A Thing of the Past--Backpacking

I just returned from a backpacking trip with one of my sons.  This is the first backpacking trip I have ever been on with a child of ours, and the first in over twenty years. The last trip involved a horizontal lightning bolt a few feet above my head, but that story can wait.

All of the children have expressed an interest in backpacking over the years. Though I have to say, Army son declared to us one Christmas that the Army has cured him of any desire to hike with a load on his back.  We have camped with the older sons, but not everyone.  Since my last trip years ago I have had some health issues and then working to support our family have intruded on any backpacking.  One son is working in the local national park this summer and in talking to his coworkers and rangers decided he wanted to try backpacking. He researched and bought a pack and we planned the trip.

It was to a local lake that I have been to before and after about 6 to 7 miles of reasonable trail starting in a national forest we ended up in a national park at a pretty setting and only one other camp taken.  He went swimming and I took a nap.  Then he took a nap.  We eventually fixed dinner, read some and talked about things, then crawled into our bags and tried to sleep.

The next day I was up just before sunrise, and while son slept in I read and watched the lake awaken.  Eventually we loaded up and walked out, thankful that the trip out had only one long climb and then gently was downhill to the trailhead.  It was a great trip that brought back many memories and forged new ties with our son.  I am glad we traveled that trail together.

I learned, relearned and remembered some lessons about backpacking that will apply when I go again, and could apply to other situations.

-Comfortable shoes or boots to walk in. When I first learn to backpack the wisdom was heavy boots for support.  I did that and was fortunate to have good fitting boots.  Today I would say comfort is more important and bulk is out. I wore light work boots that I wear most days and our son wore cross training shoes.  Both worked fine and we had not issues.

-Weight on the back over miles adds up.  I have been walking recently about 3 miles up and down our local hill with Maureen and our dogs.  There is steepness to part of the climb so it's not a walk around the track.  Even with this "training" I hurt after walking with a pack.  The joint aches and pains were felt more.  Muscles that I haven't felt in awhile, announced their presence. I say this not as a whine, but as a reminder to myself to stay in walking shape and to pare down weight to a minimum.
     One example I came across was the discovery of three different first aid kits in my pack.  I found that redundancy is good in some cases, but sometimes not.  Figure out what is truly needed for the trip you are taking, not the one you just came from.

-Rest and sleep are paramount.  If you don't sleep at night, your body can't recuperate.  The sleeping pad I have used for years no longer is adequate.  I never was even a bit comfortable.  And that includes the worn out sleeping bag.  I have some things to add to our list of future purchases.

-I have rethought overhead cover.  We didn't take a tent.  We had a ground tarp that could have been used, but I carried an umbrella.  I had read that some thru-hikers use them so I thought I'd try it.  We didn't need anything, but I'm convinced the umbrella could have multiple uses and be light weight to boot.  For specifics, I carried a large golf umbrella that two people can fit under.

-I will carry a folding aluminum beach chair.  I can see eyes rolling now, but hear me out.  Going back to comfort and rest,we need to help ourselves.  A folding chair doesn't weigh much, but I'm convinced the comfort it would provide is not creature comforts, but something to help you rest so you can take on the next task better. In the past I have used my sleeping pad, but as I mentioned earlier that pad is too hard and unworkable.  Probably I will invest in a good pad and try it, but if it doesn't work, a folding chair is in my future.

I'm sure more ideas and thoughts will be remembered.  I'm glad I went and I think our son is thankful for asking me along.