Northwest Hiking

The day has finally come, and preparation for an extended trip hiking has finally come.  Backpacking, and the prospects thereof, have kept hopes up and spirits high as the time of the trip quickly approaches.  Now it’s time to pack up the various necessities needed for such a trip, and space is an issue still to be reckoned with.  Like the days of old, everything goes into the backpack: toiletry items, utensils, food, clothing, etc—all find their respective places.  The process of packing is an art, and one to take great pleasure in.  For many this art comes naturally, but for still others it is a much coveted skill the outdoors person.  It’s not always easy to stuff everything needed for four, five, seven, or even ten days all in one pack.  The process can contain more than its share of arduous tasks.  Despite this, there are some effective ways to cut down on weight and space usage, and many benefit from learning to pack smart.

Pack Heavy First:
It can be a matter of preference, but packing heavy things at the bottom reduces “wear and tear” on the human body due to imbalance and undistributed loads.  Pack things like utensils, rope gear, etc. at the bottom of the pack so that the weight is on the hips, and not pulling on the shoulders.

Take Out The Water:
If it contains a lot of water, it shouldn’t be going.  Backpacking trips are all about the food you can add water to.  This excludes goodies like whole fruit, canned foods, and desserts.  There are plenty of options available that are dehydrated (de-hydrated as in de-watered) that include pastas, breakfast meals, and desserts.  Most will be “ready with water” type of meals, and only need minimal cooking.  Another option is to dehydrate homemade food, especially fruit and pasta mixes.

Don’t Dress For a Party:
It’s hard for the ladies, but clothing is not an essential over food, water, and emergency supplies.  An extra change of clothes, a heavy sweater, a wicking layer you should be wearing (100% cotton) during the cold weather, and a good all weather coat is more than ample for a 4 day backpacking trip.  The change of clothes not being worn can be washed in a creek and dried by the fire.

Downsize and Go Simple:
A kazillion watt spotlight, three first-aid kits, 100 meters of rope, and 4 books is a little more than safety standards might even mandate for a backpacking trip.  Stick with simple and reliable.  Smaller hand-crank flashlights, a decently stocked first-aid kit, some climbing gear for rock climbing (optional), food, water, utensils, a survival kit, and a few other necessities is going to fill up space fast, so leave it at that.

Remember, backpacking  should be fun and enjoyable.  Lugging 80lbs of gear should be left to the firefighters.  Pack simple and try to keep it to the bare minimum.  Different items will be swapped out depending on conditions and preferences, but the lighter and more reliable, the better.  Have fun out there and enjoy the soon-to-come summer!

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Continuing with the previous survival first-aid theme that we started a few days ago, let us now look at first-aid kits built for more long term hikes.  These are not necessarily overnight hikes, but they are further away from civilization and can entail slightly elevated risks than included in a small couple hour hike.  I know for me, my worst injuries on the trail were when I was hiking more than 2 hours.  The many reasons for this include increased fatigue, tired and sore muscles, susceptibility to sprains, etc.  As such, in addition to the day hike first-aid kit we talks about, you should also include a few more items:

• Electrolyte replacement powder:  Gatorade or similar product will work just fine.
• Splints:  Particularly for the fingers.
• Extra Gauze
• Two days worth of each:
  1. Aspirin
  2. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, whichever you prefer (are not allergic to)
• In addition, you may also want to consider a quick stop bleed reducing powder.  I have had several instances where I wished I had it.

Remember to be safe out there and to add to this list as you customize based on where you go, hiking habits, etc.  Happy trails!

It is essential to always have ample medical gear with you when hiking.  Whether you have a broken leg, or need a band-aid, a medical kit should provide you with enough supplies to at least improvise almost any emergency medical device or technique needed.

We’ll take a look over the next few posts on several different aspects of medical kits and which ones will be suitable for you.  The three categories are:

• Short Term Day Hikes
• Extended Hiking
• Camping
• Backpacking

Each have their own unique need when it comes to medical supplies, and great respect should be dealt with the handling and putting together of medical supplies for each.  In one case, a large medical supply kit might be necessary, but in another, a simple day first-aid kit should be ample.  Either way, stay tuned for the breakdown of survival and what it can do for you when hiking in the Northwest.  Happy trails!

For the hardcore hiker, the Clearwater trail #1178 will offer you an awesome challenge to conquer.  Not only is it secluded, it’s also located 20 miles from civilization.  It’s a hike that few people will be willing to try, and few people will be able to finish.  Round trip, the hike is 16.2 miles.  The starting elevation from USFS Road 7720 is 4320 feet, and the ending elevation at Martin Gap is 4200 feet.  Although there are two access routes for an easy hike through and pickup, I would suggest a round trip hike with an overnight stay instead, since the time picking up and dropping off vehicles would be half a day in and of itself.  The trail is very difficult with moderate to extreme elevation gain and loss.  Conditions on the trail vary, but when I hiked through two weeks ago, trees were down in numerous places and it was extremely hard to follow the trail.  If you are ready for such an undertaking, though, prepare to be rewarded.  The trail goes through beautiful forest and goes through many small openings and meadows.  The hike is definitely worth it for the scenery and wonders the Clearwater Wilderness has to offer.

To get to the trail head, I am suggesting you visit this site for the details. Take note, however, that bearing left on every junction will NOT get you to the trail head since many side roads look like major junctions.  Bottom line, take a detailed topographical map!  You’re going to be on over 20 miles of rough, unimproved roads.  I couldn’t even reach the last three miles of road in my Honda.  Luckily, I carry my mountain bike with me so I still got to the trailhead.  Also, many maps leave out 3 miles of road just shy of the Three Sisters mountain that you need to use to get there.  Just continue until you reach the Three Sisters Junction (there will be a gate on the left, continue to the right).  Again, the last three miles are overgrown and extremely unimproved.  I would suggest an old truck or high clearance vehicle to get to the trail head.  I have included an image of the area below.  The red penciled in area is the road to follow (note the missing road before the Three Sisters Mountain).  Happy Hiking and enjoy this gem!

Images of the trail head will be forthcoming in the pictures area.  Look for images with the Clearwater Wilderness trail 1178 tag.

Map