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Show THE Wednesday, June 19, 1974 PARK CITY HIKING COALITION 19 Page PACKING FOR BACKPACKING by Jeri Ragland As with any other form of traveling, backpacking usually ends up to be overpacking. We all have the tendency to take along too much of one thing and not enough of another. For the outdoors, especially when backpacking, clothes should be protective, durable, comfortable, and adaptable. They should insulate you from the cold, keep you as dry as possible, prevent sunburn, insect bites, and protect you from the terrain, i.e., rocks, dirt, bushes, etc., as you travel along. As if this werent enough, clothes should also remain reasonably presentable with as little care as possible for the longest amount of time. No matter how you look at it and however conscientious you are, one major thing to realize is that you and your clothing will look like the basic dust rag when you arrive home from your trip. Ah, the cost of getting back to Mother Nature. Old clothes are fine, if they arent too weak to hold together under stress and strain. But the best thing to do, especially if you plan to take up backpacking as a serious investment, is to purchase some new garments which might serve you well for everyday use, but are especially meant for your trips into the hills. The clothing you choose should be adaptable to weather changes; always plan on the unexpected happening, because it usually does. At high elevations especially, you can be in the hot sun one minute and shivering in the shade the next. Days may be burning hot and nights freezing; I have a tendency to be a little radical about this and have been known to pack my bathing suit and thermal underwear in the same pack. Wind and rain come and go - we have walked into and out of storms along the same trail in the same afternoons hike. Violent weather changes can be counted upon and lives have been lost because the unknowing hiker wasnt prepared for the unexpected. Even though ounces count when packing, an extra pound of prevention is worth the weight. It is important to get the most out of your packed pounds, so here are some hints as to clothing for the trail . SOCKS: Wool is usually the best sock material - absorbent and with the unique quality of beihg warm when wet. Some woolen socks are reinforced with nylon at the heel; this type is alright, but aU nylon socks are and noted neither for warmth nor coolness. If you have a tendency to blister easily, try a light pair of stretch nylons next to the skin to decrease the friction between the feet and the regular socks. Ordinary cotton athletic socks are likely to be lumpy and clammy. There are some new pile of wick type materials on the market: They are like turkish towels on the inside and are verY absorbent; relatively warm ; and for those of you who are allergic to wool, are per-lefor comfort if they are a good fit. I had a problem with some socks and found them very uncomfortable and contubular wick-typ- e fining, so be sure that you fit the socks before you buy them. Sizes approximate those of mens dress socks. They must not pull at the toe or heel ; a little extra room is good - just be sure that they dont bunch. Take one set of extra socks for a weekend trip and two extra sets for a longer trip. Be sure that the socks you are packing are in good repair. Darned socks are known to produce damned sore feet, so if you have holes in your socks, its better to buy a new pair. Remember to wash or air out your socks every night on the trail - dean socks are a must when hiking. non-absorbe- nt ct CAMP SHOES: A luxury that footsore travelers wdcome is an old, lightweight pair of shoes or house slippers to wear around the campsite. These are luxury items, and sometimes you cannot allow for the extra weight in your pack; but if you can, we suggest moccasins, sneakers, or some old, lightweight house slippers. The extra time out of your boots lets your feet recuperate, and, at the same time, lets you air-dr- y your boots if they are wet. UNDERNEATH IT ALL: Wear the same underwear that you normally would. Two changes are usually plenty if you can wash the extra set out and have a dean set every morning. If cold nights are likdy, or if you are going into high devations, then youd best pack long underwear. Long. thermal underwear (wool) is lightweight, comfortable, and ; warm; Fishnet underwear provides insulation and allows perspiration to escape, but is not warm when it becomes wet. ' ON TOP: Shorts and a T-sh- irt are good for warm-weath- er hiking and for getting a tan. They are also good for getting a burn, so actually, a ! long-sleeve- d, i l a lightweight shirt and long pants are best. ji,T If you are a sun worshipper, forget the last statement. I think itss a good idea to pack both shorts and long pants. Usually one pair of each is sufficient; however, if you are on an extended trip, best pack two pairs of long pants and one pair of shorts. Levis are good; cotton twill is better'. Along with the and perhaps a lightweight, Pendleton shirt is terrific. Very warm, variety, we think the when worn closed over a it can be opened up and worn as a lightweight jacket. Its comfortable even just by itself. Do look for material that doesnt show dirt, is relatively wrinkle-freand sturdy. Be sure that the dothing you purchase is super roomy in order for you to stride , bend, step, and generally crawl up the hills you will be surmounting. Pant seats are prone to wear out faster than other areas, so it is best h elbows and to patch these ahead. You might also knees, if you are hard on clothing normally. Pant legs should be long enough to cover boot tops in order to lessen grit in the shoes; cuffs are dirt catchers, and overlong cuffs on pants increase your crawling time. Fit your pants comfortably at the waist so you need not pack a belt, since the belt on the pack usually makes wearing another belt T-sh- irt long-sleev- ed all-wo- ol T-shi- rt, e, i pre-patc- SWEATERS & JACKETS: Perhaps the best investment you could make in the way of a jacket is the down sweater with the hood attachment. These cannot be beat for warmth, comfort, weight, and compactness when in the pack. Although they are expensive, they are wdl worth the investment. If you cannot afford a down sweater, a good, lightweight, water-repellejacket with a hood can be worn over a medium-to-heav- y weight woolen sweater, and this will provide good warmth and protection. Contrary to popular belief, sweat shirts are not that warm and are very bulky to pack. Down warm-up- s can be taken when you are expecting super cold conditions, but a friend of ours says his 100 per cent wool knickers worn with woolen knee socks are just as all-arou- nd nt warm as down gear. RAIN WEAR: I think rain gear is a must on every trip.- - It is so dis greeable to get wet, and your body loses a tremendous amount of heat when surface warmth is lost due Jo wet clothing. A plastic or coated nylon rain jacket weighs only a few ounces and can be a life saver (literally) on a rainy or misty trail. You can purchase a poncho that covers both the person and the pack he is carrying. Although we found these quite cumbersome, you can use the poncho as a groun-dsheand get two items for the price of one weight. It is essential that you have a poncho that covers your pack if the pack is not rainproof. If you dont have a poncho, be sure to tie your groundsheet over your pack in order to keep the contents dry. In really wet, cold, bushy areas or in those with high dewy morning grass, rain pants can be worn. et MITTENS AND CAPS: These take little space and are wonderful if needed. Mittens are warmer than finger gloves and should be woolen. A stocking cap is great to have if you are in cold weather, or if your ' sleeping bag cannot be pulled tightly around your head at night. HATS: If you have a tendency to heat prostrations, PLEASE pack a lightweight hat with a brim, to keep the sun off your head and neck. An old , soft, felt hat can be kept rolled in a pocket until needed. BANDANAS: These can double as washcloths, face moppers, belts, bandages, and have numerous other handy uses. We usually carry two apiece; they also add a little dash to the generally drab clothing that backpacking requires. The most important word in backpacking is efficiency - pack the least amount that will be the most beneficial. Think about where you are going, the duration, and all possible unexpected weather changes. Be prepared and you will have a great time. I wonder if the Desolation Trail has ever been streaked? I |