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.

[snakemarks]

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

Maybe you should see a doctor...

[azbackpackr]

Poor Angela. She is never going to go backpacking because not only will she be afraid of getting butt-rash, but she will, quite understandably, be terrified of whom she might encounter while out there on the trail.

And maybe I should change my sign-in name to azbuttrashr.

[Sun_Ray]

My BR initials now have a new meaning to me and it's not a good thing!

[tibber]

First of all, :thanx: all for your help as I was able to complete my first 2-nite backpacking trip to Fossil Springs. I have to thank Kat for training me in the nuances of real hiking and of course, Wendy for her kindness and willingness to take a newbie on my first backpack experience. Also, thanks to Mike for his guidance with the gear. Without HAZ, none of this would have ever happened as you all gave me the desire and ability to kick it up a notch from casual to real hiking, trail or no trail.

I ended up getting a small Osprey Aura 65 backpack. I haven't decided if the size is right as the fit, though better than on the way down, was pretty tough on my shoulder blade muscles on the way up. I do like the pack though. Figuring out how it all worked and packing it was a bit overwhelming but Wendy helped with that as well. It's amazing how many straps there are and that they actually all serve a very useful purpose.

Wendy let me try her tent and her 3/4 Big Agnes pad. I definitely liked the tent (I think it was an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 1) as it was big enough and lighweight. It was also easy to put up and take down. As for the pad, I think I might like the longer pad and maybe a rectangle; altho I suspect it's just a matter of getting used to the mummy shape and length more than anything. The 3/4 pad is also lighter weight. One of the ladies at our camp had a blow up pad that I think with modification was turned into a camp chair. :idea: Now that really appealed to me as logs and rocks are very hard if you sit very long .

I also got a long Kelty Lt Yr Down W's 20. It seems to fit my needs very nicely and was very comfortable. Figuring out how to get it stuffed back into that small bag was an adventure in and of itself. The two times I re-stuffed it, it took three tries. :bdh:
I didn't get a pillow orderd in time so I rolled up my windbreaker jacket but it kept slipping away and I found that very annoying. I really do need a pillow. Kat has steered me toward a blowup pillow so I think I'll give that a try.

I got the new MSR Hyperflow Microfilter. It was terrific. I haven't tried to backflush it yet but I did find the video online and one of the people on the trip helped me get it apart as I had struggled with that when I was trying to backflush it at home.

At our camp site, everyone had various cooking stoves including alcohol stoves but most used the fuel cannister. Most brot the bagged foods so I got lots of suggestions there. The one that appealed to me most was MaryJanesFarm as the packet is biodegradable. However, it is vegetarian so I'd have to either bring some beef jerky or dehydrate some meat. Wendy made us all of our meals. She is the Rachel Ray : queen : of backpack stove cooking and SHE can sing too. Among other things, we had salmon cakes and baked potatoes, breakfast burritos and some couscous for breakfast that had dehydrated apples and cinammon... yum! She made great use of flour tortillas for our various sandwich-like meals.

I did bring too much water as we were next to a spring for gosh sake... what was I thinking ? The other thing is to have some sort of hydration system for the day that you can hike with. I did bring a liter day pack that we put at the top of my backpack. I actually hung that from a tree limb to use as my water at the campsite so that worked out well.

I did pack pretty light other than my PJs but I wanted to be warm. So now that I know the sleeping bag is plenty cozy, I can bring something lighter for sleepware. I did use all of my clothes; especially after falling in the water. There also was some other stuff I didn't use so I will leave it behind. My pack was 28 lbs coming up; we forgot to weigh it going down. Wendy's was 24lbs.
The second thing I would advise newbies is to try to find various online videos about backpacking. For whatever reason, I decided on the DAY of the backpack to see if I could find online videos about backpacking. It would have helped a little if I had done that several weeks before as there were quite a few videos.

I still have a few items to buy and some things to learn but maybe the butterflies won't be as strong next time. So thank you again for your inspiration and support. :worthy:

"tibber" (Angela)

[dysfunction]

hey sounds like you had a great time!!! and no butt-rash Glad to hear it!

BTW, I agree something to sit on is very nice.

[snakemarks]

What?!
No spray cheese in the can? No Smarties? No Pop Tarts? And, you call that food?!
Have I taught you nothing?!


:thanx: for giving me so much credit. But, don't forget you bailed out my pumpkin a time or two along the way! ;)

[Sredfield]

Sit? Who takes time to sit? Keep going . . .

Welcome to the craziness.

