Anyone here backpack?

[Wang]

My friends and I were looking into doing some backpacking, and I was wondering if anyone here was into that outdoorsy kinda stuff? It just seems like something kind of fun to do. Anyways, I had a couple of questions that I can hopefully get answered here, I should go look it up, but I'm too lazy, and would rather get help from ya'll helpful AO folk. So, here goes:

1. What do you bring to eat??
2. How much water does a person use a day?
3. Where's that water come from? (You carry it? filter it? what?)
4. Don't you think Spiderman is going to be a really cool movie?

[bond1313]

Spiderman will be a very cool movie.

[SlipknotX556]

What the hell is backpacking?

[Rocp15126]

1.Depending on how many days I'm out some examples are:
Mixed dried fruits/nut mix, Fresh Fruit, Ritz Crackers/Japanese Rice crackers,Gatorade powder, Kool-Aid, tea bags, Hersey's Chocolate Bar,Beef Jerky,Top Ramen/Instant Soup, Prepared Dinners- Backpacker Pantry,AlpineAire, etc


2.You normally lose about 2-3 quarts a day in regular activity. If you hike is particularly hard or the climate bad you will most likely lose more than that. You also need to factor in cooking water. I usually carry in about 2-2.5 total gallons with me depending on how the water sources in the area are, how long I'm going to be out and who I'm with.

3.Depending on how much: Carry water in canteen, camel back, a naglene bottle/jug or two. also I carry a handheld water filter/container. ( pure water filter) I have some purification tablets but have never had to use them.

4.Spidey Rules! I can't wait for May 3!

[SlipknotX556]

Spider man is gonna rule!

[personman]

Originally posted by SlipknotX556
What the hell is backpacking?

Haha, lol.. your kidding right?
My dad brings everything in the world when he goes.

[synreal]

<b>1. What do you bring to eat??</b>
It depends on the length of your trek, if you are planning a simple overnighter you can stick to most any foods that aren't easily perishable (peanut butter, fruit, grains, GORP (your new best friend)

if you are planning something a bit longer you are going to want to stick to foods that are a) dried (water = heavy) b) high in carbs and complex sugars and c) easily cooked over a small flame. rice, ramen, oatmeal (with dried fruit), freeze dried trail meals, etc...

<b>2. How much water does a person use a day?</b>
obviously it depends on where you plan on backpacking and what the temperature will be when you are there. for moderate climates, i average about 3.5-4 quarts per day, but when i hike i tend to keep a more aggressive pace than most. 2-3 quarts should be sufficient for most at a leisurely pace.

<b>3. Where's that water come from? (You carry it? filter it? what?)</b>
once again, this depends on how long you plan to be out on the trail. i promise you though that carrying all of the water you may need for a 3 day trek with you is a bad idea.

no matter how long you <b>plan</b> to be in the woods, take some method of producing water in an emergency situation (iodine, micro-filter, pot to boil in). i've have excellent results from this <a href="http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&dept%5Fid=5545&pf%5Fid=PMMPIH ABFJDGMANJ" target="_blank">filter</a>

if neither yourself or any of your friends have gone backpacking before, you may want to try to hook up with an experience trekker for your first time out, or at the least go to the library and read up and hiking safety, orienteering, basic field first aid and basic survival skills.

take some basic precautions and backpacking can be a very rewarding experience. bring a first aid kit, take only memories and photos, leave only footprints and you'll do just fine.

<b>4. Don't you think Spiderman is going to be a really cool movie?</b>
i'm hoping for the best...

[personman]

