Please critique my First Backpacking Trip plans

J

JMFWSU

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
181
Hi,

Thanks for all your responses yesterday. Here's what I'm planning. Please critique me and point me in the right directions.

The hike: 5 miles, no trails, steep climb in the beginning, one night in the mountains at 5,200 feet, temp. at night possibly in the 30's, but most likely warmer.

I'm thinking about bringing:

One small tarp--half under me, and half over me.
One Surplus Wool Blanket (I'll be sleeping in my clothes).
Maybe a mat to place under the blanket.
One Gallon of bottled water.
Sealed bag of Tuna, Protein Bars
Merrill Gortex hiking boots
Small Hatchet
Medical supplies (Tape, Gauze, Alcohol Wipes, Bandages)
Paracord
Knife (Gossman PSK w/ Normark Kydex)
Bic Lighter
Possibly extra clothes, but probably not.

***Items Suggested by Replies***
compass
flashlight
map
pain reliever
stomach medicine
Iodine Tablets
Extra Food
Extra fire source
TP
Hand Soap


OK, I still need to decide on a pack. What would be the smallest pack that could accommodate this trip (this will be my average type of trips in the future also)?

Would a non-frame day pack work fine? Like a North Face Recon. I could probably strap the blanket to the bottom, and place everything else inside.

With a light load, would a med. ALICE pack without the frame work (they are cheap)?

I leave Sept. 21st, so I'm kinda running out of time!

Thanks again,
Jason
 
Something thats about 3,000 cubic inches could work quite well. I hike with less than that and still manage. How much are you willing to spend?
 
You can get a decent sleeping bag that packs up small for less than $50, like a Slumberjack or something. I wouldn't want to sleep in 30 degree temps with a wool blanket unless I really had to. Do you know that you'll be near a fire throughout the night?

Pretty good choice on blade, by the way! I'm jealous. Even got some good kydex for it.

Ditto the firesteel comment. Always nice to have something that can't go bad.

For packs, I'm a big fan of the Jansport stuff. They make some very neat external frame packs, as well as others. I would go to a decent sporting goods store and try on everything in my price range, then decide. Lugging an uncomfortable pack is not a fun affair. (Most of this shouldn't be a big problem on a 5 mile hike, though.)

Either way, I demand pictures.
 
You'll probably want some rain gear unless the forecast is calls for perfect weather. Even then, I think I'd at least take a poncho, cause the weather men have been known to get it wrong. ;)
 
A couple comments. I'd bring a flashlight. You don't want to be stumbling around in the dark in the middle of the night. Put fresh batteries in the light before you go.

I recommend bringing a paper back book or a small pad of paper if you like to write or sketch. Sometimes you have some time to kill waiting for a storm to break or just can't sleep. In an emergency you can use it to start a fire. It's a small creature comfort but hey, this is supposed to be fun.

I don't know exactly where you are going but weather in the mountains can change quickly. I'd have rain gear with me and an extra layer of warm clothing, just in case. Also, I second the recommendation on bringing a sleeping bag instead of the blanket. It's hard to sleep when you're cold and you don't want to be tired the next day. You can always sleep on top of your bag if it's hot.

Finally, you probably want to bring some toilet paper, some alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and a plastic bag to pack the refuse paper etc. back out. And don't forget that camera. :D
 
Some drugs for pain relief, maybe a good book?

I'd recommend looking for a pack from Sierra Trading Post. They have AMAZING DEALS, and they usually ship very quickly, not sure how important it is to save some money though. Trying on packs in the store, and getting to fondle this is worth a decent amount I think.

Have fun!
 
Just a reminder from the earlier topic, do not overlook anything on the Ten Essentials list. Map and compass, for example, which I notice is absent from your list.

One small tarp--half under me, and half over me.
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An excellent idea, and a necessity if you're not carrying a tent. I use a surplus military poncho with the snaps and grommets.

