Campers Info Source

One of the things you really want to avoid when backpacking is getting things inside your backpack wet or damp.  This can make for a very miserable trip, especially if your clothes or food get wet.  This brings us to Tip #9.  

Tip #9 – Always put at least six trash bags in your backpacking pack

Most everybody has trash bags in their home.  You can save yourself from a wet and dreary night if you simply follow the instructions below and put all of the camping gear you’d normally put into your backpack into a trash bag first.  The trash bag can serve as a lining to prevent your camping gear from getting wet.  You simply pack all of the items you would normally pack in your backpacking pack into the trash bag first.  This will ensure that no matter how wet and water proof… or lack of waterproofing your backpacking pack is on the outside, no amount of rain or snow will be able to penetrate the backpack AND the trash bags to get your food, clothing, cell phone, first aid kit and other camping gear wet.

1. Gather six trash bags.   Make sure your bags are big enough to fill your entire backpack and roll it up at the top.  The preferred color of the bag is orange but white or black trash bags will work as well.  White and orange bags will help you see items in the bottom of the bag a lot easier.  An orange trash bag can also be used to attract attention from searchers if you happen to get lost or injured.   If you do not have white or orange trash bags around the house, black ones will do the job just as well.
2. Once all of your camping gear is stored in the trash bag, cinch your backpack closed to protect all your gear from rain.

Listed below are just a few of the benefits of bringing six trash bags instead of just one.

• One trash bag should be used as your main lining to protect the camping gear stored inside your backpacking pack as described above.  Keeping your sleeping bag dry is one big benefit.
• A second trash bag can serve as a backup to the first one in case it gets torn
• A third bag can be used as an emergency pack rain cover
• A fouth trash bag can be used as an emergency rain suit
• A fifth bag can be used as a regular trash bag to avoid littering the wilderness 
• A sixth bag can be used as a gift to hand to a friend who may have forgotten to bring their bags or never thought about it. 

You have no idea how appreciative a friend can be when you help save them from a dreary trip or sleepless night.  Remember, The Joy is in the Journey.

At home, help is nearby.  But in the wilderness, help is a long way away.  A fish hook in your finger or a fall on slippery rocks while carrying a canoe or heavy pack can be a trip-ending event — or worse.  Remember, you can’t depend on cell phone coverage.  This is where Tip # 8 comes in.

Tip # 8 – Be careful out there and bring a First Aid Kit

Pack a good first-aid kit with your camping supplies in your backpack and know how to use it.  Also, wear your life jacket.   These may seem like common sense things to bring but many eople often do not bring them and regret it later.  Coleman has been in the camping business for many years and they have a n excellent first aid kit that contains all of the things you need in a handy package

Chinook Explorer First Aid Kit

called “Coleman Base Camp First Aid Kit”.

Another excellent first aid kit is one available from Adventure called “Adventure Medical Light and Fast Adventurer First Aid Kit”. These are both light enough for a day hike, comprehensive enough for a multiple days of  backpacking trips, are super organized, easy to use, and contain a long list of camping supplies to ease the pain of back country ailments and injuries.  Both of these safety kits provide sterile gauze sponges and adhesive bandages (band aids) which are essential camping supplies.

Also consider bringing an insect repellent.  If you bring a safety kit and some insect repellent on your next camping trip, you can be rest assured that when something unexpected happens, you’ll be ready.  Remember, the Joy is in the Journey so make your trip a joyful one and remember to take a safety kit and insect repellent with you on your next trip.

You may be in the best shape of your life and healthier than all your friends, but after a long day of hiking trails, bicycling, climbing hills and mountains, fishing, hunting or white water rafting, you’re going to be hungry.  You need your camping food to be  nutritious so it re-energizes you in minutes.  Generally speaking, most adults need about 2 lbs of food each day.  This brings us to Tip #7.

Tip #7 – Eat Well

When it comes to food, there’s a major difference between wilderness paddling and backpacking. You’re forced to go as light as possible when backpacking, which usually means freeze-dried chow.  Mountain House and AlpineAire both make some great freeze-dried food dishes you can carry in your backpack including spaghetti, chicken ala king, lazagna, and chile.  These are easy to make and don’t take long to prepare.  Simply add water and eat the meall right out of the packet.  Hot water is needed for hot meals.  You should also consider bringing some trail mix for snacks or after lunch.

