Backpacker – August 2019

JULY/AUGUST 2019

BACKPACKER.COM 105

You don’t know the

ABCs of packing.

As a beast of burden

who used to stock the

Appalachian Mountain Club

huts in New Hampshire,

guide Owen White

alphabetizes his loads.

Aa

Accessibility

Pack from bottom to top, with

the bottom being stuff you

won’t need until camp, and the

top holding the food, drink, and

layers you’ll need during the day.

Bb

Balance

Center heavy objects (your food

bag, especially) and keep them

close to your back so they don’t

throw you out of whack every

time you take a step.

Cc

Compressibility

Say no to excessive bulk. If you

can’t squash your insulating

layer and sleeping bag into small

compression sacks, it’s time to

upgrade.

YOU THINK SURVIVAL GEAR

IS CAMPING GEAR.

When it comes to function and comfort, survival

stuff doesn’t replace what’s already in your pack.

THIS IS NOT A LIGHTER.

Making a fi re like a caveman

is easier said than done: A

fl int is useless compared

with any cheap lighter you

pick up at a gas station. Get

two; keep them dry.

THIS IS NOT

A SLEEPING BAG.

That space blanket is

paper-thin, paper-strong,

and about as cozy as outer

space itself.

THIS IS NOT NECESSARY.

That huge, ridiculous Rambo

knife you carry in a holster?

Leave all 3 pounds of it at

home and go for a light-

weight multitool.

You tie your

shoelaces wrong.

My son Tyler showed me this

method two decades after I

taught him the other way. When

I tested his technique on a

Colorado hike, the old-school

double-knot came undone after

3 miles. The new-school double-

bunny ears version stays snug,

but still unties easily. The step-

by-step instructions:

1.Tie a standard starter knot like

you always would.

2. Form two bunny ears. Position
   the left loop closer to your leg,
   and the right loop closer to your
   toes.


3. Loop the back (left) ear over
   the front (right) ear and back
   through the hole you just
   created. Leave it loose.


4. Loop the front ear over the half
   knot and out through the hole.


5. Pull both loops tight. March
   with confi dence that you’ll
   never have to bend over with a
   full pack to tie your boots again.

You carry your water bottle right-
side up in winter. Which part of a
pond freezes fi rst? The top! Same
with your water bottle. Pack it
upside-down and sip ice-free.

You buy a tasteful forest-green

puff y and brown pants. Upside:

You blend in. Downside: Only bright

gear will get you found when your

bushwack goes awry.

You sag your pack. Wearing it

too low negates all that fancy

suspension. Position the hipbelt so

it curves around the top of

your pelvis.

You sweat when it’s cold out.

When you stop, you’ll be really

cold, immediately. Layer down or

moderate your pace—you’re running

too hot.

YOUR WAY

HOW DO YOU KEEP

YOUR GEAR DRY?

53%

Pack cover

8%

Umbrella

20%

Waterproof

stuff sacks

19%

Pack liner

THIS IS NOT A TENT.

Bivy sacks weigh about

the same as an ultralight

tent, except that when you

zip yourself into the bivy,

condensation still rains on

your face.

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SKILLS ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER SUCHESKI