Backpacking Information The Basics Paperwork! You MUST HAVE FILLED-OUT permission forms in order to go on any trip. Be sure to sign, and have your parents sign, on all signature lines! Be sure to fill out ALL Emergency Info on the form!! 1
Clothing In weather below 50 F, NO COTTON ALLOWED, except for underwear! (and even that s s not a good idea!) For walking: ALL noncotton: long sleeve t-shirt, t long-sleeve fleece, wind breaker, long pants, thin fleece pants 2 pairs of socks, gloves, hat. For sleeping: ALL noncotton: long underwear, stocking cap, 1 pair of socks. Footwear Boots are a requirement!! The boots must be broken in!! Sandals are great for camp backup, but not to wear on the trail with a pack. 2
You must have a comfortable backpack in order to attend the trips. Be sure you have it fitted to your torso!! Do not attempt to carry more than 30% of your body weight on your back!! Backpack Your pack must have a pack raincover, which cannot be a plastic garbage bag. Rain Gear 3
Tent You must have a BACKPACKING tent. Tents with full rain fly's and bathtub bottoms are best. You must have a ground tarp to protect the bottom of your tent! Seal the seams of the tent with a seam sealer!! Sleeping You must have a decent sleeping bag with non-cotton fill. Pick one that packs small enough to fit in your backpack! You must have a ground pad to sleep on - you cannot sleep on the ground in the winter!! 4
Sleeping Pads Closed-cell self-inflating pads are great, but heavy. Air pads are lighter and thicker. The lightest are foam pads. Sleeping attire! You should bring a stocking cap, long underwear set, and some non-cotton socks for sleeping. If you wear glasses, bring a case! 5
Water You will need to have/share a water purifier/filter. Iodine is a substitute but the filter/purifier is better. A bucket works well to get water for filtering, and putting out camp fires, as well as cleaning up. Filters must be carefully used, an inline filters save weight! 6
Water Keep track of hydration through the color of your urine, not your thirst! You must have capacity to carry at least 2 quarts of water, and on some trips, more. Stoves Bring a backpacking stove - either gas canister or liquid fuel. A liquid canister holds more btu s s than a gas canister. Never reach under a pot of boiling water to adjust the flame!! 7
Stoves and Mess Kits Try to share your stove to limit backpack weight!! Keep your stove clean, especially the fuel lines!! You will need a mess kit to cook with, at least a small pot and spoon. Camera Bring some type of lightweight camera to capture your friends and scenery in print! Bring extra batteries and flash cards! 8
Navigation/Safety You must have a map and compass to attend any trip. You must know where you are at all times!! You must have a whistle for emergency purposes!! GPS GPS units are great for navigation backup. Bring extra batteries! You must have map and compass! 9
Toiletries You will need a trowel and toilet paper for bathroom use in the outdoors. Be sure to double bag the toilet paper - it doesn t t work when wet. You will need to dig a cathole at least 6 6 deep to deposit wastes. You may burn your toilet paper in the cathole, and then cover up with the dug soil. Hygiene Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean up your teeth! Biodegradable soap and a small wash rag are required for cleaning up your face. For long trips, deodorant is a MUST! Hand sanitizer/wipes are a good idea to keep your hands sterile!! 10
First Aid You must bring a small first aid kit consisting of 5-105 bandages, 4 squares of gauze, antibacterial ointment, and moleskin (blister treatment). Over-the the-counter medications are up to you. Ibuprofen, immodium,, and antacid tablets are IMPORTANT! Prescription medications MUST be accompanied by a written note describing the frequency and dosage of the drug, and signed by a parent. Poison Ivy If you are allergic to poison ivy, you MUST learn how to identify it. Never touch hairy vines. The leaves are divided into 3 leaflets. Bring tecnu if you are highly allergic! 11
Rain Gear You must have a nylon/nonplastic poncho or rainjacket. Gaiters are required to keep your legs/boots dry. Gaiters Gaiters are sleeves that cover the ankles and keep dirt, snow, and water out of your boots. Bring a set! 12
