We are going backpacking in September. It will be a fun weekend on the Appalachian Trail.
Below are some of my recommendations for a fun and safe weekend on the trail. We've given the guideline of 35 pounds for the pack. This is the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM weight. Many of the smaller boys should carry significantly less than 35 pounds.
Backpacking Gear
I have three tents: a fancy one man backpacking tent, a cheapo $25 Target dome tent, and a middle of the road North Face tent. The North Face is the heaviest tent and it is 6 pounds. It is not a backpacking tent and is very similar to what a lot of the boys have.
When we're on the trail we don't store the backpacks in the tent. So three of the smaller boys will fit in the North Face tent comfortably. We divide the tent up between those who will sleep in it. One boy takes the main tent, one boy takes the poles and stakes, one boy takes the rain fly. That is 2 to 3 pounds per person.
The sleeping bag I use is nothing fancy either. It is a 30 degree Slumberjack bag. That is plenty of warmth for a September campout. If you're sleeping bag is really heavy or really bulky then a simple fleece sleeping bag liner should be enough to keep you warm for the night. My older son usually sleeps with only a sheet when he camps.
I will also be taking my Therma-rest pad because I'm getting old and my back hurts if I don't have a pad. Luckily a young boy of eleven years old can probably get away without a sleeping pad for a night or two. If they do want to bring a pad, make sure it is not too bulky. Don't bring large foam pads that take a whole garbage bag to store. They're not very heavy but they're very bulky.
Remember that we are only backpacking for a weekend. There is NO NEED to bring three or four changes of clothes. It is nice to have a clean pair of underwear for each day (I know that not all boys feel that need!). Wear one set of clothes Friday night and the same clothes again on the trail Saturday (yes, the same clothes will be fine, we're not hiking far (if at all) Friday night. So the pack only needs to hold ONE change of clothes which will be worn on Sunday. I highly recommend breathable clothes like Under Armour or similar dry-weave clothes. Do NOT wear cotton. It will hold the sweat and takes a long time to dry. You should bring one extra pair of socks. Maybe even two extra pair of socks. Your feet are important, take care of them.
That leads me to my final advice for backpacking gear. Please wear the right boots. Do not wear tennis shoes or sneakers. Do not bring extra shoes as there is nowhere to wear them and extra shoes are heavy. But again, bring extra socks. Polyester or other breathable socks are good. Cotton is still bad.
Bring sufficient water bottles. Each boy should bring enough bottles to carry two liters of water.
Backpacking Food
Weight and ease of preparation are important when planning your weekend meals. Remember, you are solely responsible for your own food for the weekend. The troop is NOT providing food for the backpacking trip.
We will share one or two camp stoves per patrol. There is no need for every boy to purchase a backpacking stove. The stoves are used to boil water to add to whatever food you brought.
Make sure you bring enough food for the weekend but don't overpack. This is a tough balance to achieve. If you're in doubt, please ask for help. Bring snacks like trail mix to munch on.
Examples of good food to bring:
- Instant oatmeal - mix with hot water and ready to eat immediately. Don't forget a bowl and a spoon.
- Tortillas - spread some peanut butter or jelly and have a good sandwich.
- Trail mix, raisins and other snacks to nibble on throughout the day.
- Ready-Mac - Microwaveable mac and cheese is very lightweight and easy to prepare.
- Tuna in the pouch - easy to transport and I mix it with a mayo packet from a fast food restaurant.
- Any freeze dried food from Gander Mountain - They are high in calories (that's good) and easy to prepare but they tend to be expensive.
- Any recipe from http://www.freezerbagcooking.com - Easy, cheap, lightweight!!!
Examples of bad food to bring:
- Bread - It will crush
- Chips - They will crush
- Sugary drinks - They are heavy and don't give you the nutrients you need. Drink Water!
- MRE - They're great for the army, but there is a lot of trash generated with an MRE. You'll be carrying your own trash all weekend. Try to minimize the waste.
- Tuna in a can - The tuna is good, the can is bad. You'll have to carry the can all the way home.
- Chocolate - It will melt
- Anything that needs refrigeration - There is no ice on the trail
We will have at least one water filter per patrol. We will stop at every stream and refill our water bottles.
Cost of Equipment
This weekend should be a fun introduction to backpacking. Don't go out and spend hundreds of dollars to prepare for it. If you love backpacking like a few of the leaders then spending the extra money for backpacking gear is justified. Wait to know if you really like it though.
As I mentioned earlier, a good pair of boots is critical. Bad shoes can single handedly make a weekend miserable. Wear a nice pair of boots and make sure that they are broken in.
A decent backpack is a very good idea. It doesn't have to be new and it doesn't have to be expensive but it does have to fit properly. If you have questions on how to make the pack fit right, please ask. Make sure the pack has a waist belt. This will carry most of the load. Army packs without a waist strap are good for the army but bad for the Appalachian Trail.
As I mentioned earlier, I am a firm believer in the dry-weave synthetic clothes like Under Armour. Also, invest in decent socks. Don't wear old cotton socks.
As with all gear, if you don't have something that you think you really need, ask the rest of your troop. For example, I have three tents, six sleeping bags, an extra backpack, and about twenty different water bottles. I'll gladly lend you whatever I'm not taking.
Again, this should be a fun weekend and safety of the boys is always on our minds. We wouldn't allow this type of campout if we didn't think the boys were physically capable of accomplishing this.
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