Spring 2017
NEW MEXICO
BACKCOUNTRY
EXPERIENCES
BACKPACKING GUIDE FOR THE
LESS TRAVELED TRAILS
Seek out the Less Traveled Trails of New Mexico! |by Brian Johnson, Owner
& Chief Guide
Copyright © 2017, Brian K. Johnson. All rights reserved.
Brian Johnson
505-490-7033
[email protected]
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Less Traveled Trails, LLC
Santa Fe, NM
Backpacking Guide for the Less Traveled Trails
Brian Johnson
2017
1. Weight – pack light, be light
The Purpose of Evaluating Pack Weight
Reducing your pack weight opens up the
camping experience to more enjoyment
because you can:
 feel better physically;
 feel better mentally;
 really see, hear, and feel the
wilderness you are in;
 hike farther if you want to;
 experience new wilderness areas;
 take a favorite luxury item—
camera, binoculars, tablet, bird
book;
 understand better what you really
need.
These benefits, in turn, give you more flexibility
to take on challenges that may arise, like:
 unexpected
weather—rain,
lightning, snow, wind;
 unexpected wildlife or livestock;
 unexpected trail conditions;
 first aid emergencies.
Remember to:
 let friends/family know where you
are going and your schedule;
 be aware of the seasons;
 plan a safe route.
Get your pack weight down to a reasonable
level. Cost and practicality may be factors too.
For example, spending $1,000 on new
equipment to reduce your pack weight from 20
to 19 pounds may be not right for your pocket
book or the best use of your time. Gradually
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trying out new pack weight-reducing ideas is a
good approach. Thinking lighter equipment as
you replace your current gear is fine. The main
idea here is to get outside to experience the
wilderness, rather than spending all your time
thinking about gear.
The On-Trail Whole-Pack Approach
Lighten up both what you carry and what you
wear. Become aware of your entire pack
weight, both durables (e.g., sleeping bag) and
expendables (e.g., food). Focusing on the big
three—sleeping bag, shelter, pack—may divert
your attention from weight issues with smaller,
less noticeable items. Wear comfortable but
carefully selected clothing that also considers
weight. Try to combine several items into
one—hats for instance—and use footwear that
is right for the trail and camping conditions.
Ultralight Strategies – use them all!
There are many sources of information now on
ultralight backpacking. Use what works best for
you. Overall, the strategies are:
 If money is no object, buy the
latest & lightest equipment;
 If money is an obstacle and you
stay with your current equipment,
use your lightest choices of what
you have, eliminate duplicated
gear, and leave behind optional
items;
 If you have a limited budget for
purchasing equipment, combine
new with your current gear and
continue to upgrade over time.
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Use the same approach with new, used, or a
combination of new/used gear.
 Every ounce matters;
 The bottom line is how much the
whole pack weighs when hitting
the trail—“On-Trail Whole-Pack;”
 Use absolute weight for “The Big
Three” gear items—sleeping bag,
shelter, pack;
 Use net weight for all other small
gear items.
Helpful Tools for Weight Evaluation
It is helpful to have at least one tool for actually
weighing gear, so that you can make
comparisons and know how much you are
carrying. This equipment can help you evaluate
the weight of your gear: floor scale, post office
scale, and fish scale. With the everyday floor
scale you are able to weigh larger gear items
and a full pack, when you are at home
assembling your gear. This is accurate to 1-2
pounds and is usually done on a comparison
basis, where you are comparing your body
weight to body + gear weight. The post office
scale allows weighing of small-to-medium
items, with accuracy down to 0.1 ounce. This is
also used for weighing gear at home. The fish
scale is handy for weighing full packs at the trail
head or to compare several packs in a group.
This is done as gear weight only, because you
do not have to make a weight comparison as
with the floor scale. All three of these tools are
quite advantageous to have if you really want to
analyze gear weight, but just one will also do
the job. In the end, the weight numbers are
secondary to how you actually feel on the trail
carrying a load.
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2. Food – this keeps us going!
Nutrition and Diets
Making a Menu
Food of high caloric content and an adequate
amount is a good idea, but do not leave out the
nutritional value in planning the menu. With
starchy foods being so prevalent in the common
trail cooking recipes—rice, pasta, beans, oats—
it is easy to account for the carbohydrates your
body needs. It is harder to accommodate
healthy amounts of fruit and vegetables. Be
sure to take dried fruit, such as apricots, apples,
papaya, raisins, cherries, mango, and even
pineapple. Eat them along with energy snacks
in the middle of the day, or supplement your
morning and evening meals. Add dried cherries
to that oatmeal, or add dried peas to that
freeze-dried bag of curried couscous. You can
even get your own food dehydrator and
prepare dried fruits and vegetables yourself.
