This article is based on what I presented in the Beginner Backpack Workshop held by Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter, April 22, 2006.

Boots are important. A good pair of boots helps you carry on through various terrains and conditions. Incompatible boots tire your feet and legs more easily, and they are more likely to cause blisters which turn your trip miserable.

I like to say that finding a good pair of boots is like finding your life partner. It might sound overly dramatic, but if you’ve ever traveled with someone you hate, you would know that I am not exaggerating.

Boots are something you shouldn’t buy on-line or through mail order. You need to try them on and fit them perfectly. It’s too risky to buy them without a test drive. A size chart is for reference ONLY. Vendor A’s size 8 might not be the same as Vendor B’s size 8. Especially nowadays, manufactures outsource their production, so even Vendor A’s size 8 sometimes might not match Vendor A’s size 8 made in another country.

Sat-Sun, 05/20/2006-05/21/2006. 3C16. An overnight backpack in Big Indian Wildness Area, Central Catskills, New York. Peak-bag Balsam Mountain, Eagle Mountain and Big Indian Mountain (via bushwhack). Lots of ups and downs. Group size limited.

Rocky and wobbly is the agreed footnote the group gave to the Tuscarora Trail after the two-day backpack. No matter when we were climbing, or descending, we had to pay close attention to our footing. Rocks were very deceiving; they looked like stable footrests, yet they were in fact ready-to-take-off roller coasters.

Even once the trail leveled out, don’t think you can glide through. Piles of withered leaves on top of the rocks were their best cover. They were prepared for their ambush, we had to step well as if we were passing a mine field.

I am advertising this workshop because I am the coordinator and also will be a speaker. The target participants are those who know nothing or little about backpacking and would like to get more prepared before they actually head out to the woods and spend a night.

Here is a brief introduction taken from the AMC-DV website:

Learn basic skills of backpacking. A full-day workshop for novice backpackers. Covers skills, gear, clothing, nutrition etc. If you’ve been thinking about trying a backpacking trip but aren’t sure whether you’re ready, this workshop will tell you everything you need to know before heading out on the trail overnight.

Date: April 22, 2006
Time: 9:00 - 3:30-ish
Fee: $5.00 for AMC members; $15.00 for non-members
Download: Tentative Agenda

If you are interested in this event, please send me an email (you can find my contact info in the About page.)

Related Article:
What If You Were a Beginner Backpacker?

Fri-Sun, 4/14/2006 – 4/16/2006. Tuscarora Trail backpack. 3C17/18. Will hike on Sec3 & Sec4 of the Tuscarora Trail, southbound, from Colonel Denning State Park to Hemlock Road. The trail is remote, perfect for people who would like to look for solitude. Group size limited.

Last weekend, several experienced backpackers from my club gathered together to discuss the agenda for the upcoming backpacking workshop in the spring. We fill up the one-day workshop with lecture-type sessions and hands-on practices. Lecture-type sessions cover topics which include gear introduction, map and navigation, personal hygiene, “leave no trace,” and cooking & nutrition. Hands-on sessions let participants have a chance to practice setting up a tent, lighting up a stove, treating water, and hanging a bear bag.

Our target participants are beginner backpackers, so we assume that they know nothing or little about backpacking and they’ve never taken part in any backpacking trip before. I really hope that this workshop will prepare them well so that they have a very good first impression of backpacking and will continue coming back to the trails. Therefore, I’ve put a lot of thought on how I could have done better to make my first few trips more pleasant so that they will not have to repeat my mistakes:

There was no wind; it was sunny and warm. Saturday, had the perfect condition for hikers, but inevitably disappointed those who were looking for solitude. Our group bumped into two other groups, several local hikers, and a pretty dog. We had to alternate the camping plan because the lean-to we were supposed to stay in was packed by noon.

While you are so prepared to claim the trees, mountains, snow and ice as your sole property, nature extends it arms and smashes your hallucination. Well, haven’t we already learned the unexpectedness of nature and equipped ourselves with fitness, patience, and flexibility? After all, those qualities obtained from being outdoors are in fact our true property.

This weekend I am going to lead an overnight backpack in the Catskills. As always, I conducted a trip write-up for reference. While I was completing the write-up, I kept thinking maybe it would be a good idea to talk about the general trip planning process – So, here it comes. The information this article provides is specialized to a 2-5 day backpack; however, most of the principals apply to other activities too.

Sat-Sun, 1/28-29, Blackhead Range Wild Forest backpack. 3C/D10-14.

Will bag three high peaks: Thomas Cole, Black Dome, and Blackhead. Stay in a lean-to for Sat night. Winter backpacking experience/gear required. Group size limited.

I was out backpacking this past weekend to seek a break from civilization. A walk in the woods in late autumn will not be colorful, but I was looking for some crisp atmosphere obtained from freezing air – it should make my messy thoughts sink and my mind regain transparency.

The Old Loggers Path (OLP) was where the meditation took place. OLP is a 27-mile long loop, and its terrain is generally mild with some sections of short and almost challenging ascents and descents. Thoughts have chances to drift away and re-organize; legs have chances to train for strength and stamina.

It was autumn and winter was just nearby. Trees were bald, and leaves were stacked high on the ground. The rain clouds were heavy but looked far away; the sun was shy but it remembered to spray spirit upon the land once a while. The trail was lonely – we hardly saw another being other than our group. The trail was deadly quiet, every step on the dried fragile leaves sounded like thunder.

The first night the temperature dropped below zero, and as well dropped out of my expectation. With the constant shivering, I was almost sure that the stars blinked at me and tried really hard to deliver me heat but failed. I stared at them to show my appreciation until I couldn’t sustain the cold and crawled into my sleeping bag; the moonlight penetrated the tent as if I lighted up a lantern inside. It was still chilly though. I was on and off the whole night accompanied by lots of dreams.

I buried myself deep in the sleeping bag when I was sleeping, and the air I breathed out condensed and dampened the opening of my bag, but the worse part resulting from my odd sleeping pattern was that I got up too late because I couldn’t see the sun light. And I had to shake ice off the rain fly, and my water filter malfunctioned, and the blisters on my heels devastated. What an awesome beginning that was?!

The route of the second day was also a blessing. Ups and downs greeted to us more passionately, and the target length was longer. I kept thinking that I wanted to be beamed to the campsite, or create a LittlePo maneuver to glide to the end point. None of the ideas worked but daydreaming at least eliminated some stress. We were chased by the curtain of nightfall and were forced to camp about 1 mile from the target campsite. We got a warmer night as compensation. I slept well with equal number of dreams.

The next day, I couldn’t wait to check the place we were supposed to camp. Over there, two streams intersect and generate several mini waterfalls. A pool was formed at the bottom, which seemed like a nice play area for summer time. Larger-scale waterfalls waited to surprise me along the way before the trail turned away from the creek.

A couple hours after noon, we were out of the trail. For the whole trip, we only confronted two other backpackers. The next person we talked to was a server in a restaurant on our way home. “Can I get you something to drink first?” The voice dragged me out from my pondering. Oh, yes, we were back to civilization.