Backpacking 101 - tips and general info

Maybe we can sticky this or something like that.

I'm not an expert backpacker myself, but Trevor asked me about equipment and what to pack on backpacking trips, so I thought it would make a good topic to discuss. I know Mark, and Marc probably have some good advice to add as well as many others. I'll keep adding to this as people give their suggestions, or if I think of something.

I'll start with a few tips.

1. Emergency gear: Carry a good emergency kit with compass, a map of of the area you are traveling through, some basic first aid, and foot care items like mole skin and duct tape.

2. Food: I always bring enough food for the time I plan to spend plus about 2 or 3 additional days in case something happens. Usually light weight stuff like balance bars, dehydrated foods, jerky, granola, and other light weight high calorie items, chocolate is nice to have too.

3. Stove or Jetboil: In order for me to be able to take light dehydrated meals and soups I bring a jetboil, it boils water for an additional way to purify water as well, and it really allows me to keep my food weight lower.

4. Water filter, or purification method: I carry a water pump with filter and purification tablets for water safety. Water is very heavy, so I don't like to pack in much at a time.

5. Clothes: I pack pretty light on clothes, but I pack for any weather, so I bring 1 pair of shorts, long pants, fleece, light jacket in summer, and multiple pairs of socks and boxers. I also always bring a sun hat, cold weather cap, and light gloves.

6. Tent, sleeping bag, and pad: I pack my very light weight single man tent, but my mom just takes her sleeping bag, and a waterproof cover, sometimes she doesn't bring a pad either, but pads don;t weigh much and they add a lot of comfort on a multi day trip.

Equipment

My photography equipment dictates what else I can take, I generally like to take my lighter hiking tripod for long trips, but on this last trip I brought my Gitzo 1325 which is not light despite it being carbon fiber. Sometimes it's nice to have a big tall stable tripod, that being said next time I'm packing the smaller one.

I always carry the same kit when hiking or backpacking except for the tripod. My camera body, 2 lenses(17-40L and 70-200L), extension tubes for macros, filters, remote release, universal tool, and some other misc. gear.

The backpack I pack all this into is an Osprey Atmos 50, it's just a mid size multi day backpack, although I'm looking at a real expedition pack ATM. This pack is light weight has a frame and a nice air flow back that is very nice. With the help of a bungie cord or 2 I can fit all my gear on there no problem.

That is just a small start, I'm sure I forgot stuff, but that's a start.

Great discussion Zack. I can post a few items here now, but I will have to add to this later on. I am actually putting together a presentation I will be giving to PPO (Professional Photographers for Oregon) in early Oct on Backpacking/Hiking Travel. Once I have done that I will post more realative info on here. For now here is a jpg of my overall checklist that I review everytime I head out. I of course do not pack all this stuff everytime. Will depend on where I am going, if with others, how long, etc. If anyone wants the Excel version since it will be easier to read just send me an email and I would be glad to send it and you can taylor it to your needs.

Other items from what I would say are top 10, mainly from personal experience:

- Pen wrapped w/ Duct Tape in First Aid Kit (can use Duct Tape for everything)
- Long Trips lighter tripod (can “Mac Guyver” it if need be). I take a 3lb Bogen.
- Water Tablets and Water Filter (if water filter breaks you always have the tablets)
- No Cotton Socks (Smart Wool and Two Pair min)
- Never trust the weatherman!
- Take more food than you think you will need (you burn a lot of calories backpacking)
- Always stake down/guy line the tent
- Tell Someone Where You are Going
- Carry a Lighter and Waterproof Matches
- Mindset: Expect blisters, change in weather, sore body. All short term issues when compared to the experience at hand. Enjoy the moment and capture the images.

Happy trails...

Be safe, carry what you need, but pare it down so you don't carry a lot of weight. Last year, on a 7 night trip, hiking 7-8 miles a day, I carried a 57 pound pack, including my D2x, two lenses and a 3.5 pound tripod/ballhead combo. That was way too much. I weigh only 130 pounds so that pack was almost half my weight. Way, way too heavy.
This year, after a new pack, tent, foam pad, water bottles, buying food smarter, a new camera and tripod/ballhead, my pack will start off at 40 pounds. Interesting point here is that I'm sacrificing NO comfort or safety gear from last year.