Make your own fruit leather from applesauce; it
can be eaten straight as a leather or rehydrated
in a cup or pot if you would like to add it as a
sauce to your mug of morning cereal.
It makes sense to plan ahead for the food
needed on a backpack trip. One approach is to
have prepared meals for breakfast and dinner,
with lunch being anytime between the two.
Make a menu list for each day and take it with
you on the trip. Stick to the menu from day-today so that you know each meal is covered.
Clelland’s food quantity formula [Clelland, 2011.
Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips, FALCONGUIDES]
Don’t run out of food, but also don’t take too
much! A key ratio to guide menu planning is
this:
1.4 pounds per person per day (“lbs/p-d”).
This formula works quite well! Along with wise
menu planning, it provides for your basic food
needs, but also places a limit on your “mobile
pantry” so that you are not overloaded with
food weight. For longer multi-week excursions,
bump this up slightly to 1.5 or 1.6 lbs/p-d to
account for strenuous activity over a longer
time period.
In simple terms, a one-week trip for three
backpackers would mean carrying a total of 29
lbs, 6.4 ounces (oz) of food (7 days x 3 people x
1.4 lbs/p-d = 29.4 lbs = 29 lbs, 6.4 oz). Take into
account fractional days of food needs. Here is
another example: a solo backpacker is going out
for three days, but will eat the first day’s
breakfast at home, then on the way home at
the end of the third day will grab dinner at a
restaurant. The food quantity formula would
yield 3 lbs, 4.3 oz (2.333 days x 1 person x 1.4
lbs/p-d = 3.266 lbs = 3 lbs, 4.3 oz). Yes, take the
weight precision down to the tenth of an ounce,
just like with your gear!
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Protein? It’s a good idea to have adequate
protein on your adventures. Of course you
need it to be in a form that can be preserved.
The easiest form is beef jerky, an icon food of
backpacking, which stays preserved almost
forever. Now days it comes in all kinds of
“flavors.” There are also other “jerked” meats,
turkey being a common one. Jerky could be the
sole source of meat on the trail, or it could be
supplemented with hard, dry salami. Be sure to
get this salami in a form that does not require
refrigeration. It will “keep” for a multi-day
backpack, but should not be considered as
being forever preserved, as with jerky. So
either eat it all on the trip or use it up
completely soon after. Don’t just put it in the
bottom of your pack, waiting for the next trip
three months later!
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Cheese can be used as a good source of protein
usually in combination with other sources. It
will also keep for many days out in the wild.
What about other diets: vegetarian, vegan,
gluten-free? Yes, these and other diets can be
accommodated in the great outdoors. Plan
your menu to meet your specific diet’s
requirements as you would at home. For
freeze-dried packaged meals, read the labels to
find what you need. Commercial freeze-dried
food companies usually offer a wide assortment
of vegetarian meals.
With a little more
checking you will be able to find vegan and
gluten-free meals.
As with shopping for food for the home kitchen,
also read the labels of backpacking food, if you
care about what you eat on the trail. This
applies to commercially-packaged food
specifically for backpacking (e.g., freeze-dried
meals) and also the usual packaged items you
may pick up at the local grocery store. Any type
of commercially-processed food may have an
array of interesting and questionable
ingredients. For one, hydrogenated oils are
found in many freeze-dried packaged meals.
If you are concerned about any ingredients on a
label, there may be alternatives to consider:
 pick freeze-dried meals with a list of
ingredients that you are willing to
tolerate;
 prepare your own meals at home, from
scratch, using a dehydrator where
needed;
 only use food that has no or minimal
processing.
The commercial freeze-dried food companies
that use ingredients that may be of concern also
usually offer other meals that may be more
acceptable. So if the curried chicken and rice
contains hydrogenated oils or other interesting
ingredients, maybe the southwest chili has
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fewer or none of those ingredients. Or look for
a freeze-dried food company that features
organic and otherwise natural, basic food
ingredients in all of its meals.
Other tips you might find interesting:
 Another backpacking food icon is hot
chocolate…definitely
check
the
ingredients if you include this
beverage…get some with real cocoa,
not just sugar with who knows what;
 cook up foods that are easy on your pot
and utensils to clean up…if you do it
right, all you need is your fingers and
some warm water to clean up…with
freeze-dried meals, eat it directly from
the pouch;
 don’t bother with buying packaged
breakfast meals for oatmeal or
granola…it’s super easy to make it up
yourself at home…quick oats with
boiled water is ready in a minute or
two;
 if bagels are in your menu, get them
pre-sliced…sometimes they crumble if
they have been in your pack for a few
days and you need to slice them on the
trail;
 don’t just throw out the warm water
when you are done cooking and
cleaning pots…use it for washing up,
cleaning your glasses, or simply drink it.
