My hiking shoes are waterproof Keen “tennis” shoes. But after walking across too many streams barefoot on sharp rocks — and an achilles injury from new boots — I decided to carry a second pair of shoes. Extra shoes, of course, means extra weight. This video shoes three alternatives. I encourage you to share other options with my readers.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
I discovered this YouTube video created by backpacker Jason Klass about the little free stuff you find that can lighten your load. In the world of ultralight backpacking, ounces count.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
If you’ve read my blog, you know that I love to find little stuff — call them quality of life items — that don’t cost much, don’t weigh much and yet can add a lot of comfort.My latest find are rubber finger protectors for cuts, burns, scrapes. They look like condoms for your finger and come in three sizes. They are available at CVS or other pharmacies.
If you’ve read my posts about technology, you know I love iPods as trail companions. I’ve struggled lately on the trail: do I bring my iPhone (with camera, movies, music, GPS app – 5 ounces) or just go with my Flip Ultra (video camera that easily uploads to YouTube). To complicate matters, the new iPhone 3GS has a video camera as well as still camera and true built-in GPS and more.They are all relatively light when you consider what you get in a single device.But I just bought the new iPod Nano with a bigger screen (2.2 inches), video camera, music, audio books, and movies, as well as a built-in FM-radio for $149. Best of all, it weighs 1.5 ounces, is 1.5 inches wide, 3.75 inches high and 1/4-inches thick. Since it has flash memory, instead of a hard drive, it comes on instantly and the battery lasts up to 8 hours. Â The new Nano is a winner.Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
In the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine are 33 tips for lightening your load. One I have pointed out before, but it is worth mentioning again: don’t leave behind items that can make your trip comfortable and/or satisfying. Example:
I have three sleeping pads: 14 ounces, 20 0unces and 36 ounces. Two are self inflatables: a 3/4th length and full-length. They are fairly comfortable, but the third one, while bigger is not only much more comfortable, but warmer because it provided incredible insulation against the cold ground. That allows me to carry a lighter sleeping bag. About the “satisfying” part of my comment: a fresh apple for lunch or cookies can give your trip and your attitude a big boost.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
Your favorite music to help you sleep or to give you inspiration during an uphill slog can be a welcome backpacking companion. As long as it doesn’t add a lot of weight.The new iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation weighs all of .38 ounces — that’s right, just a tad over one-third of 1 ounce. Holds 1,000 songs with a 10-hour battery. Only 1.8 inches tall and .7 inches thick. And, only 79 bucks. I can’t think of a better trail companion.Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
Backpacker Magazine’s Medicine Man, Buck Tilton says bear spray may be effective against snakes. On my upcoming trip to Cache Creek Wilderness, known as rattlesnake country, I think I’ll take my Grizzly spray.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
In earlier posts, I mentioned that I have three ground pads:Â a 3/4 Thermarest, a full-size Thermarest and a down-filled Exped Downmat 7. The D7 is heaviest, but is thick and ground-insulating with an ultralight sleeping bag. In a Yahoo discussion group a guy was inquiring about the Gossamer Gear 1/4 inch pad. A reader responded saying: Continue reading
On one hand, you can argue that if you forget to take something, you’ll be lighter on the trail. But you may also be sorry. I have a detailed backpacking list. Yet, sometimes you need to check and double check. On my recent trip to the John Muir Wilderness, I found that I had left behind my spork and stove. Luckily, my backpacking pal, Wild Bill, was willing to break his plastic spork in half and give me the spoon half and he didn’t forget his stove. How did this happen?
Well, we were car camping first, had all our stuff out of our packs and all over the back of the car, then the next morning we were trying to pull everything back together. I should have pulled out my list and done a quick check. A a few extra minutes to check your gear before heading into the wilderness is a simple, but worthwhile habit to follow.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
One of my ultralight backpacking partners, Wild Bill, and I just completed a quickie and butt-kicking 16-mile hike in the popular Ansel Adams/John Muir Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra.
I’ll do a trip report shortly, perhaps with video. But first I want to comment on an article in the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine with the special report: “The Wildest, Quietest, Darkest and least-visited places in the lower 48.” The list is impressive. But you don’t need to go far to achieve the same effect.
We had planned on a short 3.5 mile hike to hugely popular Shadow Lake with day-hiking to Ediza, Iceberg, Cecelia and Mineret Lakes. Alas, we got to the ranger station and were told, sorry guys, the trail quote of 25 is filled, better go somewhere else.
So we pick the Fern Lake-Ashley Lake-Holcomb Lake loop that started and finished at Devil’s Postpile Ranger Station. Ranger Scott tipped us that it was a pretty trail and much less used. In fact, after seeing a few parties in the first two hours, we saw no one until the next day toward the end of the trip. And this is peak season in an area where the PCT and John Muir Trails cross. It’s a backpacking superhighway in summer, yet we had a wonderful night on a peaceful lake and empty trails. The lesson: ask the rangers for their tips on where to get away. We might have only been a few miles from hundreds of hikers, but felt like we were in some of the darkest, more quiet, more remote areas on Earth.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
PS – if you can, plan ahead so you have reservations for the hike you really want!