I donÕt have a checklist, as I just grab the same stuff from the shelf each outing. But I do have a few tips. For starters, I abandoned boots in favor of beefy trail runners about eight years ago. IÕm pushing 40, and my feet and knees feel new. I found boots heavy, clumsy and punishing in retrospect.

I have a super light (and super crappy) sleeping bag, which works great if I wear some clothes to bed. It usually carries me through October.

I make my dog carry the garbage.

I think of fresh socks, underwear and shirts as unnecessary luxuries. I bring what I need to stay warm, nothing more.

I do carry wine (and on longer trips, liquor).

I use empty soda bottles instead of nalgenes; theyÕre much lighter. That said, I do bring one nalgene per group in case a hot water bottle is needed.

I use a ? ultralight thermarest, which still feels luxurious compared to my old ensolite.

IÕd rather sit on the ground than carry a thermarest chair.

Basically, with the exception of spirits, if I donÕt absolutely need it, I donÕt bring it.

Adrians list is a good reference, but as far as my own setup goes, half that stuff isn't necessary at all. Weight is the biggest concern of mine, I try to keep it as minimal as I can. 2 lenses max, 1 body, lightweight tripod, might leave 2 of my 4 batteries at home, etc. Food wise, keep it as dry as possible to both minimize the weight added by liquids and to limit the amount of cooking gear taken along. I try not to take anything that requires more than hot water to make. The glissading pad is a good idea though.

Great discussion. Thanks for posting this. Any advice on what a reasonable size pack would be for two to three night adventures?

Kevin, I think something around 4k cubic inch would work well. My main pack is a Kelty 4.9k cu that I use for most of my overnight trips and I tend to overpack (I am slowly getting out of this bad habit before my body tells me to). And most of my trips are 2 or 3 days as well.

And one piece of advice on the pack IMO is make sure to get from a place like REI or another store with a good return policy (unless you get a great deal somewhere else). I have returned at least a couple in the last few years because they felt fine in the stored loaded up but just did not work to my comfort on the actual trip.

Hope this helps!

My new Granite Gear pack is 3700 cu. in. but also has a sleeve that adds quite a bit. Peggy, Ellen and I just did an overnighter to Dollar Lake on Mt. Hood. My pack was the same as it's going to be for the upcoming 7 night trip except for food it fit it all just fine.

Excellent topic. I'll feature it for now, and let Erik and Rick decide how long it should stay up. It would be great if someone would volunteer (Zack? Adrian?) to write this up in a nicely condensed article for our tips page...

In fact if you submitted it to Jim E as a feature article, you'd get a free year subscription to NPN...

(Edit: corrected spelling of Adrian)

I will be happy to do that Curtis. Good idea. Thanks!

I will do what I can to work in the comments already posted here by others as well. If there are additional thoughts on this topic please post in the next few days and I will to what to incorporate those as well. Hopefully I can get this written up in the next week or two.

As far as photography goes, you have to decide if you want to go with the full bore pro setup or scale back a little. Last year in the Uintas I had 13 pounds of camera gear. Tripod, ballhead, two lenses, D2x, cards, batteries, GND, Polarizer, cable release, cleaning cloth, a soft case and a belt to carry it around in, pretty much, the whole nine yards.
I came back with some great shots, even one or two Mark Hudon Signature shots. BUT, I'm not a Marc Adamus or Zack who get up before the crack of dawn and stay up till the last bit of light is out of the sky. Photography was part of the trip but not the whole point of the trip.
This year, new camera, new lens, tripod/ballhead and the kit is done to 6 pounds total.

I haven't backpacked since I was a teenager, but when I take my day hikes, I've paired down my gear considerably the last couple years.

