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Backpacking (wilderness)

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	Topics Backpacking (wilderness) Topic Home Definition A backpacker packs all of his or her gear into a backpackBackpack A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulde... . This gear must include foodFood Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, water and/or proteins, that can be eate... , waterWater Overview Water is a tasteless, odorless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known as the universal solve... , and shelter, or the means to obtain them, but very little else, and often in a more compact and simpler form than one would use for stationary camping. A backpacking trip must include at least one overnight stay in the wilderness (otherwise it is a day hikeHiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery.... ). Many backpacking trips last just a weekendWeekend The weekend is a part of the week lasting one or two days in which most paid workers do not work.... (one or two nights), but long-distance expeditions may last weekWeek Overview A week is a unit of time longer than a day and shorter than a month.... s or monthMonth Overview The month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which is approximately as long as some natural period related to the motio... s, sometimes aided by planned food and supply drops. Backpacking camps are more spartan than ordinary camps. In areas that experience a regular traffic of backpackers, a hike-in camp might have a fire ringFire ring A fire ring is a device used to contain campfires and prevent them from spreading and turning into wildfires.... and a small wooden bulletin board with a mapMap A map is a simplified depiction of a space, a navigational aid which highlights relations between objects within that space.... and some warning or information signs. Many hike-in camps are no more than level patches of ground without scrubScrubland Scrubland is plant community characterized by scrub vegetation.... or underbrush. In very remote areas, established camps do not exist at all, and travelers must choose appropriate camps themselves. In some places, backpackers have access to lodging that are more substantial than a tent. In the more remote parts of Great BritainGreat Britain Great Britain is an island lying off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe and to the east of Ireland, comprising the ma... , bothiesBothy In the United Kingdom a bothy is a simple shelter, left unlocked and available for anyone to use without charge.... exist to provide simple (free) accommodation for backpackers. Another example is the High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is a national park largely in Mariposa County, and Tuolumne County, California, United States.... . Mountain huts provide similar accommodation in other countries, so being a member of a mountain hut organization is advantageous (perhaps required) to make use of their facilities. On other trails (e.g. the Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail Overview The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a 2,174-m... ) there are somewhat more established shelters of a sort that offer a place for weary hikers to spend the night without needing to set up a tent. Most backpackers purposely try to avoid impacting on the land through which they travel. This includes following established trailTrail A trail or footpath is a pedestrian road mainly used for recreational walking, but often also for bicycling, cross-cou... s as much as possible, not removing anything, and not leaving residue in the backcountry. The Leave No TraceLeave No Trace Leave No Trace is an educational message that encourages individuals that participate in outdoor recreation to minimize thei... movement offers a set of guidelines for low-impact backpacking ("Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but photos. Kill nothing but time. Keep nothing but memories"). Professional backpacking For some people, backpacking is a necessary and integral part of their job. In the US military a framed backpack is referred to as a "rucksack" or simply a "ruck". Soldiers who serve in the militaries of most nation-states usually receive at least some rudimentary backpacking training while infantrymen are often trained to a more advanced backpacking skill level. They share many common attributes with amateur backpackers: being self-contained, use of land-navigation skills and actively minimizing their environmental foot-print. There are, however, a few differences -- such as the need to carry weapons, ammunition, and communication equipment, and sometimes the need to maintain "noise and light discipline", which means remaining silent and in darkness to avoid detection. Other professional backpackers may be scientific and academic researchers, professional guides, photographers, park-rangers and "search & rescue" personnel. Motivation People are drawn to backpacking primarily for recreationRecreation Recreation is the employment of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of one's body or m... , to explore places that they consider beautiful and fascinating, many of which cannot be accessed in any other way. A backpacker can travel deeper into remote areas, away from people and their effects, than a day-hiker can. However, backpacking presents more advantages besides distance of travel. Many weekend trips cover routes that could be hiked in a single day, but people choose to backpack them anyway, for the experience of staying overnight. These possibilities