Water
We all need water for sure and, in general, the
more we can drink of it, the better. Stay
hydrated! Water is a definite weight factor. At
8.34 lbs per gallon, a full one-quart (32 oz)
water bottle will weigh-in at 2 lbs, 1.4 oz (plus a
few more ounces for the container itself). In
dry country with little or uncertain water
availability, you may need to carry a lot more.
On the other hand, if your trail is along a
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stream, maybe you can get by carrying a lot
less.
bottle to place in your sleeping bag during the
night!).
Besides the water and container a method of
treatment is recommended. Yes, the beautiful
creeks, streams, and rivers of the high country
are the repositories of wildlife waste, which
should be respected and dealt with by simple
treatment. The result is crystal clear water
carrying Giardi cysts. Only the most pure seeps
and springs that by their location would not be
contaminated should be trusted. To be sure,
even treat these sources. An inspiring backpack
trip followed by weeks of intestinal agony is not
that inspiring!
Heating Food and Water
What treatment is best? There are many
methods and each comes with a weight factor:
boiling, pumping, chemicals, and even
ultraviolet light disinfection are used. For water
on the trail, one of the lightest weight
approaches is to use chemicals in tablet form.
The tablets come conveniently in small bottles
that do not weigh much, with the capacity to
treat a lot of water. For the purist in ultralight
backpacking, the ounces can be shaved off by
using the direct chemical form of treatment,
and only taking exactly the amount of chemicals
that you will need.
Iodine is a key component needed to kill the
Giardi (chlorine is another). The directions with
the tablets need to be followed to allow the
treatment to become effective. What about
the iodine taste? Now there are also tablets for
follow-up treatment on the iodine, so we can
enjoy the fresh water taste of the mountain
streams.
In camp, it makes sense to take advantage of
boiling water, often used in making our meals,
to treat water. If there is an evening campfire,
there would be a lot of opportunity for purifying
water for the next day (also for a warm, cozy
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The campfire as your heating mode. Using a
campfire can be advantageous to ultralight
backpacking. If you can depend solely on
natural materials in the wilderness for fueling
your heat, there is no need to bring with you a
stove and fuel. A campfire uses renewable
energy, plus may offer you the enjoyment of its
radiant heat and ambiance that can be fun in a
group setting. If you intend to use a campfire
for cooking, be sure you know in advance how
to set it up, maintain it, and clean it up, or
reclaim the campfire ring. It does take time
that could otherwise be spent directly
experiencing and enjoying your natural
environment.
Always attend to the campfire when it is in use.
Do not leave a campfire burning overnight.
Completely extinguish a campfire with water or
soil. Have water or soil at the campfire ready to
quickly extinguish it in an emergency. Have the
first aid supplies and knowledge to be prepared
for burn injuries. The campfire may be used as
the “kitchen” area and a group gathering spot,
but do not place it right next to shelters or
other gear.
Make a campfire in an area devoid of natural
fuel. Mark the campfire ring with rocks, if
available, perhaps about three feet in diameter.
In the middle of the ring place your best
available fire starter materials. Build a “teepee” of kindling over the fire starter. Keep the
kindling pieces as small as possible and allow
space between the pieces to allow for good air
flow. Take the time and patience to build a
good size tee-pee so that you are sure that the
campfire will ignite and begin to burn on its
own. Light the fire starter next to the driest,
smallest kindling. The goal should be to get the
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fire going with no more than two attempts with
matches or a lighter. Once the tee-pee is
burning on its own, patiently add wood of
gradually larger size. Maintain air space to
allow good air flow.
Good fire starter material can be crucial to
getting a campfire going without much hassle.
For natural fire starter, look for the tiniest
woody materials near your campsite. The driest
twigs, pine needles, and shavings of dead and
down wood can be the best. If it has been
raining, look for the more sheltered places,
perhaps next to trees, shrubs, and cliff faces.
Toilet paper or newspaper? If you are truly
going ultralight on your trip, don’t depend on
having it with you!
Now we are ready to cook. When the campfire
can be easily maintained to continue burning,
you can place pots around the edge in the heat.
It is easiest to simply heat water for adding to
freeze-dried and other meals outside of the
campfire ring. Other more creative and timeintensive use of the campfire for cooking—e.g.,
foil-wrapped potatoes or corn, biscuits in a
Dutch oven, steak on hot coals—are up to you,
but may not be agreeable with keeping weight
down on your backpacking adventures.
