How does that backpack get so heavy? Thirty to 40 pounds for three or four days in the wilderness? Mostly it’s food and water (or fuel), the tent (or bivvy sack)-and canteen, pot, pan, cup and cookstove; and sleeping bag and sleeping mat; and toilet paper; and first-aid kit (Neosporin is a good antibiotic salve); a biodegradable soap and cleaning pad; and then there are the guidebooks and binoculars and rain poncho and extra clothes and towel and . . . it gets heavy quickly. The more you’re prepared to spend, the lighter your pack-starting with the pack itself. (Lighter-weight material usually costs more.)
A good pair of hiking boots is a must, but most of the time you don’t have to carry them on your back. A flimsy (i.e., lightweight) pair of tennis shoes as a backup (for walking streams and exploration) is a good idea.
While the mountain streams may look pure, they’re teaming with giardia, parasites that cause a painful intestinal disease. Most sporting goods stores sell water filter pumps ($25 and up). A backup pump is a good idea. When the pumps fail, you can boil your water (five to 10 minutes), but that requires fuel since open campfires are prohibited in more remote wilderness areas.
Nights and early mornings in the alpine and subalpine levels are cold, even in August. A down vest makes the trip confortable.
Between trips (mountains, rain forest, coastal hikes), a layover at a campsite or cabin will give you a needed break for showers and laundermats or more film.
As for food, we relied mostly on rice raymen noodles, granolas, cheese, hard sausage, nuts and dried fruit (cranberries, bananas, apricots); blueberries, black raspberries and salmon berries were also in abundance along the trails. Snacks are a must. We especially enjoyed yogurt-covered raisins and tea. The best meal of the day was morning pancakes, made from a highly coveted premixed recipe concocted by our son, Josh. The heavy ingredients were the small container of oil for frying and the honey jar.
The trip back is a little lighter, but not much. You must carry out your refuse-so bring a couple of small plastic bags.
The Chicago area has a number of excellent backpacking outfitters (see the Yellow Pages under “Camping Equipment”). Check with them before going on an extended trip. If you have the money, you’ll carry a lot less weight than we did.