come with disadvantages. The weight of a pack, laden with supplies and gear, forces traditional backpackers to travel more slowly than day-hikers would, and it can become a nuisance and a distraction from enjoying the scenery. In addition, camp chores (such as pitching camp, breaking camp, and cooking) can easily consume several hours every day. However, with practice, much of this downtime can be purged from the day. Backpackers face many risks, including adverse weatherWeather *Weather* is an all-encompassing term used to describe all of the many and varied phenomena that can occur in the atmosphe... , difficult terrain, treacherous riverRiver A river is a large natural waterway.... crossings, and hungry or unpredictable animals (although the perceived danger from wild animals usually greatly exceeds the true risk). They are subject to illnesses, which run the gamut from simple dehydrationDehydration Dehydration is the removal of water from an object.... to heat exhaustion, hypothermiaHypothermia Overview Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism ... , altitude sicknessAltitude sickness Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness or altitude illness is a pathological condition that is... , and physical injuryInjury Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside or force, which may be physic... . The remoteness of backpacking locations exacerbates any mishap. However, these hazards do not deter backpackers who are properly prepared. Some simply accept danger as a risk that they must endure if they want to backpack; for others, the potential dangers actually enhance the allure of the wilderness. Equipment Almost all backpackers seek to minimize the weight and bulk of gear carried. A lighter pack causes less fatigueFatigue (physical) Overview The word *fatigue* is used in everyday living to describe a range of afflictions, varying from a general state of lethargy... , injury and soreness, and allows the backpacker to travel longer distances. Every piece of equipment is evaluated for a balance of utility versus weight. Significant reductions in weight can usually be achieved with little sacrifice in equipment utility, though very lightweight equipment can be significantly more costly. A large industry has developed to provide lightweight gear and food for backpackers. The gear includes the backpacks themselves, as well as ordinary camping equipment modified to reduce the weight, by either reducing the size, reducing the durability, or using lighter materials such as special plasticPlastic Plastic covers a range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products.... s, alloyAlloy An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and wh... s of aluminiumAluminium Aluminium or aluminum is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Al and atomic number 13... , titaniumTitanium Titanium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.... , composite materials, impregnated fabrics and carbon fiberCarbon fiber Summary Carbon fiber can refer to carbon filament thread, or to felt or woven cloth made from those carbon filaments.... . Designers of portable stovePortable stove A portable stove is a stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping.... s and tentTent Overview A tent is a shelter, consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles and/or rop... s have been particularly ingenious. Homemade gear is common too, such as the beverage-can stoveBeverage-can stove A beverage-can stove is a homemade, ultra-light portable stove.... . Some backpackers use lighter and more compact gear than do others. The most radical measures taken in this regard are sometimes called ultralight backpackingUltralight backpacking Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available.... . Due to the emphasis on weight reduction, a practical joke common in some circles is to secretly pack a small but relatively heavy luxury item, such as a soft drinkSoft drink The term soft drink originally applied to carbonated drinks and non-carbonated drinks made from concentrates, although it no... , into another backpacker's pack. Then, once the group stops for a rest, the perpetrator retrieves the item, thanks the bearer for carrying it, and consumes it. Water Backpackers often carry some waterWater Water is a tasteless, odorless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known as the universal solve... from the trailhead, to drink while walking. For short trips, they may carry enough to last the whole trip, but for long trips this is not practical. A backpacker needs anywhere from 2 to 8 LL Overview L or l, described in English as L with stroke, is a letter of the Polish, Kashubian, Sorbian, Lacinka, and Navaj... (roughly 1/2 to 2 gallons) or more per day, depending on conditions, making a water supply for more than a few days prohibitively heavy. of water weighs . Backpackers may carry one to four litres of water, depending on conditions and availability. Although some backpacking camps in heavily-used areas provide potable water, it must usually be obtained from lakeLake A lake is a body of water or other liquid of considerable size surrounded by land.... s and streamStream Overview A stream, brook, beck, burn or creek, is a body of water with a detectable current, confined within ... s or preferably springsSpring (hydrosphere) A spring is a point where groundwater flows out of the ground, and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surfac... . According to health and medical experts, untreated water found in backcountry settings in the U.S. and Canada is generally