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Annotation for Backcountry Gear List
revised: 3/06/08
Please pay careful attention
to the gear list. It is born out of extensive experience in both the
Adirondacks and Canada. You are not helping yourself or the group if you bring
things, “just in case”, the other side of the coin is that if you don’t bring
what is on the list, you may be hurting yourself or even the group.
Trekking for a week or more
is about water ! No matter what you do whether it is backpacking or
canoeing, sooner or later things are going to get wet. Putting on wet clothes
is not pleasant; even nastier is trying to sleep in a wet sleeping bag. Get
a contractors' heavy duty plastic bag for a pack liner and a heavy plastic bag
to line your sleeping bag stuff sack ! Will a garbage bag work?
No ! Holes poke through garbage bags too easily. Seal both by twisting
the bag neck several times, bend it over, and secure the "goose neck" with a
heavy-duty rubber band (bring one or two extra bands). While on the topic of
sleeping bags here are just a few thoughts: Go to Campmor or EMS, etc. and climb
into a few bags to find out if they are too snug or too loose. If you are to
have just one all-purpose bag, my feeling is, buy a 20 degree one. Yes, you can
use a 40 deg. one in June, July and the beginning of August, but it's not enough
the rest of the time. Fibers to look for are quollofil and polarguard, avoid
things named Wal-Mart-warm, sears-slumber, etc. Down is great IF you are
absolutely certain, beyond any doubt, you can keep it dry. Also bring a plastic
ground cloth to put under your bed roll to protect it; don’t worry about
protecting the tent. A sleeping pad, in terms of warmth and comfort, is highly
recommended. It can be anything from a $10 Wal-Mart one to a top of the line
Therma-rest.
On the topic of water - water
bottles are to be 1 qt/liter. No other volume is acceptable as this is
the volume we treat with chemicals for purification. Don’t complicate things
with an odd size.
One set of night clothes get
put up each morning with your bed roll so they never acquire the smell of
food. Dark colored boxers and a T work well for both guys and gals. This is
particularly important in bear country.
Underwear is not needed.
Live in your nylon bathing suit (with built in brief) during the day, and
if it gets cool or buggy in the evening, slip on your nylon wind pants.
Both of these should be the lightest weight you can find (J C Penny bathing
suit, $10 - $15; wind pants, about the same price. If the wind pants have a
cotton lining, take a pair of scissors and cut that part away. Jeans and
sweatshirts are heavier to carry in the first place, and if they get wet
they hold the water like a sponge and just suck the body heat right out of you.
Retired DEC High Peaks Forest Ranger, Pete Fish is often quoted, “Cotton
Kills”! If anyone should know, he does after 1000's of trips up and down
Marcy. Do include some type of rainwear.
If hiking, a pair of Teva
sandals or water shoes can be your in camp footwear (and double when you swim);
if canoeing lightweight shoes with socks work in the evening and on the portage
trail.
Bandanas serve as nose
blowers, face wipers, hot pot lifters, towels after a swim, washcloth ...
They rinse and dry out
quickly, bring two. You will need the light nylon line. A lighter (Bic type)
is more dependable than matches. Band-aids, analgesic, medicated powder (for
all those places the Sun doesn’t shine that get sore, itchy, etc.) you need to
have your own. Wrap 2-3 ft. of duct tape around the powder container, that adds
up to about 25 ft. of tape per crew; enough to take care of most emergencies.
Don’t bring a BSA type mess
kit! A 12 oz. Lexan plastic cup (REI, EMS), a 7-8" plastic bowl (Campmor,
Wal-Mart), and Lexan spoon and fork, all in a mesh or nylon bag.
Do everything you can to
reduce weight, it’s important after the first half mile!
What's the best type of pack?
Most designs work, it is important to have one large enough - you will be
carrying about 5000 cu.in. of gear. So whether you choose a pack basket (not
bad for canoeing, but heavy), a canoe pack, or an internal frame pack, look for
one in the 4800-5400 cu.in. range. If you choose an external frame pack, go
with much less volume (3000-3600) because the sleeping bag goes outside at the
bottom & the sleeping pad can go on top. External frame packs are hard to make
fit in a canoe and, if you are flying to the trailhead be aware that we've had
baggage handlers break the welds on frames.
Your trail toilet kit really
should be minimal - We don't take soap swims, don't bring soap. Forget about
deodorant or cologne, we really don't want some wild critter saying to himself,
"What is that curiously delightful odor, hummm, slightly sweet, somewhat
fruity?"; "Oh, I do believe it could be better than road kill with berries and
nuts". There is an advantage to smelling like a human being, it is not
attractive to wild critters (that's a good thing in the middle of the night)!
In these days of increased UV
penetration of the atmosphere, almost everyone is aware of the need for
protection of skin and eyes. Do wear a broad-brimmed hat, use sunscreen, wear
sunglasses, keep your shirt on. Anecdotally, I will tell you I've tried to be
careful of my skin after seeing large chunks of my father's go to the surgeon's
knife. I never gave my eyes too much thought; I've just gotten my second
"bionic eye" due to cataracts, the operation is not fun. Sunglasses would have
helped prevent them.
You will need a compass.
Fortunately bottom of the line, good quality ones are not expensive. Two brands
come to mind: Silva & Brunton, get the orienteering type with a plastic base
marked with in. & cm. scales, and a rotating bezel. The $10-20 range is fine.
Put a referee's type whistle on the lanyard.
Flashlights have come a long
way over the past 10 or 15 years. Keep it small, 2-3 AA or even AAA batteries
is all it should take.
That's about it. If you have
suggestions regarding gear, I'd like to hear them.
Good trekking, Chris Johnson |