One Surplus Wool Blanket (I'll be sleeping in my clothes).
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Everyone's tolerance of cold is different. For me, if it's 30 degrees outside I'm using a 0-degree bag ~and~ a wool blanket.

Maybe a mat to place under the blanket.
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I don't use one, but most folks sleep better with a pad.

One Gallon of bottled water.
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That's adequate for one day, especially if you aren't cooking. But if there's a stream or water supply along the way, you won't need to carry the full gallon. One gallon of water = 8lbs. Jar of iodine crystals = a few ounces.

Sealed bag of Tuna, Protein Bars
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Be sure to carry some emergency food as well, as listed in the Ten Essentials. A couple extra energy bars, granola bars, or even cookies will make life much less miserable should you get stuck out for an extra day.

Hatchet
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Heavy, bulky, and you don't need it. Look for firewood that's the same diameter as your finger. Anything larger and it's difficult to burn completely to white ash, and it's easier to control the fire temp for cooking.

Consider the fire conditions, weather, environmental impact, outdoor etiquette/no-trace ethics, and land agency regulations. You probably don't ~need~ a fire at all, especially if you're not eating a cooked meal.

supplies (Tape, Gauze, Alcohol Wipes, Bandages)
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The most common outdoor first aid situation is probably blisters. I'd add moleskin and scissors, aspirin, and something for stomache problems.

Paracord
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enough for your tarp, plus hanging your food and 'smellables' out of the reach of bears and rodents.

Knife (Gossman PSK w/ Normark Kydex)
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Good choice, I have one myself. Aside from cutting paracord and perhaps shaving kindling splinters, you probably won't need to cut anything.

Bic Lighter
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You might consider a backup fire source like a few matches in a waterproof container, and a bit of prepared dry kindling.

Possibly extra clothes, but probably not.
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Extra clothes are one of the Ten Essentials... I would at least pack an extra t-shirt, socks, and long underwear in a waterproof ziplock.

Only other thing I can think to mention is leisure / recreational / luxury / educational items. Camera, journal, giude books, etc. You're only hiking 5 miles, so you'll have lots of time to enjoy the area.
 
OK, I still need to decide on a pack. What would be the smallest pack that could accommodate this trip (this will be my average type of trips in the future also)?
Would a non-frame day pack work fine? Like a North Face Recon. I could probably strap the blanket to the bottom, and place everything else inside.
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with the Recon, but a large daypack or 3-day pack should work fine. But you'll probably end up tying the bulkier items on the outside of the pack. Some packs are equipped with lash points, and some aren't.

If you're buying one pack only for present and future use, I think you should go ahead and buy a full-sized backpack. That gives you the future option of carrying food, clothes, and supplies for multi-day trips. Plus adding in a tent, cold-weather clothes, etc.

With a light load, would a med. ALICE pack without the frame work (they are cheap)?
Click to expand...
For a 5-mile trip like you have planned, it should work fine. Remember, gear you can afford and gear you already own will outperform gear that you don't have and can't get. :)
 
Thanks for the feedback so far.

All I have now is a -20 Bag that weighs over 7lbs. Should I just find a way to bring it rather than going with the wool blanket?

The sleeping bag alone would fill just about any pack I choose!


Jason
 
I'm not familiar with the Recon...
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I just looked at that pack here: http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AE6G

It's too small for the amount of stuff that I usually carry, but you might pull it off if you make some changes to your packing list. For instance, a gallon jug of water is not going to fit very well. A blanket or sleeping bag can probably tie to the bottom, but not both.

I'd minimally look for a pack in the 2500-3500 cubic inch range with the following charateristics: A top-loading pack so there's no stress on the zippers. Well-padded and adjustable shoulder straps, waist straps, and sternum strap. Some sort of internal frame or structural support. Lash points on the bottom. Not too many pockets and dividers.

--------------

A second thumbs-up for flashlight. I rarely use one, but carry one for "just in case." It can come in handy if you want to write in your journal, pick slinters, or need to find something in your pack after dark.
 
