  • Pot Cozy
  • Gourmet Tools
  • Spork, Foon, Spatula, Seasoning

Gear: Lighting

  • Candles
  • Flashlights
  • Headlamps
  • Keychain
  • Factors
  • How bright?
  • Weight
  • Burn time / battery life
  • Battery availability and price
  • Convenience/use
  • Color?

Gear: Footwear – The second thing that can RUIN your trip!

Evolution: work & army boots to hiking boots with lugged Vibran soles to trail runners

  1. Mountaineering Boots – technical footwear for snowshoes and crampons
  2. Hiking Boots
  3. Trail Shoes (high tops)
  4. Trail Runners
  5. Sandals
  6. Crocks
  7. Cuts: High, Mid, Low
  8. Shanks of steel or composite needed if you wear a heavy pack
  9. Packs under 30 pounds don’t need boots/shank unless on ROCKY trails
  10. Pay attention to VOLUME and ARCH
  11. Go to a running store to be measured for these in necessary.
  12. Toes must not touch the end of the shoe! Use the test rock or ramp to simulate downhill or kick stuff.
  13. Heel must NOT LIFT from the heel cup when walking!
  14. Get professional help.
  15. Once you find a boot/shoe that fits, stay with that manufacturer!
  16. “Fix Your Feet”

Gear: Accessories – Danger! Danger! Danger! “With all this multi-purpose and lightweight stuff, look at the extra room in the pack. What else can we take?”

Bug protection

Sun protection

Pack Towel

Knife

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Personal items

Map, Guides, Compass, GPS

Trowel

TP

Watch

Soap – No Rinse – No rinse hair conditioner

1st Aid

Trekking Poles - balance, stability, arm workout, tarp support, pack off the ground

Trip Planning

  • Distance divided by average travel rate on the level: Miles/2 = time
  • Add 1 hr for every 1000’ of climb
  • Call local outdoor gear retailer for information on destination
  • Call an outdoor gear retailer in the area where you are going
  • Call Ranger Station
  • Acquire maps ahead of time and understand difficulty of planned trip
  • Be honest about your ability or plan an event to access your ability
  • Make a Hiking Plan
  • Who is going?
  • Where are you going?
  • When will you go and come back?
  • Vehicle(s) license numbers
  • Ranger Station Number
  • Emergency Numbers for participants
  • File the plan with someone who will notice if you don’t return
  • Plan to the group level

Meal Planning

60% Carbs, 20-25% Fat, 15-20% Protein

2400-4000 Calories per day in summer

3500-6000 Calories per day in winter

  • Water:
  • 2-4 liters per day in summer
  • 3-5 liters per day in winter
  • Snack Foods
  • Dehydrated Food
  • Inertia (made in Dayton)
  • Liptons
  • Dehydrated Potatoes
  • Nectar Bars

4 people x 4 days = 16

16 x 2 pounds per day per person = 32

16 x 3000Calories = 48000 TTL Calories

Stuff Sacks, Ditty Bags, Compression Bags

  • Least used in bottom; Most used on top
  • Get a place for everything
  • Change it up
  • Look Back!
  • Use Wire Ties off kids toy packages to keep zippers from opening

Trail Conditions

  • Floods
  • Lightning
  • Snow
  • Ice
  • Use common sense if you have it

Leave No Trace Code - Brochure

  • Waste Water Dispersion
  • Swilling

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