1. instead of throwing a pack full of gear on my back, I take a smaller pack containing water, munchies, and a jacket or sweatshirt
2. I wear a vest for my photo gear. I often decide what kind of photo mood I'm in and just take one lens. either a 70-200 or a 17-50 and if I feel like bulging pockets, I'll throw the extension tubes in. then I add in whatever filters and gadgets I think I'll need.
3. Tripod, and Walkstool

I'm also thinking of buying a dog pack so I can have my dog carry the water and munchies. He's 4 years old now so I think he's mellowed out enough that I can put him to work

In my limited experience, I have found a handy trick is to make sure everything in your bag, from spare clothes, to food, to the first aid kit should be in little ziplock baggies (get the super tough version like hefty or glad.) You never know when your bag is going to spring a leak, or when that rainproof zipper finally gives out, or when you are going to surpass any level of water resistance when you plunge into a glacial stream while trying to ford. I've never fallen in with a full pack, but I had at least one camera drying out saved by having it in ziplocks (I fell into Eagle Creek (who hasn't?!))

Shower curtains from the dollar store make great cheap, practically disposable tent footprints.

At walmart you can buy Gatorade 32 oz mix powder packets for 50 cents. These make water even with nasty purification tablets in them taste like the best thing in the world! Also much better to help you stay properly hydrated with all the fancy energy chemistry stuff.

If you hate weight, fishing line is a good light rope substitute.

Cool ranch doritos are awesome fire starters, seriously!

I'm always debating rub in cream vs. greasy goo neosporin but have settled on greasy goo. It can create a temporary seal over a wound.

Great thread you have going here. I've only recently started backpacking - just single night camping trips. I don't think there is any better way of experiencing the landscape and ensuring you are in the right place at the right time.

I'd like to ask how many batteries you take with you on your trips? I have a 5d and was caught out this weekend - I took 3 batteries and all 3 died before the end of the day.

Thanks, Tristan

I typically take 4 batteries, and that got me through 4 days of shooting every morning and evening. I think I want one more though just in case, if they are all fully charged I usually do fine. I suppose 6 would be ideal though for me

I'd be curious to see how many Marc takes on some of his deep backpacking trips.

The D2x batteries are great, one battery lasted me all week in the Uintas last year although I was carrying a spare and the weather was not cold. This year, I'm taking two extras for the D80 into the Uintas, I'd sure hate to have all that beautiful scenery around and not be able to photograph it.

WOW!!! I loved reading this, and would love going on a trip. Aren't you guys afraid of bears and critters out there?Have any of you ever been approached by a wild animal? I would even be afraid of getting lost. I admire all of you for undertaking these photo adventures, otherwise most of us would never see some of the earths great wonders. I plan to use the information here when I do an overnighter in a state park.

What are people using to protect their camera gear in their backpack. I know there are some types of lens wraps that could cushion equip, but would like to know what people have found that works.

Kevin, I try to keep it real simple for carrying my gear. Day hiking is easy as I usually take my nice Lowepro Backpack that is padded inside very well. As for backpacking I tend to put my camera and other gear into one or two small dry bags and sometimes these bags are placed on or near a couple clothing articles for cushion. And I keep them near the top to make for easy access anytime I want to stop along the way to my destination. If I were to fall and land hard on my pack they probably would not be that well protected this way. Nontheless it's a chance I am willing to take. I have rarely brought the stock lens bags as most are too bulky for my liking to backpack with.

Kevin, on backpacking trips, I have Op/Tech neoprene soft cases for my lenses and camera. On this next trip, I'm having straps and clips sewn onto my case so that I can hang my camera from my pack straps right in front of my chest. That way, I'll be able to grab it quickly and get some shots while still walking.
Really though, cameras are pretty beefy. If you fell hard enough to break something in your pack, I think you would have other more important things to worry about (like how long is it going to take for the helicopter to get to you).

unfeaturing and giving it one last bump to the top. It's been up nearly three weeks and Adrian has an article written and waiting for his editor (your's truely) to get off his butt and edit it