BACKPACKING TIPS & DISPUTED ISSUES

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Let's examine some of the disputed (or at least popular) topics out there that you might come across as you research backpacking gear, skills, techniques, etc.


TO ULTRALIGHT OR NOT:
Balancing safety, comfort, function, price and ultimately weight.

Ultralight VS Traditional

Many incredible people have developed, researched and tested an astounding amount of choices for lightening the load of a pack. The "Ultralight" movement has made incredible leaps and bounds in the backpacking world with design and materials and has been directly responsible for developing a large variety of equipment and techniques. This has sprung numerous cottage industry companies which produce much of this amazing gear. Many Ultralight backpackers are dumbfounded by people who carry, what they consider, excessive weight  on the trail. This is understandable when you truly comprehend the benefits of a light pack. However... the ultralight movement of 10 and 20 years ago has evolved. It has taken on a more main stream and less extreme nature, which is of course the natural progression for things like this.

Ultralight gear can be expensive and in some cases less durable than traditional options, taking more experience and skill to optimize in its use. There are now many choices for lightweight options in traditional gear and some can even be downright inexpensive, but cheap and inexpensive tend to go together. The cheap options are often less than ideal but can work well in some cases. Generally, you get what you pay for. The overall reliability of items should be considered and is an important consideration where safety issues are concerned.

I've found that no matter what I do I can not get my base-weight under 20 lbs. (Base-weight is the weight of all gear including pack minus the consumables; ie. water, food and fuel.) When I add plenty of water (for desert hiking) food and fuel, I always wind up with a 35 lb pack. I am generalizing for a 3 day trip here. Luckily my backpack is rated for a 35 lb. maximum load, so it works out well and I am comfortable with this load ( the weight AND the items I have for camping, adventure and comfort).

I have purchased and tweaked and assessed and tested and when it's all said and done, I hover around a 35 lb load. That's it. A look at my "Gear List" blog will show, I include a number of "Ultralight" options but also include some things no true Ultralighter would consider carrying. These are simply the things I like having and have found work well for me.

Each person has to find their own ideal kit of equipment and this process is on-going and constantly changing. There is no argument that Ultralight gear can do wonders for a pack and your hiking. Less fatigue is a grand thing. Balancing safety, comfort, function, price and ultimately, weight, is something each person needs to do for themselves. These things should ALL be considered when choosing each individual gear piece.

Which brings us to...

PRICEY GEAR:
You spend your hard-earned cash on gear and the gas getting to the places you'll use it.

Gear doesn't always have to be expensive. There are alternatives. You can;

• Spend time searching for great deals.
• Alter existing items.
• Make your own.
• Stumble across it.

A person can spend thousands on the latest and lightest gear.

It's is difficult to find really good pieces of lightweight, reliable gear that are inexpensive. Difficult, but not impossible. For those of us on a budget, it often takes endless searches on the web or at thrift stores and bargain spots. Most often a person searches for items and finds inexpensive alternatives to the expensive (or at least pricey) gear choices and then purchases said inexpensive item. The use of said inexpensive item often brings with it undesirable results, whether that be poor function or a lack of ease of use or poor overall quality, design or durability. The item simply is unable to put up with the rigors and needs of real world wilderness use. The person then finds another version to replace said item and may go through this process a few times before finally purchasing the "pricey" version they were trying to circumvent in the first place. They have now spent more than double what the cost of the "pricey" version is. It happens all the time. I am speaking from experience. A lot of experience. However, with all that said, there are times when alternative items or even inexpensive alternatives can prove surprisingly functional, even ideal. I have found a few items which I consider possibly even better than their expensive counterpart. But this is rare. Very rare. Most of the time I find that I really should have gone with the tried and true piece of gear I wanted in the first place. So what's more expensive?
The fact is that good gear which is designed well and made out of highly functional, quality materials, is generally fairly expensive. Great gear is, most often, more expensive. The trial and error process it takes to find that great gear can be very expensive.

I suggest doing your homework  when searching for optimal gear. Read on-line reviews. Lots of them. Watch you-tube videos. Go to the outdoor store and fiddle with it. Do your research. Your gear choices will be better for it.

The times that I have found those rare pieces of really cool inexpensive gear have either been during an extensive research process for something I want or by sheer luck as I come across it while doing something completely unrelated. Stumbling across a cool piece of gear at a thrift store if you're  lucky is always great. This is a good argument for obsessing about gear but even so, I don't recommend it.

Making your own gear is very rewarding but takes time and in some cases a sizable investment. Making an ultralight backpack out of cuben fiber can run almost as expensive as buying a new cuben fiber pack. On the other hand, putting together an ultralightsurvival-style fishing kit that works well can be extremely cost effective. Both, however, will take an investment of your time.

Altering items is also rewarding. It is very likely that you will find a great item that you will need to tweak to better fit your needs. This too takes time and, of course, the initial investment in the item. Altering gear is something I find necessary in many cases. It can make the item more functional (in my opinion) and personalized to my needs. When approaching the idea of modifying gear it is also important to do your home work. Again, youtube, on-line articles, read, etc. and  trial and error. I often try a modification on a less expensive or "model" item that is similar just so that I know I get the cuts or angles or sewing right.

The bottom line is, Gear Costs. How much and what you spend, time and/or money, has a direct impact on your quality of function but not necessarily your enjoyment on the trail.

There are some areas where you may not want to skimp though.

Which takes us to...

SAFETY:
Skill will get you thru times with no gear better than gear will get you thru any time with no skill.