Here are a few tips that may make the campfire
experience a lot more enjoyable:
 use tree sap (“pitch”) as a starter fuel;
 carry a length of tubing with you to
remotely blow into the fire (instead of
having your face down in it);
 from the moment you arrive at the
campsite, maintain a stash of wood
under your shelter, in case of rain;
 use an existing campfire ring (but also
reclaim it before leaving);
 coat the outside of the pots entirely
with soap before putting in the fire
(makes it easy to clean off all the
carbon afterwards).
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Be diligent in reclaiming the campfire ring
before you leave. Try to burn down the wood
to small pieces before extinguishing the fire. Be
sure the fire is out, using water or soil. Scatter
the rocks. Scatter the charred wood. Spread
out the ash. “Rake” the campfire area with a
branch. If soil is available, spread it over the
ash and rake it to mix it together. Use your own
judgment to make the area look as natural and
untouched as possible.
(Exception: if you use an existing campfire and it
obviously is a prominent-large-established
campfire ring, perhaps part of an outfitter’s
camping spot, leave it in place.)
The campfire mode of cooking may not work for
these reasons:
 not comfortable or knowledgeable
about building and maintaining
campfires;
 camping in an area without a lot of
dead and down fuel;
 limited time in daily routine to make
campfires (and reclaim them);
 wet fuel makes it difficult to light the
campfire;
 not safe or practical due to high winds;
 cannot be attended to at all times;
 fire safety or environmental restrictions
prevent use of campfires (be prepared
to bring a stove or have a lightweight
one with you anyway);
 do not want the smoky smell on
clothing and body.
As you can see, I like campfires. They can be
challenging and I am still learning. Beware:
campfires can be fun, or they can be a drag!
Stove options. Now there are stove and fuel
combinations that are so light, you might as
well bring it even if you plan to use campfires.
Maybe one evening you get into camp late,
quite tired out, making a stove the quicker
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option for getting a hot meal and into your
sleeping bag. Use these stoves in the warmer
spring-summer-fall
weather;
winter
backpacking will require more specialized
stoves.
An alcohol stove is simply a small metal
reservoir for fuel with precisely-sized holes.
You can even make your own out of a soda can.
The denatured alcohol fuel is easy to work with,
just needing a light plastic bottle for storage
and being fairly benign if it spills on you. Pocket
stoves are simply a fold-up metal base for your
pot, with a fuel tablet receptacle in the middle.
The tablets are solid fuel and can be lit with
regular matches.
These stoves can heat water in a 1 or 2 person
pot to boiling in 8-12 minutes. The fuel can be
lit with regular matches; allow a few minutes
for the stoves to get going.
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3. Gear – start with what you already have
“The Big Three” should take up most of your
weight and volume if you are packing truly
ultralight: sleeping bag, shelter, pack. In this
first area of talking about gear, thankfully we
are only talking about three items, but the
decisions made can easily affect total weight in
the pounds range, not just ounces.
Sleeping Bag
We all know why a sleeping bag is so important.
To keep you warm at night! It also is a great
backup to keep in mind in case the weather
turns colder on your adventure and the clothing
with you cannot keep you warm. At 2-to-5
pounds, The sleeping bag may take up to 25% of
an ultralight backpacker’s total pack weight.
Consider taking a good pad, either foam (cheap)
or air-filled (pricey), to cushion your body on
the ground.
There are two general types of bags: down and
synthetic fill. Cotton car camping bags are not
an option! Down bags are lighter and compress
into smaller volume, but are more expensive
and lose their insulation properties if they get
soaked wet. Synthetic bags are cheaper and do
better if they get wet, but are heavier and
bulkier. The temperature ratings are a basic
index of how warm they will keep you, but are
not based on a uniform standard of warmth. A
good, warm bag is essential if you are planning
to use a tarp shelter or no shelter at all.
excursions; you definitely want that 15 degree
bump! During rainy seasons, a separate group
rain-fly tarp with cords may also be needed,
should there be a downpour while you are
trekking during the day. Be aware of this,
because it adds weight to the tent option. A
tent may weigh in at 2-to-7 pounds; sharing this
weight is the best way to go ultralight with a
tent. Sharing the tent space with your fellow
backpackers may be a plus or minus. Seemingly
harmless issues they we thought we left at
home—e.g., snoring, restlessness—can bring an
otherwise great wilderness experience down a
notch.
Speaking of leaving things at home, I once
forgot the tent poles on a family trip. Take
inventory before you go! Make sure everything
is in the tent bag: stakes, poles, tent body, rain
fly, ground cloth, and guy lines. (Oh yeah, leave
the tent bag at home to save weight.)
The standard tent is not the only approach.