If you prefer real food, pack a stick of butter, some salt and pepper packets, a couple of potatoes, some frozen hot dogs, brats, chicken or pork chops in a freezer bag in the bottom of your back pack and make sure you bring some tin foil and matches.  That’s all you really need to make a really great meal for you and friends.  When it’s time to eat, simply slice up the potatoes and wrap them in tin foil with 1/2 stick of butter.  Put the potatoes right in the middle of the camp fire for about 30 minutes.  Wrap the meat in tin foil and put it right in the middle of the fire as well.  Rotate the two tin foil packs a few times during the 30 minutes and Wa La.  Great, nutritious, energizing food.  Enjoy… and remember, “The Joy is in the Journey”.

Aluminum used to be the most common canoes used when traveling the water during a backpacking trip.   But they are now a rare beast because they are simply too heavy.  This brings us to Tip #6.

Tip # 6 – Get an inflatable canoe or kayak if you plan to travel on water during your backpacking trip.             

Inflatable canoes and kayaks are now the way to go.  Most people who hear about something inflatable immediately think of a balloon and popping or leaking.  Inflatable kayaks and canoes are extremely durable these days.  Sevlor, Intex and Kevlar all make some of the best canoes and kayaks and you won’t go wrong with any of them.   My preference is the Sea Eagle 12 Foot FoldCat Catamaran Pro Angler Package if you want something to use for fishing.   If you’re looking for something to take on a calm lake or in Class IV rapids, the Sea Eagle Explorer Kayak series offer lots of options and are very durable.  Many kayaks are built more like a dart than a bathtub, making them fast.  And ultra-light composite bent-shaft paddles have replaced the oar-like heavy wooden behemoths of yesterday.  Get a canoe or kay and remember, “The Joy is in the Journey”.

Backpacking trips normally fall into two categories.  Those where you set up a base camp, hike away from the base camp and return later in the day.  Or those where you stay over night and continue the next day.  Tip #4 applies to when you stay over night and continue backpacking the next day.

Tip #4 – Bring some essential camping tools.

Whether you are a novice or veteran backpacker; it’s a no brainer to remember to bring a sleeping bag and a tent with you if you are planning to spend the night somewhere.  But many forget to bring the few essential camping tools you’ll need.  You don’t want to bring anything bulky or to heavy.  Try to keep the weight of the camping tools under 5 lbs and consider bringing the camping tools below.

• a multi-function pocket knife (or Swiss army knife) – < 1 lb
• a folding shovel so you can dig a small fire pit – 2.5 lbs
• a small Camping Axe or Hatchet so you can chop wood for a campfire – 1.75 lbs

You’re headed to a wilderness area, not a four-star resort, and you’ve got to carry everything you bring when you go backpacking so I recommend you follow Tip #4.

Tip # 4 – Pack Light

Amateur backpackers often are easy to spot; they have their arms full of extraneous gear, like fishing rods, paddles, life jackets and tackle boxes.  If you are going canoeing, strap what you can into your canoe and get everything else into your backpacking packs.  You will be surprised how much you can fit in your backpacking pack if you give it some thought.  Listed below are some of the key items you want to consider putting in your backpacking pack.

• sleeping bag
• safety kit
• insect repellent
• sun glasses
• rope
• multi-function pocket knife
• folding shovel
• matches
• water
• dry set of clothes
• compass and/or GPS
• walkie Talkie/Cell Phone
• Dryer Lint to use for starting fires
• Condiment packages of salt, pepper and sugar
• a plastic fork
• a 1 liter Aquafina water bottle
• food (candy bars, sandwich, soup)
• Backpacking Tent 

I recommend getting the “Pocket Tent“.  It sleeps 2, is very lightweight, packs into carry bag for easy storage and can be set up in minutes.

Do you get thirsty in a hurry when hiking or exercising?  While paddling a canoe or Kayak, have you ever thought to yourself, there’s plenty of water to drink, right?  This brings us to Tip #3.