"Watch your step." "Take lots of water." "Be careful." There's a reason these things are said often. A snapped ankle is a major problem when you are in the city. When you are 10 miles from the nearest car and 100 miles from the nearest hospital, it can be life threatening.

Safety should be a major concern for everybody who travels into the wild open places.I find this a controversy only because of how many people I find not truly considering it out in the wild. Backpacking is dangerous. A portion of your attention needs to focus on mitigating the inherent risks. Be careful.

Try not to get yourself into situations you can not get out of. A part of this is skill. And an important skill is to know your skill level. Another part of it is to think about, plan for and know how to handle "what if's". What if you DO snap an ankle? What if your fire gets out of control? What if your partner is showing signs of dehydration? What if you see a bear, run into Africanized bees, run out of water, have a severe allergic reaction, etc, etc, etc?

Basic first aid and knowledge of common (and uncommon) emergency situations is something that takes some research and practice to get a handle on. Certainly experience plays a big factor in handling them well. But experience, knowledge and ability also play a big factor in knowing how to not get into a bad situation in the first place. Hell, just walking is dangerous. For instance, where to, and maybe more importantly, where NOT to put your feet becomes essential in desert hiking because of loose rock, rattlers and little ankle-biters (cactus) hidden in the beargrass. Add slippery stream crossings, rotten logs, scorpions, black widows, poison ivy and... well, you get the picture.  Being nimble on your feet is a plus. Treking poles are a big plus, like 4-wheel drive for humans. Proper footwear is a must.

Feet are just one example. (We haven't even touched on where and where not to put your hands.) The point being that you need to pay attention. Pay attention to things you may take for granted in the city. These are not things to "worry" about, but simply think about as you do 'um. A little focus on the task at hand goes a long way when there is no help readily available if you make a mistake. Now, for mistakes...

I carry a fairly extensive first aid kit. I think it's important. I've been around some pretty bad injuries far from help and it's not pretty. I have also sought out first aid training and certification. And, I like to read manuals. So I read up on techniques that can help in bad situations. I also carry more water than I'm going to need and a little extra food item and a small host of equipment I probably (hopefully) wont use. This stuff keeps my pack over my desired base weight but I'd rather have it and not need it than the alternative. I also take people out on hikes who do not have much "outdoor" experience so I feel responsible for them and obligated to be prepared. But that's me. In the end, only YOU can prevent wild fires.
Thanks Smokey.

The ability to improvise in an emergency situation is also a key element. Using your gear or found objects in unconventional ways can sometimes save you or a pal. What would Les do? I am a big fan of Survivorman primarily for this reason.
Ho would you get a fallen friend out if you had to? Or should you? When is it necessary to build a litter out of branches, your sleeping bag and some 550 cord? Should you just "go for help"?

Safety is the number one most important responsibility for any backpacker.

WATER & WATER TREATMENT:
The number one controversy for many.

I am always envious of people who live in places where they can be safe and comfortable only taking a bottle or two of water. Oh, to loose all that weight! It must be nice. Water is the number one heaviest thing in my pack. I live in and primarily hike in the American Southwest. For much of the Wilderness here, one bottle is simply not an option. We have a saying for those heading out into the desert with one little bottle of life-sustaining water; "Bye."

With that said, we also have majestic streams, rivers, lakes and springs which, in many cases, you can count on to be there mostly year round. Mostly. The controversy involving water seems to center primarily around the question; Is it safe? Is it safe to drink from the streams and lakes that abound in the Wilderness? This comes up often, especially with people new to backpacking. Unfortunately, this is a complicated question to answer. There are many factors of concern when considering water sources and whether or not it is safe to drink from them.

Some of the factors that need to be considered in water sources are:

• The original source and it's location.
• The environmental conditions around and upstream of a drinking source.
• The health and digestive system of the person drinking it.
• The chemical composition of it.

Unregulated or under-regulated industry has wreaked havoc on many water systems around the world. Mining, agriculture, animal production, weapons testing and relentless sprawl have all changed ecosystems in irreversible ways. The run-off from these things spreads to literally unknown distances. It is often very difficult to determine water quality. Things effecting it can be originating many tens of miles away. This is frightening to consider, but even with all this there is still fine water out there to be had. At least for now. One just needs to be careful and smart about choosing sources and how they use it. Another concern is how an individuals body responds to the water. Some folks have a high tolerance for things and some don't. 

Even with all these and other dangerous concerns, I have been drinking from streams in the Wilderness without treating water all my life and have never had a problem with water-borne nasties. At least that I know of. And I know others who do the same. I am not recommending this, I am just giving examples. These days, out of an abundance of caution, when I am taking folks with me, I filter water. I also carry a few purifying tablets in my kit. It is more comfortable for those new to being out and safer if they have not built up their immune systems to deal with Wilderness conditions.

Careful consideration of a source is needed and requires a bit of knowledge about the risks.I will include some links below for research.

Generally, most people nowadays treat their collected water by purifying it or filtering it. This is wise. I suggest research in the topic and trying to err on the side of safety. Here's some research to get you started.

Here's the basics from a company that does their research:
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-risks.html

Here is a good article at Wild Backpacker.com on water treatment for backpacking:
http://www.wildbackpacker.com/backpacking-gear/articles/all-about-water-treatment/

Here is an interesting article about the myths of backcountry water. Not so sure I agree with all the findings but it thought-provoking reading:
http://www.lightandmatter.com/article/hiking_water.html