Consider the simplicity of a tarp shelter. It
keeps the rain off. One can be assembled using
the basic components of the tarp, cord, and
stakes. Yes, you are somewhat exposed, but
this option is cheap, light, and may allow you to
connect more with the environment.
Components that break or wear out can be
easily replaced. It also becomes multiple use
equipment by doubling as a mid-day rain-fly. A
good sleeping bag is needed in combination
with a tarp, because you will be open to natural
outdoor conditions. A tarp shelter can be sized
for solo use or sharing with fellow backpackers.
Shelter
There are four ways you can go with a shelter:
tent, tarp, bivouac bag, or none at all. A tent
provides a full enclosure, offering privacy, a
good sense of security from wildlife, and about
a 15-degree Fahrenheit temperature boost
above natural outdoor conditions. Because of
the latter attribute, take a tent on winter
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Also, have a ground cloth to protect your pad
and bag from vegetation moisture build-up;
abrasive rocks, twigs, and soil; and rain. A 6-mil
plastic sheet is all you need. Fold all four edges
of the ground cloth under itself for a few inches,
to encourage surface accumulation of rainwater
to go around or under you and your gear.
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I use a tarp shelter and encourage you to try it.
Just as with a tent, you need to learn how to set
it up. With a tree-to-tree ridge line above and
corner cords pulled tight to the ground, it is
quite simple.
A bivouac bag has become a popular for
backpackers that want to be totally contained
and self-sufficient, either solo or with a group.
The “bivi” bag option offers a waterproof layer
over and around your sleeping bag and is light,
but expensive. You may need to still have a
rain-fly tarp that the group shares for mid-day
storms during rainy seasons.
The Rest of Your Stuff
Here we are talking about shaving off the
ounces, even tenths of an ounce. This usually
uses a quite practical approach of going through
your gear and making choices. But occasionally
a Zen approach is the way to go.
More about this in a classroom session.
Going without? This is quite possible, and
would mean that the shelter portion of what
you carry comes in at zero pounds. If you do
this, be aware of the seasonal weather patterns
for the area. Also think about wildlife and
privacy, for both you and the group. A longer
trip means more chance of precipitation. But
on a short trip, try it out sometime to heighten
your wilderness experience!
Backpack
A backpack can be a significant factor in total
weight carried, even though it is somewhat
ironic serving as the carrier of your lightened
load. Isn’t a backpack just a backpack and they
are all the same? No. Backpacks themselves
can weigh up to 6 pounds; compare that to the
latest ultralight backpack at one pound. That
difference is comparable in weight to a tent or
sleeping bag.
Look at your backpack with fresh eyes and
notice all of the straps, pouches, buckles, cords,
and accessories, both on the outside and inside.
There may be a pound or two of unneeded
features that just add to the load.
More about this in a classroom session.
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4.
Trip Planning – where do we want to go?
how do we get there?
So you have figured out what gear to take and
your load is the lightest it’s ever been. Right?
Now where do I go? Anywhere your heart
desires! From a weekender at the local state
park to an extended thru-hike, there is a way to
plan for any type of backpack trip.
Before the Trip
It’s exciting to start planning for a trip to a new
place! Gather information from all the sources
out there:
 online there is tons of information;
 get guide books and maps from the
bookstore or library;
 contact the US Forest Service or US
Bureau of Land Management;
 connect with the local Sierra Club
chapter;
 talk to friends;
 drive to the trailhead yourself and go
for a short hike.
Calendar/Weather/People
Whatever you do, be sure you know the
weather conditions expected, account for
timing of the entire trip, schedule your trip well
in advance, inform your family/work/friends of
the time and place for your trip, and invite your
trip partners well in advance.
At the Trailhead
Include this aspect in your trip planning. Park
your car in a safe place. Is there a history of
vandalism here? If there is a lot of snow or rain
while you are on the trail, would you still be
able to get out of the parking lot? Have a check
available to write out for any kind of parking or
usage fee, so you can pay the exact amount.
Connect with the camp host if this is at a
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campground, so they are aware your car is
there. Share a car key with another trail
partner or at least have someone else who
knows where the key is, in case something
happens to the car owner on the trip. If you are
not doing a loop route, plan out the vehicle
shuttle in advance. Eat a good brown bag meal
at the car before you head down the trail.
Leave a fresh change of clothes that you can
wear on the return drive home. Have extra
water in the car so you will be sure to have
some when you come off the trail.
ePlanning
Take advantage of any electronic, software, and
web-based media available to you to enhance
your trip planning, while lightening your load
and upgrading your wilderness experience.
Make your own trip route map. Share details
about the “when-where-who” of your trip with
family and friends.
Have a library of
information resources with you on the trail. A
variety of trip planning can be done quite faster,
more conveniently, and lighter than ever
before.
