--11--

Down

The Equipment

Shelter

Pack

Sleeping

Cooking Water

SyntheticSleeping

pad

ExternalFrame

Internal Frame Rain Layers Gortex

1-person

2-person

old-school high-tech

Clothing

hammock

--22--

Trail etiquette Hike together, no straggler, no gazelles Leaving your pack on the trail for bio-break Whistle codes Other hikers on the trail GPS, cell phones, MP3s, 2way radios, cameras

On the trail Streams unbuckle pack, shoes on Downed trees over/ under Switchbacks, no shortcuts Everyone waits at trail

intersections to regroup Following blazes on trails

Single blaze vs. double blaze What is a cairn?

The Hike

--33--

Choosing a campsite Tent location (look up ,look down, check wind direction ) Food safety Water collection Dry base layer when you get into camp Cooking and eating together Campfire and candles Campsite decision making Tall Tales Poop shovel Turning in Hygiene Rise and shine on time LEAVE NO TRACE!

The Campsite

--44--

The FoodWhat to take

Plan for 4 meals on typical weekend trip Need about 2 pounds of dry food per person per day Key to enjoying backpacking food is variety, not expense Stick to real food, shed excessive packaging

Water 2 liters or more a day consumption on average Sports drinks, tang, dried milk, tea, coffee, hot chocolate No waste! “No draining” recipes better

Lessons learned The trail is no place for a diet, or no place to go to lose

weight intentionally You will sleep better in cold weather after a full meal Stay hydrated Cleanup and hygiene are important and require planning

Breakfast Lunch Dinner• Oatmeal• Granola Bars, many variants on

these - avoid "soft and chewy" type

• Nutra Grain Bars (or equivalent)• Raisins or other dried or

dehydrated fruits and nuts• Cereals - may require

dehydrated milk• Coffee ( stick with instant )

• Crackers • Peanut Butter• Jelly• Non-refrigeration cheese• Beef Jerky (or equivalent)• Gorp (or equivalent )• Tuna kits, Bagels• Nuts (Cashews, peanuts, etc. - bulk

- not individual packets)• Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin, Fig Bars,

or other dry fruit type cookies

•Freeze dried – no cleanup needed•Backpacking recipes •Ramen Noodles, Cup-o-Noodles •Lipton Rice Dinners •Pasta - smaller the better•Couscous •Tuna and Salmon in pouches•Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin •Instant pudding•Spice kits•Hot Sauces, Soy sauces, etc