Ok, first of all, NO RAMEN NOODLES! They may be extremely light, but they have no nutrition. Look into freeze dryed food, you can get it at REI/Gallyans/pretty much anywhere else. All of my scout troop will recommend Chili mac with beef, and I think the recommended brand is like Mountian House(lol, im dumb, is that a coffee brand?), or something like that. Dont get anything that looks too good to be freeze dryed.. because usually it is. Also, if you dont plan on sharing meals, get the smaller servings, and get a few so you dont go hungry. Bring a pot that can boil water, in large quantities, and some HARD plastic cups that can withstand high tempatures. Even if its gonna be hot, bring hot chocolate. As for water, I bring 2 or so bottles for drinking, and a filter for filtering. Filter the water into an empty bottle, and your replenished. You might need 4 though... Im just dumb enough to think I need water, but I really do. I almost forgot power bars. Some taste bad, some dont. My fave are the Balence Bars, but my mom seems to like the cliff bars.. buy some and try them. Narrow it down to brand, then flavor. I use these to snack on while I hike.
lol, Im not meaning to create a compleate guide to backpacking, but Im just listing everything you should know.
The water purifing tablets are supposed to work, but I wouldnt trust my life to them. Go ahead and get a nice small water purifier. May cost money, but it turns brown water clear. (even if its not clear, I would filter it one more time and drink it. You cant expect crystal clear, and just because it isnt, doesnt mean its not safe to drink. BOILING WATER! It will do everything that a filter could do, and maby better. Just scoop up water, and slap it on the stove (dont forget the pot, mind) Just to be safe, I would wait 2 mins after it starts boiling, but its up to you. Dont be afriad if you see little specks of stuff in the water, and you might have scooped up a little sand so the water might be a little gritty, but it quenches your thirst. There are some really nice stoves on the market right now. I think my troop prefers the gas rather than liquid. All the stoves I have used have cought on fire, so dont be freaked if it happens. Clear an area thats brush free just in case, and set the stove on level ground. Dont run around chasing your friend with a burning stove because he farted. Not smart. As for backpacks, try them on, get used to them. I know some backpacking stores have sandbags/wieghts they put in your pack to wiegh it down while you try it on. I think in backpacking, your only supposed to carry like 1/4 of your wieght. So, all this stuff will fill you up. Dont get a really hevy sleeping bag or tent, just get a backpacking one. If you are sharing the tent, then make your friend carry the tent, and you take the poles, ect. Go ahead and get a relitivally nice tent, and dont forget to use seam sealer on it before you take it out into the woods. Chances are its gonna rain (it always seems to rain when I go camping) so bring some rain gear. If you guys have extra space in your pack, bring some rope and a tarp to either hang over your tent, or make a shaded/rain free area. I wouldnt recommend sleeping under the stars if its supposed to rain. But it is nice doing it when it doesnt. Dont get a hugeass flashlight, get a small maglight. You can hold it in your teeth while your digging in your backpack looking for something. Go ahead and buy a mess kit, and bring a couple plastic spoons and forks. Bring some trash bags, and big zip locks. PUT ALL YOUR CLOTHES AND SLEEPING BAGS IN ZIP LOCK/TRASH BAGS. If they get wet, your gonna be misrible. Take off your shoes before getting in the tent, or your gonna be even more misrible.
Get a nice knife, even if you think your not gonna need it. And I dont mean like a steak knife. Like a swiss army knife.
Plan your campout and look around in the backpacking store, for things you think you might need. Dont go over the wieght limit, or you will want to kill yourself. In fact, when your all packed up, go thru your bag and throw out everything you wont need. Underwieght is better than overwieght. Dont forget a map of the area and a compass. Always heed the trail markings. Bring a first aid kit. And if neccisary, make a bear bag. (put all your food in a bag and hang it from a tree so bears dont get to it) LMK If you need anymore advice. HAVE A SAFE AND FUN HIKE!

Adam

[personman]

Thats the same filter I have, BTW. I reccomend it.

[cphilip]

Yes..well... my backpacking is now confined to the immediate vacinity of my 26 foot Fleetwood Prowler Light...

Provisions? Several cases of Beer, Lots of ice, Firewood, chairs and tables, generator, Outdoor cookers, Propane, all magnatude of Meats and Sausages, fruits and Vegtables, chairs, linens, half my closet of clothes, snacks and pleasure foods maybe a bottle of wine or two...

How much water? 40 gallons in the fresh water tank and five in the frig.

Carry on my back? My shirt... maybe a coat or jacket. Gets too cold for a Jacket? I go inside and flip the switch on my central heat and the furnace automaticaly comes on...

Ain't it hell to get old?

[synreal]

please say that you don't have any astroturf mats or pink lawn flamingos that come "camping" with you

[cphilip]

Astroturf for sure! Well the cheap carpet grass stuff anyway. An old piece from Walmart to keep the dirt from tracking in.

No Flamingo's though....not my style...those Little Budweiser Frog party lights instead!

[synreal]

i think i'm gonna be ill

in the immortal words of monty python "Look, it's people like you what cause unrest."

[Wang]

Thanks for all the advice guys...

sooo, anyone got a nice water filter they wanna sell me cheap? or cphilip, how bout you hook me up with a couple cases of that beer?

[synreal]

you can pick up a new filter for about 40 bucks if you shop around, and since the cartridges have a limited life, i'd advise against grabbing a used one.

happy trails