Facts & Tips

{ In Camp }{ Packs }{ Tents }{ Boots }{ Sleeping Bags & Sleeping }{ Misc.} In Camp

Make a camp lantern by standing a flashlight on end and putting a 1-quart plastic water bottle over it.

When camping near roads or close to town, don't tell non-hikers or locals where you plan to camp. Try to avoid high use areas that may be a late night party spot.

Keep your cooking and sleeping areas separate.

Hanging food from a tree limb is the best way to keep it await from animals.

When building a camp fire, don't use wet stones, as the moisture in them expands from the heat they can explode.
Packs
Mice and other small animals that live in trail shelters will munch a hole through your pack to get at food.
Keep pockets and packs unzipped at night so mice and other small animals can enter and not chew a hole in them.
Porcupines will eat pack padding to get salt residue sweated into the fabric.
Hang your pack at night.
A good rule of thumb is to carry 1/5 to 1/4 of your body weight. As you get stronger you can increase it to 1/3.
Always put fuel and water bottles upright in an outside pocket. The gaskets can leak and contaminate clothes and food.
Pack your pack the same way each time, try to avoid packing things at random. This system will help you locate things quicker.
Keep items such as sunglasses, toilet paper, maps and raingear in an outside pocket for easier access. Top Of Page
Tents
A light colored tent is cooler in summer and less gloomy in winter.
Cooking in your tent is DANGEROUS , stoves produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you.
Vent low and high. Cold air should enter low by your feet and warm air should vent high above your head.
Expect "rain fly-stretch" if it rains. You might need to tighten guy lines or restake when the fly gets wet.
Never take or store food in your tent. Animals will try to get it.
It's better to stuff a tent into its bag than fold it. When folded repeatedly, wear lines will start to form in the fabric.
Always store a tent in a cool, dry place.
Avoid leaving your tent exposed to sunlight for a log period of time, the UV rays will destroy the fabric.
A ground cloth under your tent will help keep the floor from being punctured from sticks and rocks. Make sure the edges are folded under so rain doesn't get funneled under the tent.
Try to find a level spot. A slight slope is fine if you keep your head at the high end. Top Of Page
Boots
Due to sole flex and the resulting "toe curl" your boots will actually become shorter.
Internal volume will also grow slightly, and the width across the ball of your foot will increase because of the continual hinging and stretching of your foot.
Most trail blisters occur on the heel of your foot due to poorly broken in boots.
Gaiters will assist in repelling and keeping out sand, snow, gravel or rain.
The bigger the load, rougher terrain, and the faster the pace, the more support you will need from your boots.
The stitching on the upper is usually the first to go, limiting the boots life span.
When buying boots wear the same socks you plan on wearing while on the trail.
Allow plenty of break-in time for new boots. Light weight boots might need only a few weeks walking around town, while heavier boots may need months on the trail.
Bring a light weight pair of tennis shoes or sandals to wear around camp. They will also be useful in stream crossings, as to keep boots dry. Top Of Page
Sleeping Bags & Sleeping
A vapor barrier liner bag (VBL) can add up to 20° F of warmth when you use it inside your bag.
The insulating power of down drops 50% when wet.
Fill power is the measurement of down's lofting ability (it equals the cubic inches of space that one ounce of down takes up under weight).
Dry cleaning can kill a down sleeping bag. The solvents strip away natural oils contained in the down.
You can reloft a down bag at home by tumbling it in a dryer at EXTREMELY LOW OR NO HEAT
You lose more than 30% of your body heat from the top of your head, so to sleep warmer, wear a hat.
If your a cold sleeper fill a leak proof water bottle with warm water, and put it in the bottom of your bag.
Food is fuel; the better you eat, the better you sleep. Eating foods high in fat or calories will give your body something to burn while you sleep.
Always loft or fluff up your sleeping bag before getting in. The air trapped inside will keep you warm.
Put clothes you plan on wearing the next day inside a stuff bag for a pillow. This also keeps them warm in winter. Top OF Page
Misc.
Hiking poles or staffs relieve the burden on ankles, knees, and hips by transferring weight to your shoulders and arms. Some studies showed that load transfer can amount to 70,000 lbs. per hour. They also help in keeping your balance on rocky or uneven terrain. You can also use them to ward off dogs.
Instead of blindly stepping over a log or rock, step onto it and check for snakes sunning or cooling off on the other side. Top OF Page
If you know of any other facts or tips that are not on this page please E-mail me and I will gladly put them on.

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