[PaleoRob]

Wendy let me try her tent and her 3/4 Big Agnes pad. I definitely liked the tent (I think it was an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 1) as it was big enough and lighweight. It was also easy to put up and take down. As for the pad, I think I might like the longer pad and maybe a rectangle; altho I suspect it's just a matter of getting used to the mummy shape and length more than anything. The 3/4 pad is also lighter weight. One of the ladies at our camp had a blow up pad that I think with modification was turned into a camp chair. :idea: Now that really appealed to me as logs and rocks are very hard if you sit very long .

Yeah, packable camp chairs are awesome. I scoffed at them when my friends brought them along on my early backpacks. Then I tried one, and fell it love. My pad isn't inflatable, but is 3/4. I strap a Crazy Creek chair to the outside of my pack (not a rig to put the pad into, but the full deal). I can sit at night/morning, but unclip some straps and use the chair to extend my sleeping pad to full length. Works alright. I guess I wouldn't mind if I got a harness to fit my pad itself in, and shave some of that weight.

I didn't get a pillow orderd in time so I rolled up my windbreaker jacket but it kept slipping away and I found that very annoying. I really do need a pillow. Kat has steered me toward a blowup pillow so I think I'll give that a try.

To keep your windbreaker/jacket/spare clothes from sliding away from you, stuff them into the stuff sack that your tent was carried in. That'll keep things together pretty well.

All in all, it sounds like you had a great time! Congrats!

[writelots]

Aw, shucks, Anglea.

You were a great hiking companion. You can tag along and take pictures with me anytime!

[te_wa]

we'll set you straight on packing that thing.. the load lifters should alleviate pain on shoulders, as you should have most of the packweight on your hips anyhow..

here's a tip: (that nobody seems to figure out, take this advice or leave it, but its free regardless ;) )
first thing in your pack is your sleeping bag, down at the bottom. NO stuff sack. let your bag loft up to conform to the shape of your pack.

then pack the heavier items on top of that so that your heaviest items will ride around the shoulder blade area. at the same level, towards the outside of the pack place lighter things like extra clothing. then on top, same thing... heavier food towards your back, filter, windshirt, first aid, other items you need easy access to closest to the top. DONT pack heavy items like water away from your back especially on the outside of the pack (the front, farthest from your body)

mine is minimal but looks like this:
both quilts on bottom. on top of those towards my back, hammock, tarp. behind those, xtra clothing (merino top, socks, other filler items)
on top of that stuff will be stove/pot, food, windshirt, down vest, first aid.
in outside (front) pocket my spork, maps, stakes, anything sharp that needs to be far away from down clothing/bags.
you can play with packing styles to see how the center of gravity changes. but rememeber, a down bag pushed into your pack first is the most supremely comfortable and you should not use a stuff sack for it. if you're worried about getting it wet, purchase a pack of Turkey Roasting Bags for $3 and use one to keep your stuff dry. unless all-out canyoneering, the turkey bag works great just twisted a bit at the top. add a ziptie if walking for miles in rain.

keep your water bottles in the side pockets. 2L should do you fine for a 4 mile hike to a creek. tank up @ the car, and just before departure from camp. remember: carrying your water in your tissues where you need it is far better than lugging a gallon that you'll never use. so tank up! (cynhkr taught me that, it works)
staying well hydrated will also keep you warm when it's cold outside, help you sleep better and allow you to digest nutrients with less waste. Eat sugars on the trail, and fats at night. Read the book "98 degrees: the art of keeping your pumpkin alive" by Cody Lundin who teaches a naturalist survival school here in AZ.

[drewboy]

Hi Angela. It was nice meeting you at the backpacking trip last weekend. I'm sorry to hear that the pack strap adjustments we made on Sunday did not help your shoulder issue. Hope to see you out there again soon.

And to those who extol the virtues of camp chairs, I have just one word: Hammocks!

I was able to complete my first 2-nite backpacking trip to Fossil Springs.

[dysfunction]

I don't wanna setup a hammock to sit at lunch though ;) A sitpad works quite well for that.

[drewboy]

OK sitpad, I'll give you that. But camp chair? I'll have that hammock up before you can get that pad and chair out and put together, guaranteed. Assuming there's trees around

I don't wanna setup a hammock to sit at lunch though ;) A sitpad works quite well for that.

[PaleoRob]

But camp chair? I'll have that hammock up before you can get that pad and chair out and put together, guaranteed. Assuming there's trees around.

I'll give you the trees, and take your bet. My camp chair can be on the ground within seconds. All it takes is releasing two buckles.

As an aside, in my limited experience camping with hangers, I have found that despite my "handicap" of having a tent/external frame pack/camp chair, I have had my tent up, bag unrolled and camp chair up before the hanging was completed. But my sample size is extremely small, so take it for what it's worth.

[te_wa]

well yeah, but look how close you are to the ground, of course you can pitch a tent quickly..

[PaleoRob]

well yeah, but look how close you are to the ground, of course you can pitch a tent quickly..

You got me there!