Online tools for location and direction finding,
usually used for urban travel, can provide you
with driving directions to the trailhead (or at
least to the paved road end; a quick logic check
is recommended). Tablets and smart phones
come with many built-in features that would
otherwise be carried separately: camera, video
camera, notepad. Plus they can be loaded with
an immense amount of additional material.
Social media and email are handy for getting
the word out about wilderness outings, for
general “keeping in touch,” as well as for your
emergency safety net. Let’s take a closer look
at examples of electronic media in the following
table.
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Examples of Electronic Media in Trip Planning
From home to Google Maps
trailhead
Make sure you know where the trailhead is, each road designation/number/name,
and type of road. Verify the online route with a US Forest Service or US Bureau of
Land Management map. Other commercial location and direction tools can be
found online.
Trip route
TOPO! National Geographic mapping software
Estimate distance and elevation change, for both total trip, each day, and any side
trips. Compare alternate routes and pick which one works best for you and your
group. Create an electronic trip map and share it with your group, friends, and
emergency contacts. Other commercial mapping software is available.
Trip
www.facebook.com
announcements Consider creating an Event, to invite Friends and inform other Friends, e.g.,
emergency contacts. Other social media sites can be found online.
Trip map
Trimble
Load up maps on your tablet before the trip, when a WiFi connection is available.
Make sure you load them at the scale you want and include areas adjacent to the
areas of your route too. Other commercial mapping apps are available.
Trip messages
Microsoft Outlook
and scheduling Send out trip announcements via email to family, friend, and emergency contacts.
Schedule trips in the calendar feature and share the calendar with your circle of
family and friends.
What? No power, internet, or phone service?
Yes, this is what to expect in the wilderness,
after all the above discussion about electronic
media. But beyond the above listed common
tools that are widely available, there are more
innovative gadgets that might be considered, if
you want it.
With solar energy, electricity can be available to
you in the wild. Small solar module kits are now
available to power tablets and smart phones.
The kits also have electricity storage, either a
dedicated battery pack or actual batteries that
can be used in headlamps and other powered
accessories you may have. If a tablet or smart
phone is used on a trip for electricity-intensive
functions—e.g., photos, videos—you will notice
a significant power drain. There may only be
enough power for 1-2 days. With a solar
module kit and smart management of your
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power needs, it is possible to extend electricity
availability to much longer trips.
It is now possible to connect with the outside
world via satellite when you are deep in the
wilderness. Not necessarily by cell phone, but
by dedicated communication devices especially
designed to handle basic communications. On
the simple end, there are out-going beacons
that send out a programmed alert, either an
emergency code or a check-in notice that
“everything’s fine.” At a higher level, enhanced
communication devices enable you to send out
data in the form of customized messages or
photos, perhaps even the ability to make posts
on social media sites (ah, maybe someday?!?!).
The ultimate in sophistication (and cost!) would
be a satellite phone, allowing you to call out
from almost anywhere in the world. From
beacon to satellite phone, there are
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communication plan charges, just as with
regular cell phones. So when you see the selling
price of a device, there is likely a plan behind it
with its own price tag.
All of these electronic tools are there if you
want them, but they do not by themselves
make for a wonderful wilderness experience.
That is primarily up to you (and somewhat
dependent on what Mother Nature throws at
you!). If you do embrace electronics, consider
occasional trips where you leave them behind
and truly “go primitive.”
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5. Safety – the excitement and challenge of
being at the end of our supply line!
Backpacking means freedom, but stay aware of
the risks. Trip planning addresses much of the
risks involved. Obvious safety practices that
may first come to mind are being prepared for
first aid on the trail and having a trip plan.
Beyond being aware of these particular risks,
take action by stocking your first aid kit, know
how to give first aid, give your friends/family a
written trip plan, and stick to your plan. The
following are ten “best practices” for you to
consider; you may think up more on your own.
Ten Best Practices
1. Be aware of wildlife. In wilderness
areas, you are entering the habitat and
home of other living creatures. They
will normally give you a wide berth and
choose not to interact with you, both
on the trail and in camp. On the trail,
be mindful about surprise encounters
and how to quickly, calmly address the
situation. In camp, select spots for your
shelter, gear, and outdoor kitchen that
are not close to active habitat.
2. Hang all food and trash. Besides
ripping up your gear, your trip could be
greatly compromised by losing valuable
stores of food. At any point in a trip
where food and trash is left behind or
does not have your full attention, store
it securely and safely to prevent wildlife
from getting into it. This includes
overnight and day hikes from an
established camp.
