http://www.backpackinglight.com/ Latest news, views, and reviews about lightweight hiking and backpacking from BackpackingLight.com, the website of Backpacking Light Magazine. en Copyright 2001-2006 Beartooth Media, Inc. http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bplcomlogonew.gif http://www.backpackinglight.com BackpackingLight Magazine http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/seki_trouble.html <blockquote>Serious illness in remote areas can end poorly. Knowing your group's fitness level, experience, and lightweight ethic are key parts to a successful self-rescue and a happy ending.</blockquote> by <em>Kevin Sawchuk | 2009-06-30</em><br></br><p>The adventure started out well enough, four excited people out for an eighty-mile, four-day trip in Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park (SEKI). All of us had prior backpacking experience and were in good shape from running ultra-marathons. Our loop was to include dramatic high mountain cross country on the first northerly miles of the unofficial "Timberline Route." It would join and head south on the John Muir Trail with a final night's camp at Rae Lakes. On the final day we would cross Glen Pass and return to King's Canyon down Bubb's Creek. I was especially looking forward to the Rae Lakes camp. When I ran through Rae Lakes a month earlier, I enjoyed brief glimpses of evening colors on the steep headwall called the "Painted Lady" and was refreshed by the tranquil, moist, and cool evening air. But to finish the John Muir Trail in four days, I had to run on into the darkness of Wood's Creek and missed being part of that stillness and beauty. On this trip I promised to fully surrender to the evening I had missed at Rae Lakes. It was a promise I would not be able to keep.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> SEKI Fun</li> <li> Ounce of Prevention, Pound of Cure... Trite and True</li> <li> You Can Only Be SO Amazing</li> <li> Back to the SEKI</li> <li> Getting Out, Now That We're in Deep</li> <li> When "Light" Becomes "Life-Saving"</li> <li> The Magic of the Mountains</li> <li> First Aid: Ultralight Style</li> <li> Altitude Illnesses</li> <li> First Aid Kit: My 6.2 ounces of protection</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 3500<br> # PHOTOS: 8<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/seki-trouble-thumbnail.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/seki_trouble.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 30 Jun 2009 00:05:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/shangri_light.html <blockquote>On the Haute Route, a 21-pound pack is over-inflated. At sixty-two well-used years, I submitted myself to random weight checks to remain sub-twenty pounds and passed most of them. Making the formula feasible are the huts and hotels which always appear just when you've had enough.</blockquote> by <em>Barry Truman | 2009-06-30</em><br></br><p>On the Haute Route, a 21-pound pack is over-inflated. At sixty-two well-used years, I submitted myself to random weight checks to remain sub-twenty pounds and passed most of them. Making the formula feasible are the huts and hotels which always appear just when you've had enough.</p> <p>Must have in pack (my opinion): rain gear, apres-hike footwear, polypropylene shirt, warm hat, light gloves, snacks, sunglasses, sweater, long pants, band-aids, moleskin, other first-aid basics, sleeping sheet (if weight allows), water, map, paperback book, credit card, money, passport, extra socks, shorts, t-shirt. </p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Haute Route Facts</li> <li> At Least Say "Hello" <ul compact> <li> Greetings</li> <li> Goodbye</li> <li> Thank you</li> <li> Italian, if you venture further south:</li> </ul> <li> Resources for the Haute Route <ul compact> <li> Guides </li> <li> Maps</li> </ul> </ul> <p># WORDS: 3610<br> # PHOTOS: 19<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/shangri-light-thumbnail.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/shangri_light.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Places/Photo Essays/index.html'>Photo Essays</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Places/index.html'>Places</a> 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/philmont.html <blockquote>After taking a Wilderness Trekking course from Andrew Skurka and Don Wilson, I wanted to try the Philmont Scout Ranch in a UL style. By stepping out of my existing comfort zone, I discovered a whole new one.</blockquote> by <em>Doug Prosser | 2009-06-23</em><br></br><p>Have you ever been challenged, pushed a bit out of your comfort zone? Where the mind and body both start feeling a bit uncomfortable; where fear starts to raise its ugly head? Lightweight backpacking is all about dealing with your fears and pushing yourself out of your comfort zones, both mentally and physically, only to make you more comfortable in the long run!</p> <p>Freedom. You are ready and willing to try anything to push yourself even further than you thought possible. You are having a blast, because fear is the furthest thing from your mind. You are stretching yourself well beyond what you thought possible just a few short months ago (from your nice couch).