Ken, an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster from Raleigh, N.C., commented on my post about gear lists not necessarily preparing you for the backcountry.

He wrote that his Boy Scout training focuses on being prepared, but he has found himself trying to balance taking everything but the kitchen sink to taking a more common sense approach.

Part of what he writes at scoutcampfire.com:

As I prepare for a backpacking trek, I try to gather all the pertinent information. What is the normal weather patterns for the locale? What is the weather forecast? What types of wildlife may I encounter? How crowded are the trails? What are the options for campsites? etc, etc.

I use to carry anything I thought I might need and anything that one of the boys might need or forget. Now, I try to evaluate the possible need against the cost of the weight. I still want to be prepared, but I want to be prepared in under 25 pounds.

After each trip, I unload my pack, taking a good long hard look at what wasn’t used. That’s right, I evaluate everything I didn’t use. Most of the time that includes my First Aid kit. I will not omit a First Aid kit, but no longer carry enough bandages to wrap King Tut!!

My “mess kit” has been reduced to one pot, a bowl and spoon. I have learned that with a pocket knife and spoon, you can eat anything. I do still carry a mug for my tea/cider.

I have reduced the amount of clothing I take. But I still carry my rain gear and depending on altitude, season and location, my cold weather gear.

Common Sense!! That is the ticket for balancing Preparedness with Light Weight Backpacking. Of course, Common Sense is very uncommon.

Some people mistakenly believe that you can only get hypothermia when it’s snowing outdoors.

At Caribou Lakes Wilderness last year, backpacking buddies Duke, Wild Bill and I walked a 10-mile day-hike loop in t-shirts. When we returned to base camp, the sky was clouding up and Bill decided to go for a quick swim in the lake next to our camp.

The combination of cold water and no sun led to uncontrollable shivers, an early sign of hypothermia.

He quickly dried off and dressed in warm clothes. Duke and I started a fire and gave him some hot tea to drink. Experts say getting warm liquids down quickly increases your inner core temperature and staves off hypothermia.

I’m no expert, so click on these links: www.hypothermia.org. and Princeton University to find out more.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

I’ve been writing about all the “little” items that fill a backpack and how to make them smaller and lighter.

Perhaps you don’t take any prescriptions, but a small plastic pill holder for aspirin, antihistimine, or anti-diarrhea tablets can come in handy.

You want something small and light, which is why I have chosen the four slot plastic pill holder you can find in any drugstore. You certainly don’t want medications rolling around in your pack. You could choose to use a snack size plastic bag, but really that won’t save much weight and you’ll have a mess of pills.

As for a mirror, my wife gave me a tiny cosmetic mirror that closes up, which has myriad uses.

One that comes to mind is from a trip with the Diablo Hiking Club a few years ago. One of our members was fly fishing and snagged his fly and hook inside his nose. A totally freak accident. But a mirror and tweezers were key to getting it out.

Of course, a mirror can also help you remove stuff you get in your eye or even signal for help in an emergency.

Pill case and mirror: 1.5 ounces.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.