Backpacking

Moore Family
of Arizona

Backpacking:

Despite my years in the Boy Scouts and solo hiking & camping I had never really backpacked much. back in my day the equipment was both basic & heavy - so you either slept under the stars or carried a heavy burden. Sleeping under the stars in England means being cold & wet most of the year... So I never did it much.

Fast forward to just a few years ago, Arizona is a fantastic place to sleep under the stars anyway - but backpacking equipment is also now widely available more reasonably priced and very lightweight - its possible to camp comfortably and carry everything with you... and I now have 2 good excuses to go at it once again!...

For a couple of examples of big backpacking trips - see my Trip Diaries for the 2007 Philmont Trek and the 2011 Philmont Trek

Gear:

Backpacking gear is very different from car camping gear though - so you do end up buying everything you already have over again and the lightest weight gear costs a lot more - so its only really worthwhile if you do a lot of backpacking ...

I have taken a particular interest in balancing comfort and function Vs weight. You get very interested in the value trade off after you've lugged equipment a long distance and especially when you carry something home after a 15 mile hike that you never even used. Still sometimes a little extra weight is worth it - like a lightweight camp stool or chair - so you don't have to sit on a cold rock!

I have come up with a few little development projects to simplify life in camp and on the trail. Mostly these are adaptations of things already available. I've also developed a few techniques and tips that really help - especially when hiking with kids - who sometimes need some extra motivation!

Backpack Weights (typical overnight trip) - 40lbs for me, 35lbs for Alex and <30lbs for Daniel

On a tough trip I'll take a little more and Daniel and Alex a little less (yes I am a good Dad!)

Tips:

Freeze food in advance whenever possible
Freeze dried or desiccated foods weigh a lot less than fresh
Freeze 1/2 the water in your container - so it will stay cold (desert tip)
Energizer Lithium cells are much lighter and last longer than alkaline cells! (cost more)
Carry a repair kit with extra shoe-laces, buckles, straps, wire, patches, zipties, sewing supplies etc

Granite Dells, Prescott, AZ

Wet Beaver Creek, Sedona, AZ