Recommendation: Pack?

neetones

neetones

Joined
Apr 30, 2001
Messages
701
Hi everyone. I haven't been camping since Cub Scouts and I'm starting to have a severe hankering for some outdoor action. I do, however, want to keep it minimalistic. I would like to try to do what I can using what's available, fire, shelter, etc... So, I could use some advice on what would make a good, inexpensive pack to carry whatever basics I would require. it would be more for camping, less for hiking....Thanks a lot.

Nitin
 
You posted a pretty broad question, but let's give it a try. First of all, you say you will stay "minimalistic". So are you doing a survival trip, or are you taking everything you need but just keeping it small?

For a minimalist approach that doesn't require a lot of packing I would suggest using just about any ol' external frame pack with decent shoulder straps and a hip belt. You don't need anything fancy if you're just gonna pack in a short distance, set up a base camp, and pack out. Get a cheap one and give it a whirl.

I have one that a friend picked up at a garage sale for ten dollars, and it works great! It has two separate compartments - one above and one below - plus pockets all over the place.

I hope you're not serious about this being your first trip since Boy Scouts. For one thing, what a tragedy! For another thing, depending on how long it's been since you were in Boy Scouts, you might reconsider the minimalist idea.

If you are indeed a "rookie", let us know when you're going, what type of terrain & weather you expect, and the conditions you anticipate living in. Will you have a tent or a tarp? Are you taking food or gathering it there? We'll see what advice we can dream up.

I see that you've also been looking for a good survival course. If you don't find one, stay with us. We'll eventually cover about anything you'd want to know, and then it's up to you to experiment with the technologies and ideas we discuss.

By the way, I've seen articles in the Self Reliance Journal (previously American Survival Guide) that mention several different survival courses/schools in the NJ Pine Barrens. Apparently Tom Brown isn't the only fish in pond over yonder.

Good luck!

P.s. - Be sure to give us a follow-up on how it went!

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Camine con tranquilidad, sirva con humildad, y viva en paz.
 
hi coyotlviejo...thanks for the thorough response, i appreciate the support.

Well, its true that i haven't been since Cub Scouts, and i'm 20 now, so that must have been about 10 years ago...so i'm basically starting from scratch.

I don't have a trip planned right now, nothing in particular at least but I want to get something going. I am indeed a rookie, and I figured that this place is as good as any to come to for advice. I'm constantly astounded by how helpful everyone is here. But yeah, I would like to do something like a survival trip. I'm looking to learn how to live like people have lived for almost three million years, without cars, air conditioning or AR-15s. I've just purchased three books on wilderness survival (Mears, Davenport, and Olsen), they haven't arrived yet though. I'm not planning on rushing into this though, so dont worry.
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I'm also seriously considering purchasing some videos from Ron Hood (www.survival.com).

So, let's see....I don't know where in the hell I could go around Maryland/Virginia, but I would expect to go in the summer, maybe on a weekend trip after I work up and practice some survival skills. So, it would be warm/hot, probably in a wooded area, maybe near a river or a stream hopefully. That brings up another question...can I just go into "the woods" and start a fire and set up camp? Where could I do this without getting either arrested or shot at?
Otherwise though, preferentially, I would like to learn how to hunt and gather for myself, not depending on packaged goods. And again, recommendations on survival courses are more than welcome although I think with some books, videos, and real life practice I could become quite proficient.

Thanks.

Nitin
 
You might try doing a search on this, there have been some really good threads on this subject. I can't answer, because I have never found a pack that didn't give me sore shoulders at the end of the day on a downhill section of my hike.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up with.
 
I think someone else mentioned this before in a similar thread not too long ago but you might check with some local shops and rent a pack to begin with.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Neetones--

You'll love Olsen. That's the book I grew up on. He pretty much shows you how to get lost skinny and naked and come out fat and clothed. To me he's the guru.

Survival is so much more than hunting and building shelters and fires, although those are the funnest parts.
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Learn the plants for food and medicine - they will feed you much more than the deer will. Learn to make snares for small animals - they will work for you while you sleep.

I truly admire your courage. I wish I could just fly across the county and join you on your trip, but alas I cannot. It sounds like you'll have a great time, and you'll be learning the best way you can - experience.

I gotta run, but I'll try to drop in and give you some leads on some really good plant books.

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Camine con tranquilidad, sirva con humildad, y viva en paz.
 
neetones,
I overlooked your post about going primitive. My suggestion would be to take everything you need into the woods to be comfortable, tent, sleeping bag, plenty of food, etc. And then try practicing your survival skills. If things don't go too well for you, you can fall back on your supplies. But don't accidently put yourself into an unnecessary survival situation unless you are extremely confident of your skills. A simple mistake can be yourlast.

Also, if you are going to fish and trap, pay attention to your local game and conservation laws. You also might want to read the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer to see where things can go a tad bit wrong.

