So I'm not exactly an expert on this, but on at least every trip, someone looks at my stuff and says, "wow, I need to get me that". I even convinced the cheap-o Ted to invest. So, here are some tips.
1. Nylons. Yup, when I travel I have 0% cotton clothing. This is more true for humid areas, but they also assist in dry places and cold places. Nylons wick moisture and dry fast. This means a couple things. It means it'll keep you cooler by breathing and can actually dry in the humidity. You can take less clothing since you can wash each night and have them dry by morning. In cold weather, they take the sweat away so you don't get chilly when you stop moving. They pack smaller and in general stain less. Another good alternative is merino wool. Get an ultra thin version - these also retain less stink. I have one from several different companies. Let me know if you want my opinion.
2. No Jeans. Worst idea ever in any situation unless you're in air conditioned places or weather like SF.
3. Socks. Dude, they take up space and every country sells them for super cheap. So unless you know you need them....
4. compression sack. Waterproof if you can. I prefer the Sea to Summit eVent compression dry bag. What a great way to save space.
5. Hiking backpack. Unless the furthest you have to go is from the bus to the hotel, this makes life way easier. What to look for? You'll probably want a minimum of a 50L if you pack super light for up to several weeks and up to an 85L if you pack lots and are taking your life with you. A zip that opens it up is better than a top-loader. You can get one with a detachable day bag, but I'd carry it on your chest just to be safe. Remember to take a roll of tape to wrap it up to check in for the flight.
6. Shoes. The key is multi use. I like to take the strapped sandals. I can use them to walk around, shower, not have to worry about wet socks, rafting and the like. The second pair is usually a waterproof light-hiking shoe which lets me hike, jog, walk around with my feet dry.
7. Rain gear. Lots of times, I just don't care. But if you do, get some packlight gear. It's relatively cheap, gets real small so you can take it anywhere and is reasonably breathable. eVent is a more expensive but better alternative. Gore Tex Pro is bulkier and stiffer but just as light, more breathable and invincible.
8. Sleeping bag liner. It's small, gives a little warmth and you can be sure of it's cleanliness. You can get them in cotton, silk, fleece or other synthetic stuff.
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Pre-backpacking
So, some of my friends and others have asked what I take hiking. Well, I can take pictures of my gear later, but here are some quick tips.
1. NO COTTON. It's heavy, doesn't dry well, isn't weatherproof, isn't warm... it's your enemy. The only use for cotton is a bandanna maybe.
2. Weight matters. For a 4-5 day trip you should be looking at 40-50lbs. In alpine conditions, you really should have a max of 40lbs. For mountaineering or comfort camping, you'll need more, but you should talk to an expert about that.
3. Don't fall in love with brands. A lot of companies make gear. Sometimes, they don't get it right so go to a store and play with everything. Also, the most expensive isn't always the best, but it kinda is. Sure your Northface jacket looks great but everyone knows you're serious when you bust out the Arc'teryx Alpha SV.
4. Start small. Normal hiking will be 10mi on mild terrain with a 35-45lbs pack. 15mi tops, 5mi if strenuous. Try car camping with your gear or maybe 5mi.
5. Do with less. I stress this again because weight is critical. I'm not an ultralight backpacker (they cut the tags off their shirts, trim shoe laces, etc...) but a light pack is the key to enjoying a multi-day excursion. You just have to know what is and is not necessary equipment.
1. NO COTTON. It's heavy, doesn't dry well, isn't weatherproof, isn't warm... it's your enemy. The only use for cotton is a bandanna maybe.
2. Weight matters. For a 4-5 day trip you should be looking at 40-50lbs. In alpine conditions, you really should have a max of 40lbs. For mountaineering or comfort camping, you'll need more, but you should talk to an expert about that.
3. Don't fall in love with brands. A lot of companies make gear. Sometimes, they don't get it right so go to a store and play with everything. Also, the most expensive isn't always the best, but it kinda is. Sure your Northface jacket looks great but everyone knows you're serious when you bust out the Arc'teryx Alpha SV.
4. Start small. Normal hiking will be 10mi on mild terrain with a 35-45lbs pack. 15mi tops, 5mi if strenuous. Try car camping with your gear or maybe 5mi.
