Submitted by Christine Connors, KNOW Publications Coordinator
Have you ever wanted to go on a backpacking trip without lugging all of that weight around in a pack on your back? I sure did, so I fought my fears of starvation, loss of comfort, and missing "stuff" all in one weekend--a 4-day backpacking trip from Unicoi Gap, NC to Deep Gap, GA on the Appalachian Trail with hardly any of the stuff I normally would have taken.
This story begins with my Aunt Mary. A veteran lightweight backpacker, she has been section hiking the AT for over 20 years with the Mountain Marching Mammas with plans to finish in June, 1999. In order to totally complete the AT, she needed to complete the section she graciously invited me and a friend, Julie Moore, to over Memorial Day weekend. I had only been backpacking once before this trip and for that one weekend, I had over fifty pounds of crap to carry on my back. I wasn't too keen on lugging all of this stuff around for four days, so I sat down one evening with Mary and she went through her pack. I was amazed! She didn't have outfits for every day on the trail. She didn't have a big pot to cook in. She didn't even have the 101 pieces of first aid minutia every person should have in the woods! How did she ever survive out there all of that time without all of the things I had in my backpack? I'm happy to say, she did survive and she had much happier trips over her 20 years because she wasn't so worried about how her back, knees, and neck hurt.
Mary sent both Julie and I home with a video by Lynne Wheldon called "Lightweight Backpacking:Secrets Revealed." After watching this video, I was ready to put my pack on a starvation diet and remove over 25 pounds of excess weight. Over the two weeks following the night Mary let me in on the lightweight secret to the day we left for our trip, I packed and re-packed my bag removing small amounts of stuff every day. The first night, I got rid of the extra three pairs of socks, extra two shirts, and extra two pair of underwear I had. This sounds gross, but for this 4-day trip, I only took two shirts, one pair of shorts, one pair of pants, two pairs of panties, one bra, and a Gore-tex jacket. I wasn't pretty on the trail, but boy, I sure didn't need all of the clothes I originally had! The second night, I went through my survival kit. It was pretty skimpy to begin with, but I traded the big hunting knife for a small Swiss Army, I decided a thermal blanket wasn't necessary in 90 degree weather, and I didn't really need four compasses--besides, I didn't even know how to use one at that time! The third night, I went through my massive first aid kit. One thing that has always made me nervous about going into the woods is that I might get hurt. You know what--chances are good that a person will get hurt, but usually it is because of not using the noggin. I decided to use my brain to keep away from pain and packed minimal first aid by planning for one idiot attack a day. I also took pain relief medicine for each day and Nytol for each night to help me sleep--boy I needed it!
And so, every night, I did the same thing--I unpacked my big Kelty, looked through all of the stuff, and got rid of things I really could live without if I absolutely had to. Before I knew it, my big Kelty weighed thirty pounds, including food and water, but I still wasn't happy. I only wanted my bag to weigh 25 pounds, and by God, it was going to weigh 25 pounds! I pulled out everything and weighed it individually. The total of my stuff--24 pounds. What was up? The big Kelty, that's what was up! I weighed it by itself and found out I had several extra pounds all wrapped up in that beautiful pack! The next day, I went looking for a lighter pack. Believe it or not, I found one at a luggage store. A blue Jeep, complete with rubber treads on the bottom. It was great! The perfect pack built just for me. When I brought it home, everything fit beautifully and I tied my sleeping bag to the top and weighed it--25 pounds.
I felt so proud of myself for being brave enough to cast away the comforts that I am accustomed to. I couldn't wait to hit the trail. When we finally got to Unicoi Gap, I was off like a jackrabbit instead of a turtle with its big shell. By the third day out, I made note of a few adjustments that I would need to make for the next journey. First of all, in my quest for less, I decided that I could sleep only under a tarp at night rather than a heavy old tent. This works for many people, unfortunately for me, it did not. I toughed it out though and learned a valuable lesson--netting is a good thing. Second, water purifiers are heavy, clog up easily, and iodine tablets work just as well as long as you don't mind yellow water. Third, wet food would have been nice. I packed alot of dried meats and fish, some of it I even made myself. It was all good, but by day three I was craving wet soup or something. Julie and Mary fired up their stoves each night and, I admit, I was feeling a little jealous. Next time, I'm taking a boy scout stove and some soup and tea.
Overall, I learned that I do have what it takes to get out there with little and still have a great time. I found out that it sure was nice not having to worry about all of my stuff and have tried to put this knowledge into practice at home with some success. This is a valuable lesson that I will forever be indebted to my Aunt Mary for. Thanks again, Mary--I love ya!
To view larger versions of these pictures, double-click and take a brisk walk around the block!
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Me and my blue jeep at the Chunky Gal Trailhead. |
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Mary putting Julie in the "Doghouse," a child's tent from Wal-mart ($19.97). |
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The reason I bought my own "Doghouse" after our AT trip. Although the 'House weighs more than a tarp, it sure is like a palace to me! It's the little things that count and I sure do love a good pampering after a hard day on the trail! |
