How to get started with backpacking?

[ja1484]

Take it from a mountaineer with plenty of backcountry travel experience:

LEARN CLOTHING SYSTEMS.

Period. The other folks on here are not wrong: Footwear is very important, but frankly, ALL your clothing is important. You're creating a micro climate to carry with you that is critical in *keeping you alive*.

A good start primer would be "The Art of Not Suffering" by Andy Kirkpatrick, found here:

http://www.psychovertical.com/?theartofnotsuffering

It's geared towards climbers, obv, but the lessons can be carried into pretty much any outdoor activity.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda

Originally posted by: oboeguy
Nobody's suggested a JetBoil so I will. If you're into freeze dried food and the like, requiring boiling water to reconsitute, the JetBoil is awesome.

Edit: probably good for melting snow too!

yeah, actually, FBB uses a JetBoil so I've seen one in action - it seems pretty worth it, but I have to figure out if I'll really have the need for one. I don't know anything yet, but it seems like I should be able to get through an overnight trip with just packed food (well, not normal food, but still).

I've got a campinggaz stove. It's a great little thing. I picked it up off Craig's List for next to nothing. A stove is one thing I think is fine getting used. On most of them there just isn't much that can go wrong.

I highly recommend doing freeze dried stuff. While you can survive off of granola and other foods like that at the end of a long hike you're going to want a warm calorie rich food. Also, from a hydration standpoint the freeze dried food tends to be high in sodium which you'll need. It sounds crazy but you can drink plenty of water and still not be properly hydrated. In the Grand Canyon the biggest problem people have is dehydration, the second is water intoxication. That happens when you sweat out too much salt that isn't replaced but drink plenty of water. You actually can end up diluting the electrolytes in your body to dangerous levels. This can cause cramps and even mental effects.

I second the mountain house meals, the beef stew is good. I really like how all you have to do for their meals is dump in hot water, seal it up, and let it sit for a few minutes. The bags all zip lock back shut so you toss any garbage you've got into the bag, seal it up, and toss it in your pack.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: ja1484

Take it from a mountaineer with plenty of backcountry travel experience:

LEARN CLOTHING SYSTEMS.

Period. The other folks on here are not wrong: Footwear is very important, but frankly, ALL your clothing is important. You're creating a micro climate to carry with you that is critical in *keeping you alive*.

A good start primer would be "The Art of Not Suffering" by Andy Kirkpatrick, found here:

http://www.psychovertical.com/?theartofnotsuffering

It's geared towards climbers, obv, but the lessons can be carried into pretty much any outdoor activity.

This is a good point. Knowing what to bring will let you have what you need without killing yourself from extra weight. Layers are key. For northern AZ it can colder than you would think. I've been out when there's been snow on the ground. Watch the weather, plan accordingly, and whatever you do avoid cotton if there's any chance it will be cold and wet. If cotton clothes get wet they'll suck the heat right out of you. The only time I would consider it is during a really hot hike without much shade. You can soak down your clothes and use it to keep yourself cool.

 

[Atheus]

1) Everything goes in plastic bags. Everything. Including other plastic bags. This is because your pack is not waterproof and if you dip it in a river or you get rained on and all your spare clothes are wet you are screwed.

2) Cotton is shit. So are most synthetic wool products. Jeans are shit. You want polypropylene and real wool as the basis of your warm clothes.

3) Take with you: knife, rope, waterproof matches, map, good first aid kit, water purifier, phone. Do take some nice food - bacon and eggs will be okay for a day or two for example - but also take some compact dried food, and take more than you need.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Atheus

2) Cotton is shit. So are most synthetic wool products. Jeans are shit. You want polypropylene and real wool as the basis of your warm clothes.

Depends on climate. For desert hiking, it is simply impossible to beat cotton.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: ironwing

Originally posted by: Atheus

2) Cotton is shit. So are most synthetic wool products. Jeans are shit. You want polypropylene and real wool as the basis of your warm clothes.

Depends on climate. For desert hiking, it is simply impossible to beat cotton.

Yea sorry I should have specificed - I only have experience in temperate/cold climates, mostly on hills and mountains. My celtic blood is too think for the desert. I melt.

 

[LS21]

if you want a suunto wristwatch
http://www.rei.com/product/708458

PM me i hook u up

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

what ever food / diet you decide on, try it out at home before you get out on the trail. One of my greenhorn mistakes was ot think I'd cook up all this barley and organic food. Truth was, I was sooo tired by the time I got into camp zone I wasn't prepared to cook anything. Also note that my poor selection of food resulted in a pack that was way too heavy and did not decrease in weight. I on the other hand did decrease in weight. Plan on eating really well that first day/evening. Depending on climate, many foods like eggs cheese etc... will keep if you pack them right.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: ironwing

Originally posted by: Atheus

2) Cotton is shit. So are most synthetic wool products. Jeans are shit. You want polypropylene and real wool as the basis of your warm clothes.

Depends on climate. For desert hiking, it is simply impossible to beat cotton.

Yeah, soaking a cotton shirt down in a stream does wonders to keep yourself cool on a hot hike. The problem is it will chill you down the same way if its freezing out and you break a sweat. However, I'd still stay away from jeans no matter what. They're just too heavy. I've got a set of pretty thin pants with zip off legs (I think mine are REI's brand name ones) that I use, hot or cold. I've got two different weights of long underwear (one a thinner polypro and one that's a light fleece) that I can wear underneath if its too cold for just the lightweight pants.