28 votes

Backpacking Through Rain

Don't get wet! No I'm not being facetious, I hike through the rain forests of BC all the time, I've spent days in a row in solid rain while backpacking and setting up camp. Getting wet up here can ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.3k
21 votes
Accepted

Are there any general rules of thumb for route finding up a mountain without any trails?

I'll try to give a fairly generic answer to this broad question... Avoid Dangers This is obvious really, but first and foremost you'll want to avoid any kind of routes which lead you close to ...
fgysin's user avatar
  • 12.6k
20 votes
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How to trick my body/stomach into thinking I'm full?

I've used a few methods for this (being a larger guy who would backpack with smaller individuals). The biggest thing I've learned is that the mental aspect matters as much as the nutrition. Here's the ...
David R.'s user avatar
  • 539
18 votes
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Effective way to carry a sleeping mattress with rucksack?

I think having it vertically using side compression straps or bungees on the rear of the bag effects movement the least (ie not getting caught on stuff). As Kate Gregory mentions the pads are really ...
aaaaargZombies's user avatar
16 votes

Effective way to carry a sleeping mattress with rucksack?

A rolled up sleeping pad is generally pretty lightweight, meaning the "you could misbalance your pack and strain your back" concern is probably one you can ignore. People try not put them inside ...
Kate Gregory's user avatar
15 votes
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How to prepare on hiking routes?

The answers you seek are not easily quantifiable - for instance, a very fit experienced hiker might walk 50+ km a day on flat, open (i.e. not brush covered) terrain, but might only do 5-10 (or less) ...
bob1's user avatar
  • 9,050
14 votes

How to trick my body/stomach into thinking I'm full?

There is a saying in cycling that the best post-ride meal is "a bottle of (sparkling) water and a couple of sleeping pills. You need to loose some weight." While not very healthy, the point ...
Max's user avatar
  • 1,053
13 votes

Backpacking Through Rain

TL;DR: Bring a set of clothes that are comfy-when-wet and expect to spend a lot of time in them. Keep a set of dry clothes for in-the-tent-only use. Don't ever let your wet clothes come into contact ...
Mike Ounsworth's user avatar
13 votes
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How to plan a day hike

It depends on your destination. In general I would think of: Preparation organise one or more detailed map(s) of the area to go to check the weather forecast organise your way to your destination ...
Arsak's user avatar
  • 296
12 votes

Are there any general rules of thumb for route finding up a mountain without any trails?

You will likely find topo maps as the best starting point. Find a route that avoids impassible features, like cliffs or high rivers, and sticks to easier terrain like snowfields (depending on the ...
hornj's user avatar
  • 221
11 votes

Backpacking Through Rain

My two concerns for trekking in wet weather are safety and comfort. The safety issue here is primarily hypothermia, which can be a real risk even in the upper 40s or lower 50s (F), if you're wet ...
Patrick N's user avatar
  • 698
11 votes
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Why is freeze-dried food not much more popular?

The answer is that it is very expensive to make compared to other forms of preservation, especially in the home. Canning can be done at home with nothing more than jars, lids, water and an oven. ...
bob1's user avatar
  • 9,050
10 votes

How can I be sure that I'm ready to do the Three Peaks Challenge?

I have a few colleagues who have done this, and one team who did it with a colleague in a wheelchair. They are all reasonably fit, but the day job is desk-based, so if you have managed Kili easily, ...
Rory Alsop's user avatar
  • 24.7k
10 votes

How to design a semi-permanent campsite for short trips into the woods that won't attract vandals when we're not there?

What to sleep in? Any building will be inviting vandals, so I would just level out a part of the plot with easy access for your car or a camper van. Instead of having a building you can bring a tent ...
Willeke's user avatar
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10 votes
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I am torn between axe or hatchet, what would you recommend?

Personally, I usually take neither. Instead, I bring a sturdy knife and a saw. The knife wouldn't be replaced by hatchet or axe: it is anyways needed for cooking and it is at least as good as a ...
cbeleites unhappy with SX's user avatar
9 votes

How can I keep my backpack safe?

Here is some useful advice from "How to keep your backpack safe", an article on StartBackpacking.com. It's aimed at backpacking travellers rather than hikers, but some of the advice is still ...
RV Park's user avatar
  • 481
9 votes

How can I keep my backpack safe?

I use a pac safe metal mesh for my plane travel as my pack is a camping pack not a travel pack with lockable pockets. http://www.blessthisstuff.com/stuff/wear/bags-luggage/bag-protector-by-pacsafe/ ...
Warwick Foster's user avatar
8 votes
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Avoiding 4WD-areas in Iceland

Iceland has some of the remotest landscapes in Europe and its not difficult to find solitude and choose a hiking route where there are neither vehicles nor people if you so wish. With a population of ...
Atticus's user avatar
  • 96
8 votes

How to plan a day hike

As well as checking the weather forecast you should research the general weather conditions for the area you will be visiting, often conditions in hilly or mountainous areas can change quickly and ...
Chris Johns's user avatar
  • 6,202
8 votes

How to prepare on hiking routes?

Pretty much as per @Bob1. I would not start out on this GR without having experience (and good equipment) of camping 2-3 nights in a row minimum, several times. You should also be able to do a 15-...
Italian Philosophers 4 Monica's user avatar
8 votes

How to prepare on hiking routes?

We already have two good answers pointing out that you should start small. However, I would like to add another point--you also need to do shakedown hikes with the gear you actually will be carrying--...
Loren Pechtel's user avatar
7 votes

How to prevent chafing in my lower regions

Having suffered similar on a marathon I had to run in freezing rain once (ending up with not just large areas with the skin chafed off entirely, but also deep cuts into my thigh muscles from the ...
Rory Alsop's user avatar
  • 24.7k
7 votes

How can I keep my backpack safe?

If you are in a wooded area you can always hang your pack in a tree like you would to avoid bears eating your food at night. There are two advantages to this approach. The pack won't be messed with ...
Erik's user avatar
  • 9,638
7 votes

What temperature to prepare for on Everest base camp trek?

I would add that I did Jiri to EBC in Feb 1992 (the coldest time of year?) and found it to be cold (4 season sleeping bag) but manageable. I am just re-reading my diary from the time - and the ...
quetzalito's user avatar
7 votes

First time camping, need advice

After six years of asking this question, now I am answering my own question purely based on my experience and how I introduced myself and my family to camping. I see this is a very common question and ...
SeattleOrBayArea's user avatar
7 votes

Backpacking Through Rain

Backpacking in rain is pretty normal in Oregon—especially along the coast and in the western Cascades. No matter the time of year, it is usually not more than a week until the next rain shower (...
wallyk's user avatar
  • 1,329

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