Personally, I think a sleeping pat is a most for a cold night with just a wool blanket. I would lay down a couple of layers of leaves just to insulate you from the ground more.

Clothes- especially dry clothes will be your best bet when you are cold and wet. You might want to add a poncho in. A wide brim hat like a boonie will keep the water from running down your neck and keep the sun off of you better. Extra socks is must!!!

As said before extra food.

More than one source of fire starting methods. I prefer 3 for me when I go out.

And them Bob W pretty much covered the rest of it. Have fun and stay safe!!!!
 
Bob W gave you one thing to realy consider. If you got water up the mountains you dont need to carry a gallon. If you dont have a way to find water up there a gallon is not enough for two days. A good night sleep is up there with food. Trust me on this one you would rather be a little too warm then a little too cold. One blanket is good for maybe 60deg if you are warm blooded you might get away at 50deg. Less then that and you would hate being there. Power bars are great if you are walking but its nicer to get something warm down at night before you go to bed. Look at all the food preps people have posted on here. There is a good reason that so many people on here figure out to make warm food for dinner. Get a little biger bag you dont have to fill it up. See how it feel, hurt shoulders would make you feel like you walk 10 times as far. Thats what i have learned from my mistakes.

Sasha
 
LL Bean Bigelow is a great pack and can't beat the price. It wins a best value award in the hiking mags almost every year.

Also, bring a tube of Krazy Glue. Pretty much eliminates the need for bandaids. A couple of weeks ago, I went to pick up my kayak in the garage to load into the truck and cut my hand badly on a piece of glass from a broken jar. Blood spurting everywhere. A few drops of Krazy glue and the wound was closed, I was able to go kayak fishing, and now, a couple of weeks later it's completely healed with almost no visible scar. A number of hospitals have moved completely away from stitching wounds and now glue them, I believe the military also uses glue on the battlefield. Works great for blisters too - drain the blister, squirt a drop of glue inside, press skin down gently, voila, you can walk again pain free. Works great on dogs nails too if you cut them too close and they start bleeding.
 
compass
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My favorite is the Suunto M3 Leader, and can be found at Forestry Suppliers at a reasonable price.

map
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I'm accustomed to the USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps. But at $7 apiece, I hate to carry originals. I also like the BLM "Surface Management Status" maps, since they show property lines and public land boundaries. The large-scale Forest Service district maps are good too. The latter two are not detailed as far as topo lines or geographic features, so there's a lot of adventure/discovery potential. :D

Hand Soap
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I always use Dr Bronner's soap, the old-school hippy backpacking staple. I can't say that it makes you any cleaner than other products, like Camp Suds, but it sure cuts grease and oil, and it rinses easily even with cold water.
 
As I emphasized in your last post, what kind of clothes are you planning on wearing? Remember, NO COTTON. Just remember "Cotton Kills", because its true.

BobW covered it damn well. You lose 80% of your body heat from the ground when sleeping. You might hate it, but a sleeping pad really helps keep you off the ground and warm.

Always always always have extra food/water. You don't NEED it, but it will make your trip a lot more enjoyable. Always have food you are packing out because you never know when it might become an "extended" stay.

Be sure to let people know where you are going/when you are planning on getting back with a map and directions. As stated in the last thread, this will help SAR find you if need be.

Lastly, have fun!
 
Rich_S said:
Also, bring a tube of Krazy Glue. Pretty much eliminates the need for bandaids. A couple of weeks ago, I went to pick up my kayak in the garage to load into the truck and cut my hand badly on a piece of glass from a broken jar. Blood spurting everywhere. A few drops of Krazy glue and the wound was closed, I was able to go kayak fishing, and now, a couple of weeks later it's completely healed with almost no visible scar. A number of hospitals have moved completely away from stitching wounds and now glue them, I believe the military also uses glue on the battlefield.
Click to expand...

Actually super glue was first developed just for this purpose.

I'm not sure if it was during WW2 or the Vietman era. But it works great and definately stops bleeding quickly.
 
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