Tip #3 – Stay Hydrated.

Stay hydrated! You have probably heard from others that if you find yourself thirsty, you are already dehydrated so do not get to that point.  Fill your water bottles or bladders every chance you get so you are hydrated during those long trails.  This backpacking tip is the most important tip to remember because staying hydrated is more important than remembering to feed your belly.  Also, do not drink water directly from a lake, stream or river no matter how clean it looks.

I’ve been fishing and hunting on many lakes in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes and believe me, I’ve thought about drinking the water directly from the lake many times.  I swim in the lake and have accidentally swallowed water many times without getting sick so why can’t I drink it?

It’s because there is a risk that the water contains giardia, a parasite that causes severe diarrhea requiring medical treatment.   The decision is yours but I highly recommend you follow my recommendation and the Forest Service recommendation which is to filter, boil or chemically treat water before drinking.

A good alternative is to get a Hydration backpacking pack.  Simply put some water in your backpack and drink from the tube that extends outside of the backpacking pack.  This will help you stay hydrated and prevent the temptation to drink directly from the water in the lakes, streams and rivers.

Now that you’ve decided the location where you are going backpacking and you’ve made sure you have a site reserved and permission to navigate the territory, we recommend you follow Tip #2.

Tip #2 – Bring a GPS Device and/or a Compass

Study maps of the campground and the surrounding area before you go on your big backpacking trip.  Select routes you would like to explore.  Determine if you’re going to navigate the territory by just hiking or whether you will also be canoeing, biking, climbing, or four wheeling.  If you’re new to the area or traveling with kids, don’t try to go too far.  Remember, less-popular camp grounds usually mean you’ll see fewer people and have an easier time finding a campsite.  When choosing a route, consider your ability, and length of time you’ll be out.  Don’t over extend yourself and others; especially if you or any of your family and friends with you is new to backpacking.

One great way to learn the lay of the land is to get a Garmin 400I Inland Lake Topo GPS.  This GPS includes a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, SD card slot, color display, picture viewer and more.  Depending on the region of coverage you decide to get with the GPS, it  has built in maps of every hill and valley for your next great adventure,  includes terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points.  The TOPO maps are ideal for hiking, hunting, camping, cycling and communing with nature.

One of the things I like to do and that you might want to try is visiting the campground well in advance of your planned trip.  Scout the area and make decisions in advance about which areas you will be navigating 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  It’s funny how you see different things and think differently when your not rushed and excited.  Bring a camera and take pictures of the area in advance so you can refer back to them and share them with others later.  And don’t forget to bring your Garmin 400I Inland Lake Topo GPS with you.

If you can’t afford to buy a GPS device, always bring a compass.

I have lived most of my life and done most of my camping in Minnesota so my Top 10 tips for you are based on my experiences in Minnesota. However, I believe these tips apply to backpacking regardless of your preferred location.  This is the first in a 10 part series that will provide one backpacking tip every day for the next 10 days starting today (April 29, 2010).  Enjoy!!!

Tip #1 – Plan your trip in advance and get permission to backpack on the the desired property

The United States is packed with tons of great backpacking opportunities and locations where you can pitch your backpacking tent.  You can camp in the Smokey Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains or Colorado Rocky Mountains and never cover all the territory in your lifetime of hiking.  The same holds true for hiking the trails in Minnesota where pristine lakes, tall pine trees, rippling rivers and streams and the sound of a cackling pheasant or the haunting call of a loon are bountiful. 

All of these areas are available to you but you should always check ahead to make sure you have permission to backpack in the desired area.  Some wilderness areas or national forests may require a permit.  You may have to reserve a campsite or pay a small fee depending on where you are going.  Don’t be caught off guard and not be prepared.  There is nothing more depressing than arriving at your final destination and learning you can’t do what you wanted to do.

Make sure the location where you are going to camp has available sites for you to pitch your backpacking tent.  If you are going with friends, inquire as to whether or not the campgrounds allows two tents on one site.  If you reserve your site in December or January for the following spring or summer, you are likely to get a good site.  However, if you wait until later than March, you may find the more popular campgrounds are filled up.