Angela goes Packin'

[tibber]

EDIT: Ripped from Digital Cameras by joe

Okay, okay. I'll get the backpacking equipment first but I'm still going to be looking at all 3 of those cameras once the Sony comes out. I definitely want a 20x zoom as I am a zoomer big time and don't want to carry extra lenses.

And Te-Wa, I've been looking at this site and printing out the various lists that say what I should buy for the backpacking thing. Page Rob also gave me some advice last year too. You just don't realize how much you really need.

[Jeffshadows]

Not everyone who goes backpacking posts a triplog about it, either; not to mention the fact that most of us have not gone back and posted everything we've done since birth on HAZ and never will...keep that in mind when discussing experience. There are probably people posting on HAZ that never post in the forum who have been backpacking longer than I have been alive. Don't try to downplay my experience or relevancy and I will show you the same courtesy since neither of us really have any idea how much of either the other has. That goes for everyone, please.

Te-wa has plenty of good advice to share and I was never knocking that. I wasn't trying to suggest was telling anyone to go ultralight, just saying that there seems to be a groundswell in the backpacking community to shave every ounce and dollar possible, again. Te-wa and a few others on here embrace it. That's totally fine and none of my business. I was just pointing out the fact that there is another way to go.

Believe it or not, there is a large contingent that tells people to go a little heavier and be better conditioned just like halvorsen was saying. There was a letter to the editor in Backpacker a while back talking about safety and this very thing. For example: The NPS folks up at GC could recount us with literally thousands of tales about someone who expected to pump or filter from this spring or to make that time to water and ended up being rescued instead of building more endurance and strength and carrying the water and chow they really needed.

I don't have a dog in this race, either way. I'm going to do things the way I have been forever because it works and couldn't care less if others do it the way they want as long as I'm not encountering their carcass on the trail. I like to carry extra stuff out with me most people would leave at home and use slightly tougher gear because it makes me feel all warm and cuddly inside.

[PaleoRob]

have you considered alternatives to putting a hot water bottle in your bag? getting a warmer rated bag, for instance? just curious

Eh, not really. I've got a variety of bags, from 0 to 35. One more hanging out in the garage wouldn't please the wife too much! Besides, I view the water thing as multipurpose; I need water anyway, and if the temperature gets colder than I expected I can heat up and stash some water in a Nalgene, and stick in on my femorals. I can do that in or out of a bag too. I've done it huddled together as a group as well as going to sleep with a bottle. In that case, its still usually somewhat warm the next morning, so it doesn't take as much energy to reheat it for oatmeal for breakfast! ;) I don't usually end up using my Nalgene as a heater, but boy it has felt great the few times I have.

My wife can't stand JetBoil. She tried out one on our upper Paria trip last spring that some other folks were using, and she said it didn't really boil, just bubbled a lot, because the water cooled down way too fast in her coffee mug afterward. I don't drink coffee, so I got no idea, and I find it hard to believe that it wasn't really boiling. Just one more person's take on it, I guess. I was very impressed with the Gigapower stoves in use on our GG trip, though. That might be my next upgrade (if I don't go beer can style ;) ).

[tibber]

I think I like LITE in various ways and fortunately for me, I do work out at a Club a couple times a week but I am still nervous about putting that first pack on with the tent, the sleeping bag, the pad, the pillow, the stove, the fuel, a small pot and spoon, plastic mug, the water, the head lamp, the flashlight, the spade, the toiletries, tp, the extra clothes (like socks, gloves, shirt, pants/shorts, swimwear), the jacket, the duct tape, the medicine kit, my camera & extra batteries ..... oh and a compass, GPS, map, some sort of towel, bug repellant, rain gear...

Te-Wa, I've not heard back from the fellow at Practical. I did check out the other site and I kind of like that pack...

I plan to try and get to an REI or something as I need hiking boots so I'll take a look around just to get a sense of what's out there.

And, I am enjoying your opinions and suggestions and comments; as always, very enlightening. I see there are other sites out there that have similar discussions... you should have seen the one about bladders.