5. Do with less. I stress this again because weight is critical. I'm not an ultralight backpacker (they cut the tags off their shirts, trim shoe laces, etc...) but a light pack is the key to enjoying a multi-day excursion. You just have to know what is and is not necessary equipment.
Skyline to the Sea
Ah, the first adventure of the 2011 summer season. This trail starts off at Castle Rock (junction of 9 and 35) and curves down into Big Basin state park and ends at Wadell beach. There's a lot to say but since I already put a few pictures on Facebook, I'll say what I liked.
Castle Rock is great. It covers a damp, dark, oak woodlands and runs over to the ridgeline chaparral. If you take the southward loop, you'll soon run into these giant boulders covered in moss. They remind of slumbering giants waiting to be awakened to take revenge on the world.... right. So this is a pretty good bouldering spot. If you travel on the trails, there's actually be spots that you can top-rope. There are waterfalls and by far the view from the ridge is the best of the trip.
NORMAL people stop after about 10mi. We (and by that I mean JohnE) wanted to save an extra day of work so we passed this point. Unfortunately Lane camp has no water. We took a detour to get water which was supposed to lengthen our trip by only 2mi. So instead of 3 miles downhill, we had 5 steep uphill. We barely beat out the sun, covering 22miles in 9 hours.
Laughably, we drank a lot of water in the last gasp. We probably had the same amount as if we came straight.
We ate SO much at night. And as usual, when tents say 4 people, they mean for Stephanie Park/Sharon Nam/Oompa Loompa sized people. Since it was too cold for bugs, I slept outside. Great choice since everyone inside woke up covered in "human dew" (David: Yeah, I noticed my sleeping bag was wet. Ed: Dude, it's just dew. Me: Yeah, HUMAN dew.) or condensation from people breathing.
The next part covers my most favorite places to hike - old second growth redwood forests. Gigantic trees, some that fall over the trail, fields of clovers spreading to the river. It just has an old feel to it. Sounds deaden here and makes you want to whisper as the trees stand as sentries in these ancient cathedrals. (by the way if you don't want to kill yourself, you can park for $10 and just start here).
17mi or so on day 2, we crawl to our car. We thought about going to be beach, but it would be an extra 2 miles. I drove there just to touch the water. It was awesome. The next trip might be a 7 day 50-60mil trail ending in Mt. Whitney.
Castle Rock is great. It covers a damp, dark, oak woodlands and runs over to the ridgeline chaparral. If you take the southward loop, you'll soon run into these giant boulders covered in moss. They remind of slumbering giants waiting to be awakened to take revenge on the world.... right. So this is a pretty good bouldering spot. If you travel on the trails, there's actually be spots that you can top-rope. There are waterfalls and by far the view from the ridge is the best of the trip.
NORMAL people stop after about 10mi. We (and by that I mean JohnE) wanted to save an extra day of work so we passed this point. Unfortunately Lane camp has no water. We took a detour to get water which was supposed to lengthen our trip by only 2mi. So instead of 3 miles downhill, we had 5 steep uphill. We barely beat out the sun, covering 22miles in 9 hours.
Laughably, we drank a lot of water in the last gasp. We probably had the same amount as if we came straight.
We ate SO much at night. And as usual, when tents say 4 people, they mean for Stephanie Park/Sharon Nam/Oompa Loompa sized people. Since it was too cold for bugs, I slept outside. Great choice since everyone inside woke up covered in "human dew" (David: Yeah, I noticed my sleeping bag was wet. Ed: Dude, it's just dew. Me: Yeah, HUMAN dew.) or condensation from people breathing.
The next part covers my most favorite places to hike - old second growth redwood forests. Gigantic trees, some that fall over the trail, fields of clovers spreading to the river. It just has an old feel to it. Sounds deaden here and makes you want to whisper as the trees stand as sentries in these ancient cathedrals. (by the way if you don't want to kill yourself, you can park for $10 and just start here).
17mi or so on day 2, we crawl to our car. We thought about going to be beach, but it would be an extra 2 miles. I drove there just to touch the water. It was awesome. The next trip might be a 7 day 50-60mil trail ending in Mt. Whitney.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)