quite safe to drink. Yet despite this, many backpackers believe that drinking and cooking water nearly always needs treatment with a filter or chemical tablets to protect against bacteriaBacteria Bacteria are a major group of living organisms.... and protozoaProtozoa Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotes that commonly show characteristics usually associated with animals, most notably mob... (see wilderness diarrhea and Portable water purificationPortable water purification There is often a need to be able to treat water in remote or rural locations to make it safe for drinking purposes.... ). If water is unavailable, or if the only water available is irreparably filthy, backpackers may need to carry large amounts of water for long distances. Water may be stored in bottles or in soft, collapsible hydration packHydration pack A hydration pack is a backpack or waistpack which contains a special of water, usually made of rubber or flexible plastic.... s (bladders). Some backpackers store water in ordinary plastic beverage bottles, while others use special LexanLexan Summary LEXAN® is a registered trademark for General Electric Company's brand of highly-durable polycarbonate resin thermoplastic in... bottles or metal canteenCanteen Canteen has several different meanings:... s. For accessibility they may be carried by a shoulder strap or attached to the outside of a pack. Bladders are typically made of plastic, rubber, and/or fabric. They are light, easily stored and collapsible. They may be equipped with drinking hoses for easy access while hiking. In spite of this convenience, bladders are more prone to leaking than bottles, particularly at the hose connections. Hoses also allow the hiker to lose track of the water supply in the bladder and to deplete it prematurely. Food Some backpackers enjoy cooking elaborate meals with fresh ingredients, particularly on short trips, and others carry the gear and take the time to catch fishFishing Overview Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish.... or huntHunting Hunting is the practice of pursuing animals to capture or kill them for food, recreation, or trade in their products.... small game for food. However, especially for long expeditions, most backpackers' food criteria are roughly the same: high food energyFood energy Food energy is the amount of energy in food that is available through digestion.... content, with long shelf lifeShelf life Shelf life is that length of time that food, drink, medicine and other perishable items are given before they are considered... and low massMass Mass is a property of a physical object that quantifies the amount of matter and energy it is equivalent to.... and volumeVolume Summary *'Volume', also called capacity, is a quantification of how much space a certain region occupies.... . An additional concern is weight; while Dutch ovenDutch oven A Dutch oven* is a thick-walled metal cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid.... and campfireCampfire A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, usually in a fire ring.... cookery are historically popular, small liquid-fuel campstovesPortable stove A portable stove is a stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping.... and ultralight cooking pots made of aluminum or titaniumTitanium Summary Titanium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.... are more common in modern usage due to weight limitations and fire restrictions in many locales. Ordinary household foods used on backpacking trips include cheeseCheese Overview Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals.... , breadBread Bread is a staple food which is prepared by baking, steaming, or frying dough.... , sausageSausage A sausage consists of ground meat, animal fat, herbs and spices, and possibly other ingredients, generally packed in a casin... , fruitFruit The term fruit has different meanings depending on context.... , peanut butterPeanut butter Peanut butter is a food made of roasted and ground peanuts, usually salted and sweetened.... , and pastaPasta Pasta is a type of food made from the flour of various grains, water, and sometimes eggs, which is mixed, kneaded and formed... . Popular snack foods include trail mixTrail Mix Trail mix or gorp is a snack food commonly used in outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, backpacking, mount... , easily prepared at home; convenient and nutritious energy barEnergy bar An energy bar is a dietary supplement often consumed by athletes or other physically active people to maintain their caloric... s, chocolateChocolate Summary Chocolate comprises a number of raw and processed foods that originate from the bean of the the tropical cacao tree.... , and other forms of candyCandy Summary Candy is often used as a synonym for the more traditional term confectionery in North America, whereas the word has b... , which provide quick energy and flavor. Traditional outdoor food includes dried foodstuffs such as jerkyJerky (food) Jerky is meat which has been cut into strips with the fat trimmed off, marinated in a spiced, salty or sweet liquid for a de... or pemmicanPemmican Pemmican is a concentrated food consisting of dried pulverized meat, dried berries, and rendered fat.... , and also products like oatmealOatmeal Oatmeal is a product made by processing oats.... (which can also be consumed raw in emergency situations). Most backpackers avoid canned foodCanning Canning is a method of preserving food by first heating it to a temperature that destroys contaminating microorganisms, and ... , except for meats or small