Never store
food/trash in or near your shelter; place
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it away from your camp and kitchen
areas. (Food/trash should also be
stored while on the trail when taking
exploratory side trips; however, if you
are practicing ultralight techniques, it
should not be a hardship to simply take
your entire pack with you.) The bagand-line technique on a tree branch in
high country forests is a common way
to keep food stores out of reach. Other
techniques may be needed if trees are
not a part of the habitat you are
traveling through. Another alternative,
often required by federal agencies in
sensitive habitat, is to use a specialized
container that is impermeable to
wildlife (be sure you have a container
approved by the agency).
3. Stay low and protected in lightning
storms. When rain storms come along
with lightning, you need to be below
the high points in the terrain and away
from geographical features that may
conduct lightning. Observe the weather
developing during your trip and be proactive in planning where you are. Stay
below or away from the highest points,
such as peaks, ridgelines, prominent
rock outcroppings, and isolated tall
trees. Also stay out of streams and
lakes.
4. Eat and drink. Stay hydrated with
water and energized with food during
your daytime explorations. Between
breakfast and dinner, keep your water
bottle and energy snacks handy on the
trail and on side trips. Plan ahead for
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collecting fresh water and treating it.
During the night in your sleeping bag,
water is fine to have with you, but all
food must be safely stored as discussed
previously.
5. Keep the group together. During the
entire trip, know the general
whereabouts and schedule of all party
members, within reason. Individuals
getting lost or the group splintering into
smaller groups can lead to emergency
situations. In a closely-knit small group
without a defined leader, this could be
a collective responsibility. In other
groups,
there
should
be
an
acknowledged leader to take on this
responsibility. Likewise, party members
must keep the leader informed. Allow
for solitary experiences and freedom
that most people want by always
communicating about plans for the next
trail segment, the next hour, or the next
day.
6. Watch out for hypothermia. Overnight,
you should have a sleeping bag
adequate for the ambient conditions,
plus all your clothing, to stay warm.
During the day, as you travel the trails
or take exploratory side trips, is when
your body’s defense mechanism to cool
down may hit.
Having adequate
clothing to keep warm, drinking hot
fluids, and eating regularly between
breakfast and dinner should avoid
hypothermia. But the conditions ripe
for hypothermia are not just cold
weather; it could also come up
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unexpectedly during a strenuous day
spent in mild temperatures, but also
with rain, fog, and cloud cover blocking
out the sun. Be aware of your own
conditions while also checking in with
your trip mates. Watch for slurred
speech and dull thinking that would
indicate it’s time to get all your clothes,
eat, drink hot liquids and make camp
(or get back to it).
7. Protect yourself from the sun. Enjoying
the sunshine in good weather could be
the essence of a wonderful backpack
trip; however, extended exposure to
the sun could lead to uncomfortable
skin burns (second-degree burns with
blistering is possible). Use sunscreen
with a high SPF rating liberally, perhaps
applying more than once during the
day. Use clothing as your first line of
sun protection, or as a backup. Have
full-length pants, a long-sleeved shirt,
and brimmed hat in your gear. In
combination with effects of the
sunlight, the sun’s heat can drive your
body to heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. These conditions need to be
treated
immediately
with
the
appropriate first aid.
8. Be careful at river crossings. Falling
down in the middle of a river could be
disastrous to your trip. As you plan a
route before the trip, note the river
crossings that might be challenging and
consult with guide books or the local
agencies about the conditions. When
you are on the trail, take the time to
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find a safe place to cross. Water depth
can be deceiving; do not cross where
the running water could be boiling up
above your knees. Use a walking stick
to create a tripod effect to get more
stability as you head to the opposite
bank, or pair up with a trip buddy and
go across together. Consider leaving
your hiking shoes on during summer
outings; they will dry out, plus your feet
get wet anyway from sweating. (In fact,
using lightweight running shoes and
nylon socks works great; just cross the
river and keep walking!)
9. Be realistic with your hiking plan. We
all want to see the inspiring sights on
our backpack, but keep the trail mileage
reasonable! Appreciate what you are
doing and consider coming back
another time to check out more of the
same wilderness area. This applies both
to daily trail time and the overall trip.
Ultralight techniques will enable you to
go farther, perhaps even over 10 miles
in a long summer day, but be
considerate to your body. In your trip
planning, be conservative in estimating
trail distance; good rules of thumb are 2
miles per hour with a full pack and 1
hour for each 1,000 feet of elevation
gain. Your body will thank you!
helpful to have a vehicle parked at the
trailhead (or trailend) that you can drive
to get help after getting off the trail. In
today’s age of mobile communication, it
is possible to contact someone from the
trail or at least from the trailhead
vehicle (cell or satellite phone). For
intra-group communication during a
developing evacuation, it would be
advantageous to have two-way radios
(“walkie-talkies”). It is also likely that
an evacuation would require outside
help for which you cannot plan ahead;
most fellow backpackers and outdoorloving people that you encounter will
provide help, so gratefully take it,
knowing that someday you will help out
someone else in need. On extended
trips, it is smart to know which trails
lead to help in the form of small towns
nearby, so you are not stuck with going
all the way back to the trailhead, or
grimly continuing the trip all the way to
the trailend.