</p> <p>I saw some of these changes within myself in 2008 while planning another Philmont Scout Ranch trek for that August. I've gone a number of times and am very familiar with what to expect there and figured this would be much the same. However, in late spring, Backpacking Light announced a new series of Wilderness Trekking School courses. I signed up for the Wilderness Trekking I (WTS-I) in the desert southwest during October. I was interested in learning new skills, since I had never hiked with other lightweight backpackers, and I wanted to see how Don Wilson and Andrew Skurka taught the course.</p> <p>Don Wilson was our primary instructor for the pre-hike planning via email, during which time I was also planning my Philmont gear list. Through a series of emails, I accepted a challenge from Don to go as light as I could at Philmont, which required me to scrap everything I was planning and to look again at every single gear choice. I got out my scale and weighed each piece of gear I was even remotely thinking of taking, then put all the weights into a spreadsheet. I then began comparing that spreadsheet to the gear lists of others, such as our other WTS-I instructor, Andrew Skurka and ones posted on BackpackingLight.com.</p> <p>I started looking at areas where others were much lighter than I, such as sleep systems, tents, rain gear, clothing, and what I call 'doodads' - those miscellaneous items that are really cool, but not quite necessary, that somehow find their way into a lot of packs. In short, almost everything! I was forced to change my thought processes and to face a number of my fears. Would I have enough food and water? Would I get wet? Be warm enough? Be too hot hiking? Be comfortable enough to sleep at night? With Don's help, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone of known gear items to make some big changes in my gear and clothing.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul> <li> Personal Equipment: Clothing</li> <li> Personal Equipment: Gear</li> <li> Personal Equipment: Sleep Systems</li> <li> Crew Equipment Issued at Philmont</li> <li> Equipment Provided by Your Crew</li> <li> Conclusion</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 8440<br> # PHOTOS: 13<br> # GEARLIST: 2<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/philmont-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/philmont.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 23 Jun 2009 00:05:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nb_mt1110gt_review.html <blockquote>Totally synthetic, good soles, and a XCR membrane for wet weather use, plus a range of width fittings including really wide. Very good under some winter conditions, but with a curious defect which limits their use.</blockquote> by <em>Roger Caffin | 2009-06-23</em><br></br><p>These shoes were worn by both the author and his wife in a winter snowshoe trip which went 'slightly off-course'. You can read all about the trip at When Things Go Wrong. While things did go rather wrong over all, the shoes did not. Both my wife and I had got them half a size too big - partly by accident, but this allowed us to wear two pairs of thick wool socks inside the shoes. That extra padding, plus the Gore-Tex lining and the Gore-Tex gaiters, meant we had nice warm feet every day of the trip.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Overview</li> <li> Field Testing - Locations</li> <li> Snow Use</li> <li> Three-Season Use</li> <li> River Walking</li> <li> Summary</li> <li>Specifications: Manufacturer:, Year/Model:, Manufacture:, Materials:, Last:, Size: - 6, Weight:, Colour:, MSRP:</li> <li> What's Good</li> <li> What's Not So Good</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 1400<br> # PHOTOS: 11<br> # TABLES: 1 </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/nb-mt1110gt-review-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nb_mt1110gt_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/tarptent_scarp2_tent.html <blockquote>Although the Scarp 2 incorporates several weight-saving and space-making design elements to create a friendly, roomy, well ventilated, and stable tent for two campers, these benefits do not come without compromise.</blockquote> by <em>Will Rietveld | 2009-06-16</em><br></br><p>Until recently, hikers looking for a really lightweight (around 3 pounds) two-person double-wall tent had to choose from a short list, namely the Big Sky International tents (Evolution, Convertible, Montana, and Revolution), Terra Nova Laser, and MSR Carbon Reflex 2. Selecting an ultralight double wall tent can be frustrating, because in order to cut weight, some manufacturers have made compromises in tent size, fabrics, features, and durability. The addition of the new (May 2009) Tarptent Scarp 2 may make the selection a little easier because it has two doors with vestibules, loads of interior room, good ventilation, value pricing, and it weighs just 3.25 pounds. Is the Scarp 2 the new standout in this category, or does it have some limitations of its own?</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li>Specifications: Year/Manufacturer/Model, Style, Included, Fabrics, Poles and Stakes, Floor Dimensions, Features, Packed Size, Total Weight, Trail Weight, Protected Area, Protected Area/Trail Weight Ratio, MSRP, Options</li> <li> Design and Features</li> <li> Performance</li> <li> Assessment</li> <li> What's Good</li> <li> What's Not So Good</li> <li> Recommendations for Improvement</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 3000<br> # PHOTOS: 9<br> # TABLES: 1 </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/tarptent-scarp2-tent-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/tarptent_scarp2_tent.