delicacies. Metal cans and their contents are usually heavy, and, like all trash, the empties must be carried back outFacts About Leave No Trace Leave No Trace is an educational message that encourages individuals that participate in outdoor recreation to minimize thei... . For dinnerDinner Dinner is the main meal of a day, normally cooked food consisting of animal proteins and starch products like rice, noodles ... s, many hikers use specially manufactured, pre-cooked food that can be eaten hot. It is often sold in large, stiff bags that double as eating vessels. One common variety of special backpacking food is freeze-driedFreeze drying Freeze drying is a dehydration process typically used to preserve a perishable material or make the material more convenient... food, which can be quickly reconstituted by adding hot water. One can also purchase a commercial food dehydrator which removes the majority of water from a pre-cooked meal. To eat, water is mixed in with the meal several hours before eating and allowed to rehydrate before heating. Some various distributors of this are Backpackers Pantry and Mountain Outfitters. Another kind of special backpacking food is UHT-packagedUltra-high-temperature processing Ultra-high temperature processing is the partial sterilization of food by heating it for a short time, around 1-2 seconds, a... without dehydration, and can be reheated with a special, water-activated chemical heaterFRH Summary FRH is an abbreviation for "flameless ration heater," a water-activated exothermic chemical heater included with Meal... . This technology originated with the U.S. military's Meal Ready-to-Eat ("MRE"), but is now produced also for the commercial market. The small chemical heater obviates the need for a portable stovePortable stove A portable stove is a stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping.... and fuel, however the added weight of the MRE's and their packaging reduce the weight advantage. MRE's can be useful to backpackers for several reasons: They do not need to be rehydrated or heated which is useful in areas where flame is not allowed, and water is scarce (Most of Australia) They are very durably packaged A single MRE contains a full meal complete with snack and desert They offer a great deal of variety in each meal, including condiments They are individually packaged inside the "brown plastic wrapper", so you can place individual components in various pockets and "eat on the move". As more and more "big box" retail stores carry pre-packaged dehydrated foods (such as Mountain House Brand) however, it is becoming increasingly easier to buy packaged meals retail versus mail order, whereas MRE's are rarely carried in retail stores. There is a genre of cookbooks specializing in trailside food and the special challenges inherent in backcountry cooking. Most such cookbooks espouse one of two philosophies; the first, generally used on short trips, involves planning out meals and preparing many ingredients in one's home kitchen before departure. The second method, bulk rationing, simply supplies the hiker with ingredients, allowing on-trail cooking with minimal prior planning, and is sometimes used for extended outings. A third form of the genre deals in Dutch oven cookery, which has considerable historical cachet (especially in countries such as the United States with a long pioneer tradition), but is dependent on suitable locations for a campfire. Winter backpacking Although backpacking in the winter is rewarding, it can be dangerous and generally requires more gear. Backpackers may need skiSki A ski is a long flat device worn on the feet designed to help the wearer slide over snow.... s or snowshoes to traverse deep snow, or cramponsCrampons Crampons are a framework of spikes that are attached to boots to provide traction on snow and ice.... and an ice axeIce axe An ice axe is a versatile mountaineering tool that practically every mountaineer will carry.... to cross ice in colder climates. CottonCotton Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant , a shrub native to the tropical and subtropical regi... clothing, which absorbs moisture and chills the body, is particularly dangerous in cold weather, so backpackers stick to synthetic materials or materials that won't hold moisture. Special low-temperature sleeping bags and tents can be expensive, but will be more comfortable than many layers of warm clothing. However when hiking in cold weather it is always better to hike with varying layers of clothing so that as the body heats up layers can be taken off without causing the wearer to sweat or become very chilled. Skills and safety Survival skillsSurvival skills Survival skills are skills that may help one to survive dangerous situations, or in dangerous places.... are handy for peace of mind: In case the weather, terrain or environment is more challenging than prepared for, or for dealing with shortcomings in NavigationNavigation There are several traditions of navigation.... and orienteeringOrienteering Orienteering is a running sport involving navigation with a map and compass.... are useful to find the trailheadTrailhead Summary The trailhead is the point at which a path, usually intended primarily or solely for walking and/or horseback traffic, starts.... , then find and follow a route to a desired sequence of destinations, and then an exit. In case of disorientation, orienteering skills are important to determine where you are and formulate a route to somewhere more desirable. At their most basic, navigation skills allow you to choose the correct sequence of trails to follow. First AidFirst