Hey, spring is coming, and though I've been taking one backpacking overnight a month all year, I'm psyched to do it more often now and in weather above freezing.

Anyone else do any backpacking? And if so, what do you like to carry?


I'm debating an equipment change this spring and thinking of going with a tarp/bivy/quilt combination.

I do quite a bit of backpacking, well I used to anyways. The wife and I are planning on starting back up this spring/summer/fall. I used to spend up to 4 days in the adirondack mountains, if you've never been, i suggest you go, its not too far from rochester, about 5 hours to the high peaks, I live in syracuse, and its only about 3-4 hours.

I usually carry quite a bit of stuff, a large pack, sleeping bag, cooking pans/pots, water bottles, water filter, matches, lighter, first aid kit, rope, line, knife, flashlight, extra socks, extra shirt, sunglasses, wine, usually bring along a steak or two. I also carry 1 or two cameras, tripod and camera gear. and sometimes a fly rod and my fishing stuff.

Sounds like a lot, and there is more that I bring, but if packed right its not so bad. What about you, where do you go, what do you carry?

Ciraxis, the Adirondacks is my usual stomping ground! There and some parks in Pennslyvania!

Going to the Adirondacks the weekend after Easter too. That's our March trip. Hoping that I might not need snowshoes, but something tells me I probably will.


If you're in Syracuse, are you an Adirondack Mountain Club member? I'm sure Syracuse has a chapter.

Damn, that's a lot of gear. I've been going pretty minamilaist, with a base pack weight of around 10 lbs plus one litre of water and then food.

I've been sleeping in a bivy/tent made by Nemo Equipment that is tiny and you can't sit up, but it weighs in at under 2lbs when modified.
I just returned the HORRIBLE REI sleeping bag I had that weighed 2lbs 9 ounces and kept me warm almost never. I'll be investing in another one, or maybe a down quilt, next week.
I carry, for overnights, an alcohol stove that is made out of two tin cans and weighs almost nothing, and a light aluminum pot. (in the winter I have to lug a white gas stove, but it's not that bad.)

For water, I take a small filter that screws onto the threads of a standard water bottle, and I just carry one litre maximum and refill it at streams, and drink directly from the bottle through this filter. It's called the Frontier Pro and weighs a scant 7 ounces or so. You can also use it as a gravity filter for getting large amounts of water once you are in camp.

I've been thinking about trying just a tarp and a light bivy sack over my sleeping bag and losing over a pound that way for longer endurance trips. I also started using a hammock last year for awhile, and will continue that in the summer when it gets hot.

I don't know, there's a lot of stuff you can bring or find that is light, and there are so many options it makes your head spin.


For light at night, I use just a small headlamp that wights something like one ounce made by Petzl. The light isn't great, but it's enough to cook by and set up camp by.

Backpacking is great because you can do it so many ways. You can go short distances and carry a lot of luxuries and enjoy yourself at camp and mostly do "camping." Or you can go really light, leave all the luxuries at home, and go for distance and do more "hiking" and just use camp as a place to sleep between logging miles. I like both styles.

Last year the most we did on an overnight was 34 miles. I'm hoping to do more in one overnight this year, and hoping to take a few trips that are multi days and going pretty deep into the wild.

going to the wild is what I love the most, thats why I stay for days, it usually takes a day to get away from the crowds. I don't mind having all the gear that I carry, I usually set up a base camp, and its usually a pretty comfy place. I'm not a member of the AMC, hell i'm not a member of anything.

The pc of the trout in my sig, thats a wild brown from the Ausable River. What areas do you like up in the dacks? I prefer the high peaks and down into the moose wilderness plains

Well, last year I went to the Pharoah lakes areas, Middle settlement near Old Forge, and a few other areas. i've not been to the high peaks yet. i would like to go this summer. In March we're hitting the Chubb pond wilderness areas.

I find that I like PA better. Lands End state park, the Susquahannock trail, etc.

And our annual 34 mile overnight is in PA, a trail called the Bucktail path.

What are you using for shelter?

I used to - and you guys are making me jealous. I can't go anymore because of my autistic son - he's a wanderer and it's just not safe to take him out into the woods overnight.

Purplos, I wonder if you can't find a group of parents with similar needs children and go camping together, something where one or two of you would be awake all night in shifts. I wonder if it would be good for your kids too.

I haven't had the chance to go backpacking just yet,since I never seem to have the time to do so.I am thinking of getting a few friends together to have a small backpacking venture,but finding the time when we can all go is going to be rough.

I am,however,looking into all of the nice lightweight gear available for backpacking/hiking/camping.I already have a few items,but I'm looking at getting more eventually.No matter whether I get to do some actual backpacking,the items will still get used because I do a lot of camping each year...usually up at a friend's cabin,or at another friend's house during the Renaissance Festival here (he lives about 12 miles away from the festival,and his house is right next to a lake...so it's a great spot to pitch a tent and relax).

I hike about two maybe three times a week. I am lucky enough to be like my dad and have my own global positioning system in my head. (also been in this forest since my childghood) but on the other hand if you are going go anyplace new or maybe unknown a GPS could be the most important device besides maybe a cellphone that you could have. Also a "GOOD" snakebite kit is important, according to where you are....dont end up like me, copperheads are only a little more poisnous than a red wasp, but that was a hell of a three mile walk out.

That's an idea. I haven't found anyone yet who seemed interested in roughing it though.

Day trips are still fun.