Backpacking in the National Forest Wilderness...a family adventure PA-585

In National Forest wilderness, the evidence of Man must always be "substantially unnoticeable." You will find no trash containers and, except in rare cases, there will be no toilets. So sanitation is your personal responsibility. Be sure to—

—Carry out in your pack all used cans, bottles, aluminum foil, and anything else that will not burn. (Empty cans are easier to carry if they are flattened.) Burying such trash is not satisfactory, because it will eventually come to the surface through animal or frost action.

—Burn in your campfire all paper and other burnable material.

—Bury soft food scraps such as coffee grounds or fruit and vegetable peelings, so they will decompose rapidly.

The proper disposal of human waste is most important, but, because we have grown to expect a toilet always handy, this can often be a perplexing problem. Yet, for the benefit of those who come after us, we must leave no such evidence that we were there, and we must not contaminate the waters.

Fortunately, Nature has provided in the top 6-8 inches of soil a system of very efficient biological "disposers" to decompose fallen leaves, branches, dead animal bodies, animal droppings, etc. If every hiker cooperates, there will be no wilderness sanitation problems. The individual "cat method," used by most experienced backpackers, is recommended.

—Always carry a light digging tool, such as an aluminum garden trowel (page 13).

—Select a screened spot at least 50 feet from the nearest water.

—Dig a hole 5-6 inches deep and 8-10 inches across. Try to remove the sod (if any) in one piece.

—After the deposit is made, cover it tightly with the loose soil first and then with the sod.

—Nature will do the rest in a few days.

Jackie and Barbara put up their shelter. The Rupes insert sleeping bags into the tubing and place stones at the corners to make the floor. Then they run a rope through the tubing and attach it to two trees or poles lashed together for the purpose, as shown. This simple procedure creates the usual triangular shape of a tent. F-503177

"Backpacking is a special kind of camping," says experienced woodsman Walt Powell who helped the Rupes get started. "You can make your camp in a fresh clean site away from a dusty trail, and you are not disturbed or awakened by other campers, for there are none nearby. You fish in almost untouched waters. It is the simplest, most flexible, and least expensive way of penetrating and enjoying the interior regions of the mountain areas.

These are words to lure city folk from their concrete canyons or cliff dwelling apartments into the wilderness. To sleep where the earth meets the sky until awakened by the sun is to know the true freedom of backpacking.

But use care in picking the campsite. An almost imperceptible ravine may become a waterway in case of rain. The murmuring stream that lulls a person to sleep is a chilly neighbor at night.

In picking a campsite, look for drinking water, fuel-wood, level ground, warmth, and shelter. For full enjoyment hold out for a view, when possible. Pitch the tent where it gets morning sun, so it can dry out standing before it is packed. Note the wind direction in deciding which way to face. The wind will blow from a lake onto the shore and down a canyon at night; in reverse during the day.

In the High Sierra summer rain is rare and tents are not necessary. One of the nicest spots for the sleeping bag and air mattress in such country is a rocky ledge which will hold the heat of the afternoon sun far into the night and gives protection from wind. An overhanging branch will provide a natural roof with clothes hooks. Avoid, however, camping under dead branches, near leaning trees, or in the path of rock slides.

In the wilderness most water will be pure enough to drink. When in doubt, boil it. Or take along some purification tablets. If the family is large, decide which part of the stream is for drinking. Wash clothes and body downstream.

Into the well-equipped pack must go a flashlight, spare battery cells, and an extra bulb. It is all the light needed because one advantage of backpacking is that the travelers can always make camp before darkness overtakes them. In packing the flashlight, however, reverse the cells so they will not burn out if the switch is accidentally snapped on.

The campfire is a warm and cheering part of the backpacking trip. It provides a chance for the family to get close together to relive the adventures of the day, sing the old songs or learn new ones, and read. The Rupes found singing great fun. Jack also read short stories aloud. For family reading, a history of the country or the experiences of another who has explored the same vicinity might be interesting.

Around the campfire, too, many backpackers brew a cup of tea made from herbs found along the trail. A person must know plants well for this. A more conventional family will prefer tea, bouillon, readymade cocoa, or marshmallows.

The camper is permitted to use for fuel standing dead trees and fallen branches or trees. In National Forest Wildernesses such fuel is usually plentiful and the backpacker counts on it for cooking. In some sections of the country, however, like the Southern Appalachians, the backpacker is advised to carry a lightweight, one-burner gasoline stove. For chopping wood take an ax with at least a 2-1/2- to 3-pound head and a 28- to 30-inch handle.

When building a fire, clear the ground of grass, leaves, and other flammable material. Circle the burning area with rocks, leaving cleared space outside the rocks. Keep water near in case the flames spread, especially if the ground is very dry. Most experienced campers keep their cooking fires small—concentrating the heat and at the same time saving wood.