[te_wa]

Jeff, carry on
this forum is a direct reflection of alter-egos at times, and nothing wrong with argument. we all get along here, no?

tibber, whats this "rain gear" you speak of?

and fwiw, the many other backpacking sites get into far more heated discussions than anything ive seen here.. they talk about nudity, guns, and ultralight elitists over there too!

the ULA is a good pack. I have the Conduit.

tibber, many of today's modern synthetics and of course natural fibers like wool, silk have a low "stink factor" that will keep you from having to drag around changes of clothes. youre in the backcountry now, stink on! personal hygeine, more important for women than men so try to get valuable tips from the books dedicated to women backpackers, like the one titled "how to pee in the woods".

... you should have seen the one about bladders

i have a small bladder and because of this have to take off trail "breaks" about every 15 minutes. its the size of a walnut, i tells ya

[Jeffshadows]

The hygiene problem seems to be the number one reason I always hear from ladies who drifted away from extended trips outdoors... ;)

[chumley]

as well as going to sleep with a bottle

my mom used to let me go to sleep with a bottle.

Sorry, I thought this thread could be "lightened" a little bit.

[Jeffshadows]

Speaking of nasty conversations, there was a pretty bad thread going over on MP under injuries and accidents the other day where name-calling was giving way to all out anarchy...we're much more civilized people here on HAZ

[writelots]

Jeff, carry on
tibber, many of today's modern synthetics and of course natural fibers like wool, silk have a low "stink factor" that will keep you from having to drag around changes of clothes. youre in the backcountry now, stink on! personal hygeine, more important for women than men so try to get valuable tips from the books dedicated to women backpackers, like the one titled "how to pee in the woods".

The hygiene problem seems to be the number one reason I always hear from ladies who drifted away from extended trips outdoors... ;)

As a "lady" who loves nothing more than a good potty stop in the woods...

Like te-wa said, embracing stink is a big step toward being more comfortable in the backcountry. However, being a girl, I do know that hygiene problems and concerns are a big part of beginning as a backpacker. I've gotten to the point where I usually only carry around a single full change of clothes if I'm going to be out for more than three days. That way, I have something to wear while I'm washing/airing out the rest. Less than three days, it's an extra pair of undies and socks, what I've got on my back and maybe some thermals. Too many clothes is the one thing I see from nearly all of my less experienced female bp'er friends. That and toiletries. (Here's my secret - I don't bring a mirror, then i don't know how grizzly adams I look!)

And just to weigh in briefly on the lightweight thing - I think there has to be a difference drawn between lightweight and ultra-light. We're just advocating for making yourself more comfortable - not for drilling holes in your toothbrush handle to save .25 oz. I know that I am SO much happier after a long hike now that I've taken that unnecessary 10lbs out of my pack. My feet feel better, my back feels better, I'm still comfortable in camp AND I still eat like I'm at an expensive Vegas buffet. It's the best of all worlds. I like to try to keep people from repeating my mistakes...

[snakemarks]

Water always weighs more than everything else in my pack. I ran out once and it won't happen again. Now I always bring more than I think I'll need, but it makes me feel better having it. Throwing an extra bottle in the pack makes an ounce or two of something else seem insignificant. I know, te wa... it all adds up. But, if I pack it right, it's not so bad. And, extra water keeps me in my happy place.

Seems like you all use fuel stoves (lots of weight in fuel). I have a trailstove. It's small, weighs nothing and is fueled by sticks, leaves, trash or any other bit of burnable crap lying around. It's not for gourmet cooking, but I only use it to boil water and I never have to worry about running out of fuel - unless my lighter croaks...then I'm S.O.L.! But, I usually bring three lighters... you know, just in case! (fire and water overkill) ;)

[RedRoxx44]

The trailstove is an excellent and simple stove to use, good in most situations. I used to use one. I do carry a canister ( 3.4 oz) and my stove is 2.7 oz. I like the reassurance I can heat water while the wind is gusting to 40 mph outside ( the not recommended cooking inside the tent which I have done I don't know how many times), or its' pouring buckets and all the fuel sources are wet. But, it is a good choice for Az.
A little canister will last me easily a week in summer, I'm not doing hot chocolate or whatever in the evening etc.

I tend to carry a lot of water too in areas I am not sure of water source. Also if I am going to dry camp, of course. Been out of water a couple of times and it is no fun.

FYI--Pinon Pine pitch in a ziplock, makes excellent fire starter.

