5 day out? What to carry?

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hollowhandle

Joined
Jan 24, 2001
Messages
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Hello guys,
Does anyone have an outline for what I should carry for an extended backpack trip?
I have done a lot of camping, but most of it is the drive to the campground type.
I have always had the option of throwing a little more into the car.
Most of my questions would probably be about food and food prep and clothing for moderate weather.

Thanks
 
Find a copy of Colin Fletcher's book 'the Complete Walker'. It is an excellent book on camping and hiking. He gives gear and food lists that are very good. After you have gone out a few times you'll start to modify the list to suit your preferences but Fletcher is an excellent place to start.
 
Large outdoor equipment companies, like REI, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Adventure 16, have pre-printed equipment lists that they will mail you. REI probably even has it on their website. Nonetheless, I heartily agree with buying the Fletcher book---it is excellent (as are The Thousand Mile Summer and The Man Who Walked Through Time, by the same author).

One item I've never scrimped on is a good sleeping pad. Your ability to recover from a hard day is dependent upon sleeping soundly. I use Thermarest, but there are several good ones.
 
I have the 4 part military sleeping bag with the gortex cover.
What I have done is use the cold weather bag as a pad.
Will a pad make a real difference?
 
Originally posted by hollowhandle
Hello guys,
Does anyone have an outline for what I should carry for an extended backpack trip?
<snip>
Thanks
Click to expand...

If your actually packing, your going to eat a LOT more than you think. Dried food (esp home made) is GOOD

One thing I REALLY learned - Watch the water situation. Check how the supplies are BEFORE you leave, and figure on 1 gal/person/day

Bring a tarp to catch rain water/make a solar still - you might need it

I remember a camping trip in the Catskills (NY State) - Normally a fairly wet place, but this was during a drought. We were planning a LONG trip (2 weeks) so we knew we would not be moving fast - 70 lb packs will do that. We were smart a brought enough water to go 1.5 - 2 days, and were prepared to turn around and go back. Because of the way the hills are, it would be about 1.25 days to the first spring, and about 1/2 day back - Yeah, we would have been hurting on the way back if the spring was dry (conflicting reports)

The first night we stopped, and it RAINED for the first time in 3 weeks. We had the tarp, so we were able to catch a LOT of water. We drank our fill, and refilled all water bottles, and still had plenty. Right at the point we were going to break camp, down the hill comes a HURTING couple of guys. It seems they had climbed the mountain the day before, and had ONLY brought 2 bottles of scotch to drink! They were willing to trade a bottle of scotch for a bottle of water. We said "sure". They actually expected us to do dump out one of our canteens to fill it with the scotch, so they could put water in the bottle. My friends and I each took a sip, and dumped the rest on the ground! The guys were shocked. We said "Hey, your willing to trade scotch for water - which do you think is more valuable?" They said, "Yeah, but you have lots of water". We filled their bottle from the tarp, and said "Yes, but water is still worth more - scotch will kill you"

Moral of the story? The single MOST important thing you can think about when backpacking is WATER. NEVER NEVER go further from the last known good water supply than your existing supply can get you back:eek:
 
Hollowhandle,

I'm not familiar with the military equipment, so I can't answer your question precisely. However, if you are relatively comfortable, sleeping soundly, and not waking up sore/stiff, then I'd stick with what you have and forget the pad. My lightweight down bag compresses to about 2mm with my fat backside squashing it, so a pad is essential with my setup.
 
DancesWithKnives-
I have tried open cell and closed cell pads, and even both together, and I still can't get a comfortable nights sleep on the ground. Is the Thermarest pad or any others that anyone knows of better at cushioning a large body from the cold, hard ground?
 
You need to protect yourself from the damp and cold rising up through the ground at night. It really can sap enegy from you whilst you sleep (or even keep you awake). We used to take sleeping mats into ambush positions to stop hyperthermia (I've witnessed a soldier walk out of his position into the killing area because he was completely disorientated by hyperthermia; it blew the ambush and we had to bin it). Any good sleeping mat is worth taking, but sleeping on a hard ground takes practice and best achieved when knackered. Only a week or so ago I slept out for the first time in a while and had a rotten night - out of practice. I like thermarest, but they are a little fragile, are expensive, take a little time to blow up and weigh a bit more; but then again they are heaven. I even used mine in Africa.

As already said you are not going far without water. Food is the other thing you will crave for. Be generous but even then strickly ration each days portion. The worst is the first few days.

Go light on extra clothes. Warm kit, rainproofs and plenty of socks are priorities. The rest you can stink in.

Bin the kitchen sink as the lighter you travel the more enjoyable the experience. However, rescue services are usually called out for people who travel too light. Plan your journy well and study your map so you know it, preferably at home - right is the big fat mountain, left is the river, if I go East I have to hit route 66. The better your preparation the more confident you can allow youself to be and the more you will enjoy yourself. However, do give youself the freedom to turn back. Its hard to admit that one has been over ambitious. There is always another chance to try again.

Last thing: do try out your kit fully at home before its too late and everything starts to hurt.
 
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