A wide array of topics and skillsets apply to Backpacking. Perhaps we will subdivide this category in time. For now, enjoy posts that are specific to maintaining your physical health, well being, comfort and safety while on multi-day trips and longer journeys.
THE POWDER RITUAL
Keeping your feet happy is crucial to your mental and physical state as well as the success of any outdoor journey. Always bring extra socks with you, even if you are only day hiking. At some point, you are bound to step in a puddle that’s a bit deeper than you thought. Sometimes your socks just get soaked with perspiration.
When you stop for lunch on a longer hike, take your trail shoes or hiking boots off. If it’s not that cold out, you may want to take off your socks, turn them inside out and let them dry. I take the extra step to pull out the Footbeds and stand them up inside my boots. This allows your feet and boots to air out and dry.
Try sprinkling on some foot powder after lunch and message your feet a bit. Put on your clean socks and your feet will be refreshed and ready to go. Clean your hands in a creek or use some hand sanitizer. You can always hang your damp socks over the compression straps on the side of your daypack or backpack and as you hike, they will dry out.
Make sure that you don’t step on any dirt or trail debris while wearing just your socks, prior to putting them back into your boots. I’ve seen just a tiny particle of something between the foot and sock or sock and shoe cause discomfort, abrasions and blisters.
EATING WELL ON THE TRAIL
I didn’t think about the options I had. After a challenging day, it seemed like it couldn’t get any better than mac n’ cheese.
Things have changed.
On a recent backpacking trip I put together for a university outing club, we had stuffed garlic salmon sweet potato pitas with red bell pepper pesto pasta!
If you don’t like cooking at home, then you probably won’t like cooking in the backcountry. If that’s the case, stick to the basics. Simplicity is the ultimate ingredient.