[azbackpackr]

Speaking of nasty conversations, there was a pretty bad thread going over on MP under injuries and accidents the other day where name-calling was giving way to all out anarchy...we're much more civilized people here on HAZ

What's MP???

As for the female thing, being female I have never had any major issues with any of the problems women talk about, so can't offer comfort to others. I can be sort of unsympathetic, in fact. You know, "get tough and get over it." Not a good personality trait, I know. My mom taught me how to pee and poop in the woods when I was about 3 or 4, I did the same for my own daughter. I have taught others, mostly high school girls in a group I volunteer for.

As for general hygiene, if there is going to be a creek on my backpacking trip, I get in it, no matter how cold, and rinse off EVERY DAY. Very occasionally I have heated the water first--in the Sierras you are carrying that giant bear canister, and can heat the water in a pan and put it in the canister, making for a pretty good bucket bath. If no creek or lake will be available, I plan ahead and bring some sort of baby wipes or other wipes. I skimp on all extra clothing--generally I don't bring any, EXCEPT for undies. Undies can also be rinsed out. Preferably not polluting the creek, you understand! I also always bring analgesic triple antibiotic ointment. "Butt-rash" can happen to anyone--I gave over my ointment tube to a GUY one time, never saw it again! ;)

[Jeffshadows]

MountainProject

[snakemarks]

As for general hygiene, if there is going to be a creek on my backpacking trip, I get in it, no matter how cold, and rinse off EVERY DAY.
Undies can also be rinsed out. Preferably not polluting the creek, you understand! I also always bring analgesic triple antibiotic ointment. "Butt-rash" can happen to anyone

Then, why would you pollute the creek with your skanky body full of lotions, butt rash ointment and insect repellent?
I believe you are supposed to bring water AWAY from the creek to rinse off.

[AZLOT69]

[chumley]

Wow. How this thread has turned. The great thing is that 10 years from now, somebody will inexplicably google "butt-rash" and the first link will be to the HAZ thread "Angela goes Packin'"
Aren't the interwebs great?

[azbackpackr]

You swim in so-called swimming holes, I presume? I do, that is usually where I go in summer to backpack. I get rinsed off while swimming. So there! :guilty:

[Thoreau]

The hygiene problem seems to be the number one reason I always hear from ladies who drifted away from extended trips outdoors... ;)

Reminds me of a friend's girlfriend refuses to camp if there isn't a hot shower immediately available each and every night of camping. To say the least, this has prevented her from being a part of any of our group camping expeditions as there isn't anyone in the group who cares enough to lug around the equipment around for that, or even purchase it.

*chuckles*

[azbackpackr]

Oh, well. More room for the rest of us.

I guess you either have a passion for this type of thing or you are just "going along with the boyfriend" which I have seen over and over again. Especially back in the 70's, when the backpacking craze was at its height, I'd go on these Sierra Club trips and there would always be these gung-ho guys dragging along these totally reluctant girlfriends who would be totally angry, blistered and miserable halfway through the trip. (Probably had butt-rash, too!)

My problem was the opposite. I liked brainy guys, but it always seemed they were kind of nerdy, too, and didn't want to go backpacking or sleep on the ground. (Actually, maybe going backpacking is kind of nerdy, too. Whatever.) So I just went backpacking without the boyfriend, whoever he happened to be at the time. I did have one fun boyfriend who was one of the guides for the Sierra Club back then. Of course, this is all ancient history... When I first met my husband in Hawaii he was living in a one room cabin without benefit of running water or electricity, sort of like the one I happened to be building just down the road a quarter mile...that was 29 years ago and we are still together.

Oh, and we took bucket baths. You heat water in a big pan on the fireplace in your yard which is also where you do most of your cooking. Then you get a 5 gallon bucket and put some cold water into it, then the hot water. Then, finding a gravelly place in your yard, which won't become muddy, you take off your clothes except for your flipflops and you dip water out of the bucket with a large cup. You'll have your shampoo and soap there on another bucket, turned upside down. This works well in Hawaii! Probably would be kind of cold up here on the mountain! And no, we didn't have any close neighbors!!!

[Jeffshadows]

You can also purchase a spare Nalgene lid and punch holes in it making an effective shower head. Dip the bottle in the spring and go...

[azbackpackr]

Hey, there you go! Keeps the butt-rash cooties out of the water, too! ;)