Tips and Tricks

There are a lot of different tricks that people have used over the ages to become better hikers and campers. Let me start by sharing some of the simple things every hiker or backpacker should know.

• When you step off the trail to let a horses pass, step down hill. Horses will usually dart uphill if they are spooked (O’Bannon, 2001, p.58).
  
  
• When carrying a pack carry the weight on your hips; NOT YOUR SHOLDERS! Many people have exhausted themselves needlessly by not doing this simple thing.
  
  
• When hiking/camping in the cold, your best way to stay warm and dry is to wear layers. This will also give you the ability to regulate your temperature by adding and shedding layers (O’Bannon, 2001, p.5).
  
  
• Another tip for the cold is to put on a hat. This is a very simple tip that will save you a lot of heart ache (O’Bannon, 2001, p.6).
  
  

Heaviness of pack

For those people who backpack you know that how you pack your pack makes all the difference. Professional backpackers make sure to keep the heavy stuff close to their spine in the middle of the pack (O’Bannon, 2001, p.15).

 

• Cotton is a terrible fabric for camping or backpacking. Cotton loses almost all of its insulating value when wet. Down is another material that loses all its insulating value when wet; however, down is also pound for pound one of the warmest things out there. Wool is heavy, but doesn’t lose its insulating value when wet. There are also synthetic materials that work great for camping and hiking; some even come close to down. Research the area you are going ahead of time and plan accordingly (O’Bannon, 2001, p.4).
  
  
• A simple trick that I like to use to keep my gear dry is to line my bag with a garbage bag. Even in the worst rain and snow my stuff always comes out dry, and, if you use a contractor garbage bag (available at hardware stores), it can double as a bear bag for bear country. 

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