Experienced backpackers employ various tricks to reduce the weight of their loads, fix their gear and solve problems that arise in the backcountry. Basics include packing a headlamp instead of a flashlight, using a bandanna as a potholder, and wrapping duct tape around a hiking pole or water bottle in case your gear needs a quick repair.
Clothing
Many backpackers double up their layers of socks to provide protection against chafing and blisters on their feet. Carry extra socks in case one pair becomes soaked in the rain or crossing a stream. Avoid cotton clothing, as it loses its insulating properties when wet, which can lead to hypothermia. Wear several light layers instead of heavy clothing, so you can shed layers as necessary.
Weight
Ultra-light backpackers eliminate every possible ounce from their packs. Some swap out heavy items like tents for lightweight tarps or hammocks. On trails with shelters or lean-tos, a sleeping bag and pad suffice. Hike with a friend to split the responsibility of carrying a tent or stove and fuel, or purchase a smaller, lighter backpack that restricts the amount you can bring. Ultralight sleeping bags -- some weigh as little as 23 oz. -- and inflatable air pads reduce the weight of your sleeping gear. Use clothing packed into a stuff sack instead of a pillow, and trade your bulky water filter for lightweight water treatment tablets on short trips.
Bugs
Mosquitoes usually thrive near water, so avoid camping near streams, swamps or lake shores. Face the door of your tent into the breeze to discourage the insects from congregating near it. Light- or neutral-colored clothing may discourage mosquitoes, as they are attracted to darker colors. Lighter colors also enable you to spot ticks on your clothing. If you do encounter a tick, use tweezers to grasp it as close to your skin as you can, and pull it out slowly and steadily.
Wildlife
Don't be unnecessarily afraid of bears, snakes and mountain lions. Instead, focus on the problems that you're more likely to encounter, such as blisters, hypothermia and germs. If you're hiking in an area where bears are active, practice precautions such as hanging your food in a bear bag and making noise as you hike to scare the bears away. Learn which venomous snakes live in the area where you're backpacking. Don't worry about mountain lions if you live in the Northeast -- the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the eastern cougar extinct in 2011.
Member Comments