Extra clothes. One extra pair of underwear and socks are essential. Clothes can be washed on the trail, using the bucket (inside-out) and biodegradable soap. A windbreaker is also important. We will often set up camp in complete darkness and you must be prepared. If there is any question about batteries, bring extra!! Light You must have a headlamp to attend the trips. 13
Eye/Skin Protection Bring sunscreen if you burn easily. Lip balm is essential for dry winter/high altitude trips. Be sure it has sunscreen in it. Bug spray and sunglasses are also helpful. Smaller Items A knife, 2 ropes (one for pack and another for food), safety whistle, small backup light, multitool,, and wallet - pack small! 14
If you decide to dayhike after camp setup, you must follow the buddy rule. If you go anywhere, you must have a minimum of one other hiker with you. Under NO circumstances is this rule violated. Buddy Rule We can have ground fires in the wilderness areas, but often not in state parks. Everyone is responsible for bringing some fire starter!! Fire 15
Food NO CANNED FOOD, NO EXCEPTIONS! Breakfast: oatmeal, cream of wheat, dry cerearl Lunch: rice/mashed potatoes Dinner: Packaged tuna, albacore, chicken, or beef jerkey are good protein sources with a pasta/rice side are great. Powerbars are great for snacks with all meals. Food Bags and Packs You MUST bring rope (50 ) ) to hang your food. It is also HIGHLY recommended that you hang your pack! 16
Sharing Large should be broken down into tenting groups. Shared items within a tenting group can include: tent, water filter, stove, fuel, sanitation trowel, rope, fire equipment, gps, multitool,, bucket. Sharing saves weight!! Clothing on your Back ALL NON-COTTON!! Zip-off pants are far superior to ordinary long pants. A hat is MANDATORY! It must cover FACE and EARS! Shirt and underwear should be non-cotton. Socks (and liners) must be wool or a non-cotton blend. A fleece (non-cotton) is mandatory! 17
Other Equipment A bandana (cotton) is a great idea for wiping off sweat, shading the neck, and helping to keep cool. Trekking poles take shock off of the knees and help with balance. Packing List: General Topo maps, compass, whistle, extra water jug (car), flashlight + extra batteries, garbage bag, camera, film/cards, knife, lighter/striker tool, backpack, backpack rain cover, walking stick/hiking poles, mesh bags/stuff sacs, binoculars, multitool 18
Packing List: First Aid, Lodging Sunscreen, aspirin/ibuprofen, lip balm, 10 bandaids, 5 gauze pads, moleskin, neosporin, blister kit, gauze pads Tent, ground tarp, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, rope (hang pack), pillow Packing List: Dining Stove + matches/lighter, stove fuel, mess kit with pots & pans, measuring cup, water bottles, water purifier and/or iodine, water bucket (collapsible - for water purification) Bring enough stove fuel for the week!! 19
Packing List: Food Breakfast: Bagels, oatmeal, cream of wheat, poptarts, raisins or dried fruit, vitamins Lunch/Supper: ramen, mashed potatoes, rice, vegetables, soup mixes, pasta mixes, nutrigrain bars, power bars, chicken, tuna, or albacore, power bars, cookies, etc Mountain House, Natural High, Backpacker s s Pantry meals are premade and ready to go (but expensive!) Sugar is great for making anything edible!! Packing List: Food Issues Students should bring money or food to eat while on the road. Students should bring food for the trail. ABSOLUTELY NO CANNED FOOD ALLOWED, NO EXCEPTIONS!! 20
Packing List: Clothing Boots, nylon/polypropylene outerwear (non- cotton) including shirt, pants, socks, fleece/jacket; thin fleece pants, hats, sunglasses, spare underwear, socks, spare shirt, pants, gloves, raincoat, gaiters, pajamas (long underwear, socks, stocking cap, thin fleece), plastic bag - dry clothes Packing List: Hygiene Trail Hygiene: biodegradable soap, toothbrush & toothpaste, washcloth, rinse basin (folded plastic bag), toilet paper & trowel, hand sanitizer 21
Equipment: Sharing/NonSharing Not Shared: sleeping bag, backpack, first aid kit, whistle, map, compass Shared: Tent, ground tarp, stove + matches + stove fuel, water purifier/filter + iodine, odds and ends Leave No Trace Campfires are allowed in many places in Missouri. All trash must be packed out. No washing in the creeks!! Basins must be used to wash dishes/clothes. All bodily waste must be deposited at least 200 from all water sources!! We must leave what we find - photos and memories are all we bring back!! 22
A Final Note Pack as light as you can, share as much as you can, and have a great time! 23