When breaking camp, be sure the fire is dead out. Dump water on the ashes; stir them in with the soil. Roll away stones from fireplaces, following the old adage, "Where I go, I leave no sign."

A Word to the Wise

—Take along a bit of candle or heat tabs to light the fire in case the wood is damp and does not catch quickly with a match.

—Put matches in a waterproof container or waterproof matches with paraffin.

—Be sure to check with the Forest Ranger to see if a campfire permit is necessary. In those areas where fire danger is great, camp only at designated sites.

Mom's turn to cook. Usually Jack makes breakfast. Note the grease can with cover—mighty handy to carry bacon fat from breakfast to the night meal. Also the Number 10 can for cooking. F-50376

Keep the cooking equipment and food simple in planning for the backpacking trip. Most families use a nesting set of pots with covers, frying pans, coffee pot, cups, and plates. This they supplement with a pan or two or a waterbag. The Rupes used a Number 10 can (about 3 quarts) obtained from a restaurant. There are many types of waterbags. The lightest is probably the plastic version of the goatskin which will hang from a tree.

Dehydrated food has progressed a long way in the last few years, both in taste and variety. Regular groceries carry instant rice, instant potatoes, instant puddings, and appetizing dried soups such as potato-leek, mushroom, and tomato-beef. Some stores stock freeze dry foods such as shrimp supreme, turkey tetrazinni, and chicken stew; bacon and butter in cans, though most backpackers buy bacon by the slab and use a special container for butter.

Companies catering to campers have developed one-dish meals such as beef and spuds, chicken and rice, beef and macaroni. They are continually adding to their vegetable line, and now it is possible to get dehydrated green salad. They carry freeze dry breakfast combinations—bacon and eggs or ham and eggs with fried potatoes.

Don't forget coffee and tea for an eye opener and quick pickup. Instant cocoa tastes good in high country; and bouillon cubes not only make a good drink but a good flavoring for one-dish meals. Dried milk is almost a must. Bread is optional. Many carry a loaf, a can or Scandinavian flatbrots which are thin and light.

The Rupes spend less than $1.20 per person per day for food.

SAMPLE MENUS

Note: Many backpackers supplement their diet with a vitamin pill each day.

Estimates on the amount of food needed vary from 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 pounds per person, per day. Much depends on the type of food carried and the appetite of the individual. It is an established fact that the appetite increases after the first few days.

Ounces per serving of some typical foods follow:

For other foods use estimates on package.

Suggestions

—Some special dehydrated mixes are packaged for four, six, or eight servings. Generally they are ample.

—Sturdy plastic bags of various sizes simplify carrying food. Large ones around cooking equipment will protect the other contents of the pack from fire-blackened pots.

Wade makes instant pudding under the watchful eye of Barbara, who is waiting for a chance to test the mixture. F-503171

There comes a time in the life of every camping adult when an air mattress is essential to a good night's sleep. (Youths can adjust their bones to the hard earth and awake refreshed.) Remember that in wilderness you must not cut boughs off trees for your bed.

Fortunately the equipment companies have come out with light and durable air mattresses for backpacking and most backpackers use them. They come in different lengths, again saving ounces. A mattress from the shoulders to just below the hips is all that is necessary for comfort. It is a good idea to put some gear under the the feet and legs for warmth.

Mattresses are made of plastic, nylon, or rubber. Prime consideration in selecting one is weight and durability. Most people blow up their air mattresses too much. A good test is to sit on the mattress. You should feel the ground but only slightly. Deflating the mattress is simple—before rising, take out the plug or valve and let your body weight help push out the air.

Backpackers usually carry sleeping bags, and a favorite indoor sport on a long winter night is to compare the relative merits of the many types on the market.

Weight, warmth, bulk, waterproofness, and cost are important factors to evaluate in selecting a sleeping bag. Consider the materials used for both the outer lining and for the insulation. Discuss your needs with the shopkeeper and ask him to show you a wide variety of bags.

Decide how much warmth is needed and buy accordingly. Look for stitching and shape in a bag. Stitching is needed to prevent bunching of the filling, but should not go clear through the outer and inner cloth of the bag. It should be alternated, thus—

Mummy bags that taper at the foot are popular, but consider foot room. Bags with zipper all down one side and across the foot are easier to get into and out of, and in them warmth can be regulated by unzipping a little or a lot. These bags are usually rectangular in shape and can be spread out like a comforter. Some people make their own bags with comforters and long zippers.

Mummy bags come with a built-in hood for warmth. Others have a flap that comes up over the head, providing shelter against rain and drafts. Head protection is particularly necessary if no tent is used. Drafts around the head and neck can be cold, even on a mild night, and if one part of the body is chilled, a person becomes cold all over.

A word of caution about sleeping bags: air them after use.