Beyond The Pavement

Backpacking season is right around the corner, and Chris Simmons would like to take a moment to remind you of all the stuff you won’t be needing when you head into the hills.

1. Mugs/cups. Everyone wants one, but these things are a pain to pack efficiently, are useless if they aren’t insulated, and weigh something if they are. More often than not, they don’t have a lid. A good compromise: Find a half-liter Nalgene bottle. It’s the perfect size for your morning coffee or evening tea, and with the lid screwed on, it can tuck into your jacket or sleeping bag, doubling as a hot-water warmer.
    
2. Pillows. Great for car camping, and inevitably inadequate for the backcountry. Most of the time, I drop all my extra stuff into my backpack and use it to prop up my head. I’ve also been known to use the climbing rope, or my boots.
    
3. Extra Clothes. You’re going out for a weekend—not climbing Mt Everest. Seriously, extra shirts, pants and underwear should be tossed out. It makes packing a ton easier, and eliminates the (perceived) need for #4. On a 21-day Denali expedition, I bring a single change of long underwear, which is only put on when we leave the 14,000-foot camp for the final summit push. I’ll bring an extra pair of socks per three days in the backcountry, maxing out at three pairs total.
    
4. 100 Stuff sacks/Ziploc bags. Does everything have to go in a bag? And then into another bag? And then into the backpack, which is a big bag all by itself? Seriously? Yes, it makes it more organized, but why are you carrying so much stuff that you need to be that organized? If it’s smaller than your hand, it goes in the lid. The hike or approach into the mountains is often hotter than the climb and time spent sitting around camp, so use your pants, jackets, hats, gloves and your share of the tent or shelter (but see #9) to stuff around the sleeping bag, stove, food and climbing gear.  Afraid it’s going to rain, and your pack isn’t water proof? See #5.
    
5. Pack Covers. The most clever —and useless—piece of equipment that the outdoor industry every convinced the public was necessary. Maybe it dates back to canvas packs. Your stove can get wet and still work. The tent is designed to get wet and still work. If you’re hiking in the rain, you’re probably wearing rain gear, so you shouldn’t notice the difference between a wet backpack and dry one. Often these overpriced pieces of fabric are held on with just some elastic and a draw string, making them the 2nd most commonly blown-away item (in between trucker hats and poorly-anchored tents).  Worried about your sleeping bag getting wet?  A waterproof treated stuff sack, not necessarily dunk proof, will work 90 percent of the time, unless you’re in the Pacific Northwest. For the other 10 percent (or 30 percent in the PNW) of the time, simply line your pack with a plastic trash bag. Voila.

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