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 16 Jun 2009 00:15:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/cordillera_blanca.html <blockquote>With dozens of peaks above 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet), Peru’s Cordillera Blanca range is one of the highest, most rugged sections of the Andes, and the most heavily glaciated of any mountains in the planet’s equatorial zone. It is a well-known mountain climbing destination, and hundreds of kilometers of hikeable trails have made the range increasingly popular among trekkers. </blockquote> by <em>Rick DeLong | 2009-06-16</em><br></br><p>If bought in advance with some flexibility of dates, plane tickets to Lima from U.S. airports can be relatively inexpensive. For instance, I was able to buy round-trip tickets from Detroit to Lima for December 2008 for $650 through travelocity.com. </p> <p>At their airport of departure, backpackers will need to check baggage containing trekking poles, gas stoves, knives, and other potentially hazardous items. I personally transport my trekking poles in a telescoping plastic poster tube, which has enough space in it for an assortment of other small items as well. If you spend a night before and after your trek in a backpacker-friendly hostel or hotel next to the Cordillera Blanca, you can usually arrange to store your protective container there for the duration of your hike. </p> <p>Visas are not required to enter Peru for tourist trips of up to ninety days. Upon leaving the country, however, you will pay a $30 departure tax directly at your airline's check-in desk (in dollars or Nuevo Sol). Aside from a simple immigration form, no paperwork is required for entry or exit. </p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Flying There</li> <li> Lima</li> <li> Getting to the Cordillera Blanca</li> <li> Huaraz</li> <li> When to Go</li> <li> Weather Considerations</li> <li> Acclimatization</li> <li> Food</li> <li> Fuel</li> <li> Regulations</li> <li> Crime</li> <li> Maps and Information</li> <li> Trails, Terrain, and Orienteering</li> <li> Selecting a Route</li> <li> Getting To and From the Trailhead</li> <li> Water</li> <li> Locals</li> <li> Livestock</li> <li> Shelter Choice and Site Selection</li> <li> Conclusion</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 4680<br> # PHOTOS: 10<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/cordillera-blanca-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/cordillera_blanca.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Places/Photo Essays/index.html'>Photo Essays</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Places/index.html'>Places</a> 16 Jun 2009 00:10:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nb875_review.html <blockquote>Totally synthetic, luggy soles, and a breathable draining upper, plus a range of width fittings including really wide (4E).</blockquote> by <em>Roger Caffin | 2009-06-16</em><br></br><p>The very low-cut Australian-made Dunlop KT-26 joggers, which I often wear when out walking, are very light (327 grams or 11.5 ounces each shoe) and have superb friction on rock. But, they have a very thin flexible sole as well, and in some country it is useful to have a shoe with a firmer sole and bigger lugs. For instance, slithering around on muddy farm trails in France (the cows had used the track as well...) proved a bit difficult as the light tread on the KTs just could not grip. The same problem happened on snow-covered granite scree. </p> <p>Where I run into a problem with so many brands of joggers is the width. I have wide feet - EEEE width in fact, and many brands only go up as far as EE. Actually, many well-known brands don't even tell you what the width is, which really irritates me. And if anything is going to give you sore feet at the end of the day, it is shoes which are just that bit too narrow for your feet. Yes, there are other factors as well, like the width of the heel and the height of the arch, but the width at the front of the shoe is what concerns me most of all.</p> <p>Fortunately, the New Balance company not only makes shoes in several different lasts, but also makes them in several different widths, and the company states the available widths on their web site. This is quite unlike so many other well-known shoe companies which give you no idea at all what the widths are. In addition, their SL1 last in an EEEE width suits me fine. So, I rather like the New Balance shoes. But please note: the last and width which suits me may not suit you: select your shoe fittings carefully.</p> <p>I recently reviewed the New Balance MT1110GT joggers and found that they may run just slightly larger than some other brands. For the MT1110GT shoes I tested in the winter, I had a US size 11 EEEE, and found that they were big enough for two pairs of socks. This was good in the snow. With another well-known brand the US 11 was only big enough for one pair of socks, but the width fitting is only an EE on those. For these MT875R shoes, I dropped back half a size, to US 10.5 EEEE, and wore them with one pair of Darn Tough Vermont 'Hike Trek Boot Sock Full Cushion' over a thin Gobi Wigwam nylon liner sock. This is a very reliable and quite popular combination among experienced walkers.