Burdened … or … Load Bearing

When is too much too much? When is it not enough?

I confess, I started hiking/backpacking way too late in life. I wish I had hit the trails, visited the parks, enjoyed this creation much earlier in my life. Scrambled more rocks. Ascended more mountains. Viewed more sunsets and sunrises. Life often got in the way … school, career, mundane employment.

Maybe I was too concerned with experiencing food distribution centers (restaurants) and reading vintage works of literary art. As wonderful as these were, and I wouldn’t want to let go of any of those experiences, I still wish I hit the trails too.

Being a late bloomer in the ‘getting my shoes muddy’, I am way behind on the learning curve. But I do have a few things going for me as I strive to learn the skills …

• I live in Virginia … mere hours from the mountains, including the Shenandoah National Park and 40% of the Appalachian Trail. So a simple day trip can hit beautiful sites and a plethora of scenic viewpoints.
• I live in Virginia … mere hours from the beach and beautiful tidewater state parks.
• I live in Virginia … minutes from historical National Parks that show some history and preserved forests and landscapes.

More pluses …

• I am an empty-nester, so I do have some free time to do road trips. Not a lot of them, but I have enjoyed the Utah 5, Colorado circuit, Yellowstone, the Dakotah’s. And many more to come.
• I am not a camper. Maybe at best, I am glamper. So I don’t need to learn tents, sleeping bags, etc. (This saves some money too.)
• I have lots of friends that are willing to share their experience and their insight to the best hikes … McAfee, Old Rag, Devil’s Marbleyard … as well as Appomattox, Belle Island.

But I have negatives too … Many National Parks are west coast. Another is I often over prepare. So the issue I ponder today is …

How much do I carry in the backpack? I’ve got my Osprey Talon. This is a great day hike pack and hydration system, But what goes into it? I can over plan … and the items become a burden. I can be the Boy Scout (which I wasn’t) … being prepared for the unplanned, thus making it a load-bearing burden, essential to the hike.

REI declares the essential 10 … some are more categories of something than an actual item.

• Navigation … map, compass, GPS … Thank God for AllTrails.
• Headlamp … at minimum a flashlight, include extra batteries
• Sun Protection … sunglasses, sunscreen
• First Aid … including insect repellent
• Knife
• Fire starter … matches, lighter, tinder
• Shelter … like an emergency bivy
• Food … more than minimum, extra food
• Water … more than minimum (1 liter per hour) and a purifyer
• Extra clothes

Do you agree? what would you remove? What would you add?

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There is a scene in the hiking movie “Wild” where the experienced hiker goes through her backpack and gets rid of item after item. The movie is a bit … adult, (it deserves the R rating) but it is pretty realistic on this point.

Balance. Where is the balance? I’ve been on trails with heads being conked and no ice pack. I have run out of water. I needed ziplocks and had none. There have been rainstorms with no gear to keep me dry (or at least dry-ish). But I have also come home and unloaded so much extra stuff after the hike I realized I carried weight around all day. Where’s the balance?

Life is like this. When do we carry too much burden and when is the weight we carry essential? In hiking, I listen to the veterans, I use common sense, I read the experts, and I over prepare. Being prepared. I guess I should’ve been a Boy Scout.

Mostly, I learn from past mistakes. I always have the ice pack now. I have a water filtration, not just the water reservoir. I never take a chance on food. These things I learned from experience.

One last point on this topic. If I am hiking with someone, I also share the load. No use me carrying everything.

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REI also puts out a simple check list that includes the Essential 10 and more for a 2+ hour day hike. Click Here to see the list.

If you had to get rid of one item in your life, what would it be and why?