Also, I highly recommend Doc Ron's tapes. Books are great but Ron's tapes give you another way to learn. And if you can swing it, maybe take a course somewhere. BTW, Mear's book is outstanding. It may not have all the nitty gritty detail that some books do but it's a great read, nonetheless.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
neetones,

you should also look at west virginia, there are some good parks that you can visit, i would contact the tourist bureau of each state and ask about camping and backpacking.

take all your gear and start by working out of your vehicle, you can then practice your skills in a controlled environment, you dont have to dive in head first, just start out with a little wading.

i am going to do a little camping with the kids this year but on a small piece of property that i own. but it will be as wild as i need. to show the kids some basic woodsmanship things.

the more i read the deeper it gets, i have found ron hoods tapes invaluable, he does enough detail to make sure that you understand how he does things, also visit his website/forum the folks are very helpful and friendly. my eight year old actually enjoys the tapes, wow.

i havent got the friction by fire thing yet but i keep working on it.

seems to me that the more i learn, the more i want to learn about the outdoors.hope you have a lot of fun.

alex

 
Neetones, I grew up in the Northern Virginia/ Maryland area, and while it's been over twenty years since I left, I did a lot of camping while I lived there. How about the Appalachian Trail? Parts of it run through Maryland. Also, the upper portions of the C&O Canal had some pretty easy hiking, and some nice primitive camping areas back then, maybe they still do.
 
I appreciate the help everyone, and I would love for it to keep coming...this is something i'm quite passionate about learning about and delving into.

x39 - thank you...do you have any more specific ideas as to where I could find these areas/what the laws are as to trapping/fishing/starting fires? I know it's been a while, but any help would be appreciated...from anyone.

thank you
 
Hoodoo- as always you are a great voice of reason. Your suggestion to pack it all in and then start experimenting is on the money.

Neetones- When I had my trap line I had to be licensed by the state of Oregon for taking game and furbearing animals. For non-game and non-furbearing animals the rules were virtually nonexistant. Call your local game commission for details.

As far as practicing your skills, what I usually do is try to incorporate them however I can whenever I go out. One time I provided our whole family group (tribe!) with cattail pancakes. Another time I used yarrow to stop a friend's bleeding wound since we had all forgotten to bring a first-aid kit. Once I get my first flame with the bow & drill I'll start offering to start up everybody's barbecues. Just incorporate things naturally.

One good thing about learning this way is that others get to share in the experience. I find that my extended family members are all getting interested now, too.

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Camine con tranquilidad, sirva con humildad, y viva en paz.
 
wow, thank you again....i'm indebted to you all. I still (of course) have a couple questions:

1) What about campfires, are they generally legal or illegal/licensed on govt. land?

2) I have purchased three books and am about to get my hands on a couple of Ron Hood's videos, do you think I would need to take a simple three-day survival course, or would these informational materials + a LOT of hands-on practice be enough? Basically, what do I gain out of a real course?

Thanks again

Nitin
 
Nitin, in general VA and MD tend to be pretty restrictive on cutting wood and having open fires in their parks. The AT seems to either be (1) an exception to that rule or (2) not patrolled enough or monitored enough to prevent it from happening. I have been on a couple of sections of the AT in VA, and it wasn't unusual to run across a fire-ring out in an area between shelters. Additionally, every shelter I saw had a fire-ring there. As far as just wandering off into the woods and setting up a camp, you probably won't be able to in MD. WV seems to be pretty good for that, though. I know a little 26 mile trail called North Fork Mountain Trail that is used extensively by hunters during hunting season. Plenty of places to camp, and plenty of places to have a camp fire. It's not a "park", but just gov't land. A few private properties border on it in areas, but last I heard as long as you pretty much stayed with the trail, everything was OK. Oh, but whether MD, VA, or WV, I don't think you'll be able to "hunt" for your food unless it is hunting season.

swede79, have you ever tried a Gregory backpack? It will still work your shoulders, but the hip belt is so strong and sturdy that you can set it up to carry almost all of the weight, with your shoulders just providing balance. Mostly.

OH, the C&O, below Cumberland at least, DOES have some good primitive camping areas. But, they are not exactly secluded. And I don't recall seeing many of them once you get below about Hagerstown. That was back in about 1994 time frame, IIRC.

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The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. - Ambrose Bierce
Most dog owners are at length able to teach themselves to obey their dog. - Robert Morley

iktomi
 
Neetones- The areas I used to camp and hike on the C&O were primarily in the Paw-Paw, W-Va area, sort of below Cumberland, MD. That was back in the mid 70's, I couldn't tell you what's there now. I have some real pleasant memories from there.
 
Neetones-

I have never taken a survival course. A lot of the guys that give courses are self-taught, so you can do likewise. Just practice, practice, practice.

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Camine con tranquilidad, sirva con humildad, y viva en paz.
 
I've never taken a survival course either except for a little training I had in the military and of course, boy scouts. But actually the main reason I would want to take a course is I think it would be fun.
smile.gif


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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 05-22-2001).]
 
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