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Overview</li> <li> Product Details</li> <li> Field Testing</li> <li>Specifications: Manufacturer:, Year/Model:, Manufacture:, Materials:, Last:, Size:, Weight:, Colour:, MSRP:</li> <li>What's Good</li> <li>What's Not So Good</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 1750<br> # PHOTOS: 6<br> # TABLES: 1 </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/nb875-review-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nb875_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 16 Jun 2009 00:05:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/packrafting_madison.html <blockquote>Stretches of the Madison River can be described as a "booze cruise," where innertube flotillas of relaxing college students and drift boats of fly-fishers fill the river. The Bear Trap canyon isn't one of those stretches, especially during spring snowmelt.</blockquote> by <em>Ryan Jordan | 2009-06-09</em><br></br><p>Finding pals who both <b>own</b> a packraft and <b>know how</b> to packraft is not easy business. Finding instructors who know how to teach packrafting to others is even harder. When I received RSVPs from seven outdoor educators (including a handful of accomplished packrafters) to join me on a packrafting trip down the Madison River so we could all learn to packraft from each other, I knew I was onto something pretty special. The deal was simple: there were no costs, no fees, and no pay; we'd teach each other, we'd probably swim, and we'd have a heckuva good time.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <p># WORDS: 1530<br> # PHOTOS: 28<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/packrafting-madison-thumb.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/packrafting_madison.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Places/Photo Essays/index.html'>Photo Essays</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Places/index.html'>Places</a> 09 Jun 2009 00:10:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/MYOG_down_quilt_bag.html <blockquote>Making a baffled down quilt is simple compared to making a baffled down sleeping bag. Both are described in this article, with the emphasis on the quilt.</blockquote> by <em>Roger Caffin | 2009-06-09</em><br></br><p>Making a baffled down quilt is simple compared to making a baffled down sleeping bag. Both are described in this article, with the emphasis on the quilt.</p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul> <li>Materials</li> <li>Basic Quilt Design</li> <li>Basic Sleeping Bag Design</li> <li>Cutting and Sewing</li> <li>Baffle Details</li> <li>Finishing the Zip</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 11500<br> # PHOTOS: 24<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/MYOG-down-quilt-bag-thumbna.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/MYOG_down_quilt_bag.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Make Your Own Gear/index.html'>Make Your Own Gear</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 09 Jun 2009 00:05:00 MST http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selling_ul.html <blockquote>The interactions between retailer and consumer can have a dramatic influence on the gear carried and experience had by a consumer. We examine the tools both retailers and consumers can use in evaluating gear and determining the best lightweight options for individuals.</blockquote> by <em>Brad Groves | 2009-06-09</em><br></br><p>The interactions between retailer and consumer can have a dramatic influence on the gear carried and experience had by a consumer. We examine the tools both retailers and consumers can use in evaluating gear and determining the best lightweight options for individuals.</p> <p>At some point, when people decide they'd like to give backpacking a try, they generally head to their local shop to get outfitted. Because specialty outdoor retailers are the front line in consumer education, it makes sense that retailers first need to fully understand ultralight philosophies themselves for the greater public to develop an ultralight consciousness.</p> <p>Sales are based in no small part on familiarity. If we assume that a novice backpacker has a passing familiarity with traditional backpacking, then we know what kind of expectations they have when they go looking for gear. And frankly, most of them expect to be pack mules! I think it is important for retailers (and their consumers) to realize just how much impact a retailer can have on a person's limited vacation time. Proper guidance in gear selection can really help make or break someone's trip. </p> <p>ARTICLE OUTLINE</p> <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> The UL Soft Sell</li> <li> For the Visual Learners</li> <li> Comfort, Safety, and Cost</li> <li> Think of Ounces in Terms of Pounds</li> <li> One Piece at a Time</li> <li> No One is Always Right</li> </ul> <p># WORDS: 2800<br> # PHOTOS: 5<br> </p> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/selling-ul-thumbnail.jpg' align='right'></br><br><img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selling_ul.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a></br>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &amp;gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MST