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Hiking and Backpacking is something different for every person. Every Scout show have the opportunity to do it and experience what it is to be on your own and away from civilized society, relying on oneself and the company of your fellow scouts. It is hard for most, but that is what makes it worth the trouble. Here are some quotes from some that best explain hiking and backpacking....there is no better way to start the conversation.
"Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care." - Earl Shaffer
"Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein
"It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary
"Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence." - Hermann Buhl
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
"Walking is a man's best medicine." - Hippocrates
"Don't look ahead as you come upon a mountain, but look at the terrain in that moment. You start climbing it before you even get there." - Unanimous
"You don't remember the easy adventures or the adventures where everything went as planned. It is only later that you look back on these trips and wish to do it again." - Scoutmaster Henningsen
Gear
Gear
What do I bring when backpacking is usually the first question that gets asked. Unfortunately it's not an easy question to answer because it depends on what kind of backpacking you are doing, where you are going, whats the season or climate of the hike, and who you are going with. Even the most skilled backpackers have to think about these questions when backpacking. The basic list provided on this page are good guidelines to follow, but you have to add or delete certain things depending on what you are doing. Remember, whenever you go out into the outdoors, plan your event by asking and answering these simple planning questions:
WHO - Do you have a large group where you can distribute the gear and the weight? Is your group younger or older? Medical needs?
WHAT - What are you taking? What is your emergency plan?
WHEN - Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall? Cold, Heat, Rain or Snow? Night hiking?
WHERE - Where are you hiking? Desert, High Alpine, Lush Forest, Tundra, Coastal? Make a plan and then figure out HOW your are going to do your hike.
WHY - Why are you doing the hike? Is this a training hike to test out gear? Is this a 50 miler or more? Are you concerned with comfort or weight?
HOW - This is the big one.... How are you going to hike this trip? Plan out your destinations. Is there water at these destinations? How many miles everyday?
If you can answer and prepare for these questions, you'll usually be good to go! A SCOUT IS PREPARED, but that doesn't mean you have to carry the house to do be prepared.
Car camping gone wrong
Backpacking is different than car camping.
What Style of Backpacker are you???
What Style of Backpacker are you???
There are some general guidelines to how backpackers determiner your "style" of backpacking. It's usually based on the amount of weight you want to carry. You might ask yourself, "Why would I want to be anything less than a UltraLight backpacker"? That would be a good question and maybe here is a good answer.....
BPW = Base Pack Weight - everything in your pack except consumables (food, water, and fuel). Does not include what you are wearing. The consumable weight will change over the course of the trip.
TW = Total Weight - everything, including you. This is all the weight you need to move up the trail. A 170lb person with a 50lb pack (170lbs + 50lbs = 220lbs) would have the same TW as a 200lb person with a 20lb pack.
SuperUltraLightweight - under 5lb BPW
UltraLightweight - under 10lb BPW
Lightweight - under 20lb BPW
Traditional - under 30lb BPW
Heavy - over 30lb BPW
Many people spend way too much time shrinking their BPW so they can think of themselves as UltraLight hikers, but that's a waste of effort. The goal should be to reduce the entire amount you need to move up the trail (the TW) in order to have a more enjoyable hike, but still remain safe and as comfortable as your enjoyment requires.
Benefits of Lighter Weight
Benefits of Lighter Weight
I've not met anyone that does not agree a lighter pack means a better hike. Some reasons to go light:
Less tired at the end of the day
Cover more miles of trail and see more sights
Travel more challenge terrain
Less stress on legs lowers probability of injury
Less food and time needed to cover a certain distance
Extend the hiking years for older hikers
And, a few common concerns of going too light:
Unprepared for emergency situations, such as injuries or bad weather
Include adequate first aid and weather protection.
Sacrifice of too much comfort, such as sleeping pad and warm clothes
Carrying 25lb instead of 50lb is more comfortable all day.
Lighter gear costs more
Lighter, stronger materials are more expensive - but check into making your own.
Lightening your load doesn't need to be a revolutionary event. You can evolve your gear and acquire lighter items as needed. Always keep safety a Number One priority whenever heading outdoors and take the first aid and emergency items that really make sense.
The Big Three
The Big Three
(where to best reduce weight)
The best way to lower your equipment weight is to concentrate on reducing three key areas and then work on from there. These three areas account for the majority of your pack weight:
Shelter - tents, tarps, or bivys are all options for shelter depending on your preferences, insects, and expected weather.
Sleep System - sufficient insulation from the ground and air to keep you warm all night is the requirement. There are dozens of sleeping pads and sleeping bags from which to choose, using different insulation types and amounts resulting in different temperature ratings and comfort levels.
Pack - the pack in which you carry everything weighs something itself. Some framed packs may weigh 7 or more pounds. An ultralight frameless pack can be under 1 pound. There are many choices in the sub-3 pound range.
Working on getting your Big Three weight under 8 pounds (or lower) is a good starting goal, but don't get a lightweight pack before reducing the weight you will put in it. Lighter packs are intended to carry lighter loads.
Backpacking list
Backpacking list
Please download the packing lists provided from this site. Other items can be added, or deleted, based on the type of trip and when asking your Who, What, Where, Where, Why and How questions. The experienced hiker/backpacker will review his gear after each trip he/she takes and determine if it was necessary and if it is needed on the next adventure. Always strive to improve how you pack and how you experience the outdoors.
Cooking
Cookware
Mess Kit / eating utensils
Bear bag w/ rope / canister
Stove w/ fuel
Food
First Aid kit
Pocket knife
Navigation - Map and Compass / GPS
Water Treatment
Flashlight / headlamp
Rain and/or snow coat
Whistle / signalizing
Sun protection (hat / lotion)
Trail food
Troop 25 Backpack checklist.pdfGeneral Pack List developed by Troop 25. Does not anticipate all camping locations or seasons. Add / Subtract items based on your camping plan.
Philmont Packing List 2018.pdfBackpack List developed by Philmont Scout Ranch. Designed for longer treks (7 day or more) , Northern New Mexico high elevation camp. Rustic camp with incorporated camps. Anticipated monsoon rains daily, bears, snakes, scorpions.
Maps and Compass
Maps and Compass
Who needs maps? I have my phone and/or a GPS.
Phones and GPS units are great, but there are problems with relying entirely on technology. You are relying on technology, which by definition runs on batteries and can fail when you need it most. If you are doing an outing in the cold, those batteries may only have half the life as they might usually, with battery life dwindling VERY QUICKLY in the cold. You might not have satellites or cell signal. Your device might merely break or decide not to work - its a computer and things happen. A trusty map and compass will always work - short of being in areas of high iron rock deposits or if you slam the compass against a rock.
Never leave on an adventure without your map and compass.... even if it is just your backup navigation because you just like the phone more.
And research the map before you go... where's the water? Are there exposed cliffs that maybe you don't want to attempt in wind or snowy conditions? Maybe there is just a good spot you want to try to get to for lunch? Planning is one of points of Leave No Trace for a reason. Below are some maps that can be used for planning. Remember to pay attention to how old the map is... conditions may have changed (forest fires, property boundaries, declination, trail locations, etc.). Huge landmarks and topography won't change.
Google Sites
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