One Night Wilderness: Portland. Becky Ohlsen
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Avoid wearing cotton—it absorbs water quickly and takes a long time to dry, leaving a cold, wet layer next to your skin and increasing the risk of hypothermia. In hot, dry environments, however, cotton can be useful as the water it retains helps keep you cool as it evaporates. Polyester and nylon are two commonly used, and recommended, fibers in outdoor clothing. They dry almost instantly, wick moisture effectively, and are more lightweight than natural fibers. Fleece (made from polyester) provides good insulation and will keep you warm even when wet, as will wool and wool blends. Synthetic materials melt quickly, however, if placed in contact with a heat source (campstove, fire, sparks). A lightweight down vest or jacket adds considerable warmth with minimal bulk and weight, though it must be kept dry—wet down loses all of its insulating ability.
RAIN AND WIND GEAR Good raingear is crucial for hikes in the Pacific Northwest. There are three types available: waterproof and breathable, waterproof and nonbreathable, and water-resistant. Waterproof, breathable shells contain Gore-Tex or an equivalent material and effectively keep water out while allowing water vapor (i.e., sweat) to pass through. They keep you more comfortable during heavy exertions in the rain (though you will still get damp from the inside) and are generally bulky and more expensive. Waterproof, nonbreathable shells are typically made from coated nylon or a rubberlike material. They keep water out but hold all your sweat in, but they are cheap and often very lightweight. Water-resistant shells are usually lightweight nylon windbreakers coated with a water-repellent chemical. They will often keep you dry for a short time but will quickly soak through in a heavy rain. All three are good in the wind.
HATS AND GAITERS The three most important parts of the body to insulate are the torso, neck, and head. Your body will strive to keep these a constant temperature at all times. A thin balaclava or warm hat and neck gaiter are small items, weigh almost nothing, and are more effective at keeping you warm than an extra jacket. Add a lightweight pair of gloves in the spring and fall, and in alpine regions.
PACK For most people, an overnight pack with 3,000–4,000 cubic inches of capacity is generally necessary, though many ultralight hikers get away with less. The most important feature is a good fit. A properly fitting backpack allows you to carry the majority of weight on your hips and lower body, sparing the easily fatigued muscles of the shoulders and back. When trying on packs, loosen the shoulder straps, position the waist belt so that the top of your hips (the bony iliac crest) is in the middle of the belt, attach and cinch the waist belt, and then tighten the shoulder straps. The waist belt should fit snugly around your hips, with no gaps. The shoulder straps should rise slightly off your shoulders before dipping back down to attach to the pack about an inch below your shoulders—weight should not rest on top of your shoulders, and you should be able to shrug them freely. Most packs will have load-stabilizer straps that attach to the pack behind your ears and lift the shoulder straps upward, off your shoulders. A sternum strap links the two shoulder straps together across your chest and prevents them from slipping away from your body. Most packs are highly adjustable—a knowledgeable employee at an outdoor-equipment shop can be help you achieve the proper fit. Load your pack to keep its center of gravity as close to your mid- and lower back as possible. The heaviest items should go against your back, and you should pack items from heaviest to lightest outward and upward. Do not place heavy items at or below the level of the hip belt—doing so precludes the ability to carry that weight on the lower body and is one of the main reasons packs feature sleeping bag compartments in that location.
EXTRAS A length of nylon cord is useful for hanging food, stringing clotheslines, and guying out tents. A simple repair kit should include a needle, thread, and duct tape. A plastic trowel is nice for digging catholes. Insect repellent will keep the bugs away; Deet-free versions are increasingly common. A pair of sandals or running shoes for around camp is a great relief from hiking boots. A pen and waterproof notebook allow you to record outdoor epiphanies on the spot. Extra zip-top or garbage bags always come in handy. Compression stuff sacks will reduce the bulk of your sleeping bag and clothes.
Make sure your camera is ready for outdoor abuse, and keep it safe from dirt and moisture. A good protective camera bag costs much less than a new camera. A polarizing filter is good for taking outdoor pictures with lots of sky and water. Also consider a small tripod for low-light photography, binoculars, a Frisbee, and playing cards.
Reintroducing Yourself to Backpacking
Maybe it’s been a while since you slept beneath the stars. If your last backpack was bright orange with an industrial-grade external frame and your sleeping bag weighed 25 pounds, you are in for a pleasant surprise. The synthetic clothing and high-tech gear described in previous sections deliver much higher performance at a much lower weight than in the old days, and more so every year. If you’re not sure how much backpacking you’ll want to do, try renting a pack for your first trip or two; most outdoors stores have rental models they can fit for you.
One more thing to note if you haven’t backpacked recently: places that you previously visited on the spur of the moment may now require permits—to park at the trailhead, to spend the night, or even to hike the trail at all. Each hike profiled here lists any permits required; how much they cost, if anything; and where and how to get them.
The first step for anyone contemplating a backpacking trip is to get into some kind of reasonable shape. Blisters while you hike and painfully sore muscles when you return are not badges of honor; they just hurt. Therefore, some simple, regular aerobic exercise and strengthening key muscle groups (such as the calves, thighs, and shoulders) are crucial to having a good time.
Step two is to gather together all the gear you’ll need. You remember—it’s that pile of musty stuff in the basement that you haven’t looked at in years but haven’t had the heart to give away since you always told yourself you’d use it again. Pull it all out, clean it up, and check for and repair any damage, such as seams that have torn, places where mice have chewed through the shoulder straps, and tent seams that are no longer waterproof. Make sure things still fit properly (no offense, but that hip belt might need to be let out some). Finally, using the suggested gear list in the previous chapter, decide if you have everything you need and if newer versions of any of your old equipment might be significantly improved.
Introducing Your Kids to Backpacking
Even though it requires considerably more work and planning, few things in life are more gratifying or enjoyable than taking a kid backpacking. One big reason for this is that children have the unique capacity to renew your appreciation of the outdoors. No matter how commonplace and mundane things may be to you, everything is new and interesting to a child. The list of wonders includes all kinds of “little” things—mushrooms, tadpoles, fern fronds, discarded feathers—that many adults no longer appreciate or even notice. In fact, it is downright humbling to see how much a child notices, and the feeling is only slightly reduced by the realization that children possess a natural height advantage when it comes to seeing things that are close to the ground.
Although backpacking with a child may be fun for the adult, it is even better for the kid. A growing body of evidence suggests that regular contact with the outdoors is a natural antidote for attention deficit disorder, depression, and obesity and is crucial for a child’s overall mental and physical development. What better way to fill that need than to take them to a place where electronic screens simply aren’t an option, and where they can explore a world filled with newts and flowers, pine cones and toads, and countless other real-world wonders?
To ensure that the backpacking experience is a great one (for both young and old), here are a few tips and guidelines to keep in mind:
• When backpacking with young children, leave the teensy, ultralight, supposedly-for-two-people-but-only-if-they-are-on-their-honeymoon tent at home, and pack a nice roomy shelter.
• Don’t forget that children, much more than adults, need a few comforts of home. Bringing along that favorite blankie, stuffed animal, or bedtime storybook may be essential to everyone getting a good night’s sleep.
• Remember that young bodies are less tolerant of weather extremes than older ones. Precautions such as