aid First Aid is the immediate and temporary proper aid provided to a sick or injured person or animal until medical treatment c... : effectively dealing with minor injuries is considered by many a fundamental backcountry skill. More subtle, but maybe even more important, is recognizing and promptly treating hypothermiaHypothermia Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism ... , heat stroke, dehydrationDehydration Dehydration is the removal of water from an object.... and hypoxiaHypoxia (medical) Hypoxia is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supp... , as these are rarely encountered in daily life. Leave No TraceLeave No Trace Leave No Trace is an educational message that encourages individuals that participate in outdoor recreation to minimize thei... is the backpacker's version of the golden rule: To have beautiful and pristine places to enjoy, help make them. At a minimum, don't make them worse. Distress signalDistress signal A distress signal is an internationally recognized means of obtaining help.... ing is a skill of last resort. See also List of long-distance trails ScoutingScouting Scouting, or the Scout movement, is a worldwide youth movement of multiple organizations for both boys and girls whose... Hiking equipmentHiking equipment Hiking equipment is gear or equipment that one takes along on an outdoors hiking trip.... Ten essentialsTen Essentials The Ten Essentials are items which many experienced outdoorsmen believe all outdoor enthusiasts should have handy.... : minimum gear to carry in case an emergency develops. Campfire cooking Hazards of outdoor activitiesHazards of outdoor activities Any outdoor activity entails many risks, even if participants do not recklessly place themselves in harm's way.... The Complete WalkerThe Complete Walker *The Complete Walker* is Colin Fletcher's guide to backpacking.... Ultralight backpackingUltralight backpacking Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available.... Related activities HikingHiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery.... may or may not use backpacks. Canoe campingCanoe camping Canoe camping is a combination of canoeing and camping.... is similar to backpacking, but uses canoeCanoe A canoe is a relatively small boat, typically human-powered, but also commonly sailed.... s or other boatFacts About Boat A boat is a structure designed to float on water coupled with a system of propulsion, such as a screw, oars, paddles, a sett... s for transportation. Ski touringSki touring Ski touring, also referred to as ski mountaineering, ski randonne, and alpine touring, is a form of backco... and snowshoeing are alternative forms of hikingHiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery.... (overnight or otherwise) that can be engaged in when the ground is buried deeply in snowSnow Snow is precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes.... . In self-contained bicycle touringBicycle touring Bicycle touring is a type of travel or leisure activity which involves touring, exploration or sightseeing a region by bicyc... , cyclists carry their equipment in pannierPannier A pannier is a basket, bag, or similar container, possibly large, and carried either in pairs slung over the back of a beast... s or in trailers during multi-day excursions, either on pavement, or on back-country fire roads and trails. In animal packing ("horse packing", "mule packing", etc.), the hikers use pack animalPack animal A pack animal is a beast of burden used by humans as means of transporting materials by attaching them so their weigh bears ... s (usually horseHorse The horse is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus.... s, muleFacts About Mule In its common modern meaning, a mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.... s or llamaLlama The llama is a large camelid that originated in North America and then later on moved on to South America.... s) to carry their equipment, and sometimes they will even ride the animals. Porters are sometimes hired for the same purpose. Backpacking (travel)Backpacking (travel) Backpacking is a term used to denote a form of low-cost international travel, differentiating it from other forms of tourism... focuses on cultural attractions, rather than natural ones, though it may also include wilderness side trips. Adventure tourismAdventure tourism Adventure tourism is a type of niche tourism involving exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveller should exp... is travel in a region or environment that is, for one reason or another, highly unpredictable or hazardous. Thru-hikingThru-hiking Thru-hiking is the process of hiking a long-distance trail from end to end.... is traversing a long-distance trailLong-distance trail Long-distance trails are trails or footpaths covering large distances, typically 50 kilometers or more, used for rambling.... in a single, continuous journey by starting at one end of the trail with a backpack and hiking essentially unaided to the other end. Ultralight backpackingUltralight backpacking Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available.... is a form of backpacking focused on minimizing the weight of the gear carried. It is often employed by long distance hikers. External links Backpacking photos, trail information, and gear advise. Preserves and protects hiking trails and the hiking experience Backpackers evaluate new gear in the field and report their findings Online backpacking community with tips and advice for beginner and experienced backpackers - Backpacking tips for a fulfilling and exciting backpacking experience.