10. Have an evacuation plan. In case of an
emergency where a decision must be
made to evacuate, have a way to get
back in touch with civilization. This is
usually a combination of walking,
communicating, and driving. It is quite
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6. Information Resources – there is so much
to know and experience!
Ultralight and Wilderness Information
With the worldwide web, bookstores, libraries,
magazines, camping equipment stores, and
environmental/outdoor organizations, there is
an abundance of information about almost any
place to where you want to go and any piece of
gear you would ever need. But do not feel like
there is nothing left to discover in the natural
world. What matters is for you to be outdoors
carrying only what you need, experiencing an
inspiring favorite place of yours, or getting to a
new place that you have always wondered
about.
I have been backpacking since 1972, yet I have
never set foot in the Grand Canyon.
Disappointing? No! I have experienced many
other wild places that I will never forget. And
there are many more to come.
The following table provides information
resources you might want to check out. For
gear, it is nice to have a lot of options for where
to intelligently spend your money. Should I get
the latest and lightest equipment at a retail
store or might a thrift shop have close to what I
need? Remember, the best option may be to
make it yourself, which is not shown on the
table. For wilderness area information, get the
government agency’s map of the area and start
from there. Gradually add on to your body of
knowledge about an area by finding guidebooks
at the library or bookstore. There are also
historical accounts, wildlife books, geological
guides, and agency planning documents that
may catch your interest. Keep an eye out for
local experts or organizations that have
information that cannot be found elsewhere.
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Ultralight Backpacking Gear Resources
GLOBAL
Online
www.amazon.com
Online shopping giant
www.BackpackingLight.com
www.LiteTrail.com
www.thru-hiker.com
www.wild-ideas.net
www.GoLite.com
www.nols.edu
www.outsideonline.com
www.backpacker.com
www.patagonia.com
www.TheNorthFace.com
Retail/Online Stores
REI
GoLite
CAMPMOR
Piragis Northwoods
Company
Second-Hand Gear &
Clothing
Sierra Trading Post
Books
Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips
How to Shit in the Woods
The Trail Hound’s
Handbook
Backpackers’ Ultra Food
Camping gear from retailers all over
the US
Ultralight, bearproof storage
containers.
Outside magazine
Backpacker magazine
Clothing and gear designer
Clothing and gear retailer
www.rei.com and
www.rei.com/outlet
www.GoLite.com
www.campmor.com
www.piragis.com
www.sierratradingpost.com
Gear buyer’s guides
Gear reviews
Outdoor clothing and gear
Outdoor clothing and gear
Camping gear and resources with an
orientation towards fishing and
canoeing
Camping gear and clothing
Mike Clelland, 2011.
FALCONGUIDES, Globe Pequot
Press, Guilford CT.
Kathleen Meyer, 1989 (3rd
edition 2011). Ten Speed Press,
Berkeley CA.
Ellen Eastwood, 2012.
Wilderness Press, Birmingham AL
Cinny Green, 2013.
Western Edge Press,
Santa Fe NM
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LOCAL
Retail Camping/Travel
Stores
REI
GoLite
Big 5 Sporting Goods
The Travel Bug
Second-Hand Gear &
Clothing
Kellstedt Trading Company
Barkin Boutique
Community Thrift Store
Doubletake
Goodwill Industries
Hospice Center Thrift Store
Look What the Cat Dragged
In
Salvation Army
500 Market Street, Suite 100
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-982-3557
Fashion Outlets at Santa Fe
8380 Cerrillos Rd., #406
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-471-9030
2860 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-474-4260
839 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-992-0418
1101 Harrison Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-471-7077
510 N Guadalupe St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-986-0699
1306 Clark Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-473-0972
321 Guadalupe St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-989-8886
3060 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-424-9726
1303 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-995-9901
2570-A Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-474-6300
1202 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-473-7735
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www.mapsofnewmexico.com
Talk to Kelly Kellstedt
505-603-7982 (cell)
Call in advance for appointment
927 Baca St.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 881-6401
541 W Cordova St.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
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LOCAL (cont’d)
Gear Rental
REI
1550 Mercantile Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-247-1191
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www.rei.com/stores/albuquerque
call in advance to reserve
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