some beginners help

“I have never been on a hiking trip but would very much like to do it. I have finally convinced my wife to try it this summer. I would like some advice on some essential or not-so-essential gear that I should consider taking that a beginner like myself might not think of packing.we are considering a hike for a few days on a trail by pictured rocks in munising,mi.”

“1. Tent
2. Food
3. Water Purifier/Iodine
4. Stuff to cook food in and eat with
5. Lightweight clothes
6. Comfortable shoes/boots
7. Something to carry water in (nalgene bottles, water bladder)
8. Breathable rain gear
9. Backpacking stove w/fuel
10. First aid kit
11. Basic survival items (matches/lighter, space blanket, pocket knife, etc.)
12. Map and compass (if you don't know how to use these, learn)
13. Pack to carry all said items.

I'm sure that there may be more stuff I didn't think of, but this will at least start it off.

You'll get a better idea of what you absolutely need or can do without after your first trip or two.”

“You also might want to take a sleeping bag, but if it's warm enough (like here in MO), then sometimes you can go without.”

“Sleeping pad too, if there's lots of rocks.

I sure wish I could think of all this all at once and then post.

Oh well.”

“You may want to do one or two short, overnight shakedown hikes to make sure what you have will work before you go this summer. Your wife will thank you for it.”

“Good call skullcap.

Like I said, you won't get a good feel for what you need/want until you're out there.”

“Make sure you get boots that not only preform well but FEEL GOOD too. If your feet hurt then your trip is going to suck.
I'd put boots as the Most important.
Oh yeah, and NON-Cotton socks.”

“Find a pack that fits you well.I have seeen in the past that if your pack don't fit right it's just like your boots if they are not right you will not have a good time.”

“Good advice here already. One thing to keep in mind is minimizing pack weight. You might try to buy/rent/borrow the lightest gear you can (within reason from a comfort, safety and cost standpoint) so that the walking does not become loathsome.

That said - you asked for some items you might not have thought of. Here are some things I take along: headlamp/flashlight (Petzl Tikka is good), camera, something to read, chocolate, walkin' stick (or trekking poles), bug juice and sunscreen, hat, safety whistle.”

“DON'T go out and bust your credit card purchasing tons of new gear before your hike. Use as much of what you have at home first, then figure out what you need for the trip. This'll save you $$$ till you know what you want/need to replace/purchase.

btw - you got tons of hiking friends in MI. Do a search for "Michigan" Hikers, you may be able to hook up with a trip with them. Lots of good advice come out when you're face to face with knowledgeable folks.”

“toilet paper and trowel”

“I went to pictured rocks some years back in the summer.
BEWARE of black flies.

There's a ranger station somewhere on the North West corner of the area. Drop by there first and grab
the trail map.

Very useful as it showed all kinds
of trails which saved hours and some of em were not passable (It was raining like crazy).

You'll see alot of fellow hikers
at the ranger station all gearing up to go in.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

oh! One more thing, don't forget about the bears in the area.

Cheers,
Lefty”

“I second Big Coops advise: GO LIGHT. Nothing will ruin a first outing (or any hike) more than lugging around a heavy pack. You'll feel every pound, esp. if you're a novice.

Tip: Weigh your pack at the post office. If it's over 30 pounds, start shedding/replacing.”

“I think comfort should be your goal more than anything.
Good bedding, good boots, and good food. I wouldn't worry about the weight so much, because you can always drop pack and rest anytime you wish. There is no reason to push anything especially your first time out. Set some achievable goals and have alternative plans in the waiting. Nothing wrong with a few one nighters to work out the kinks even if its in the backyard.

Camp shoes/sandals can be throw in too. Nothing beats shedding the sweaty boots for some lighter airy foot apparel once the hiking is done for the day.

Back to food, something that many really don't think about to much is their meals. Nothing will beat great snacks and healthy meals when times may not be to your liking.

You're bound to forget something or do something wrong your first time out. Don't sweat it!!!! We have all been there before and some like me will continue to forget things. Just keep your excitement high, focus on the enjoyment of being out there, and not on "want did I leave behind".

And yes bring a camera and don't forget to smile when it rains.”

“greatwhodonny:

I have some copies of a free beginner's guide to backpacking produced by Eureka! It includes packing lists and other good, basic info. If you want a copy, I'll mail you one.

E-mail me at iitonen@netscape.net and I'll tell you where to send the $0.57 postage and your address to me.

I'm an erstwhile Yooper (formerly of Marquette) who lives in northern Wisconsin now. What part of Michigan are you from? There is quite a crew of "Michigan Mountaineers" on TT.”

“thanks to everyone for all the great tips. It has helped.I like the idea of trying everything out before you actually go. i know the perfect place. thanks”

“Tes, when do you live? We have a day hike this Saturday at the Waterloo Rec Area just east of Jackson, MI. We meet at 10:00am at the trailhead, which for this hike is the Headquarters for the Rec Area. If you're interested, email me at rderminer@hotmail.com and I will email you a map and give you directions to the trailhead.

Hope to see you there! (Michigan Mountianeers)”

“You're welcome.”

“Good luck, and have fun!”

“all of those suggestions are pretty good. The thing I'd add is figure out your gear needs before you get to the store. Some sales people will try to tell you what you need and upsell you from perfectly good gear. You can find decent starter stuff in the strangest places... friends, walmart, thriftshops, armysurplus. When you and your wife really get into it then you can start shaving pounds and ounces (while spending $$$). Oh yeah! no matter what happens: rain, forgotten canopener, the wonderful sound of nylon ripping, whatever... HAVE FUN!”

“I'll assume you have little or no gear. Going to a local retailer for info is a good baseline although you'll need to find the "little guy" stores usually around the University areas or small towns near rec areas. REI has some expertise if you can find someone who actually has outdoor experience and not just retail selling experience (look for the older folks). The little stores that specialize in paddling, climbing, hiking are usually the best. They'll set you up with a good pack, tent, and sleeping gear if you'd like.
Also, that advice about good boots is dead on. Your feet are "the" most important thing. I've had many in-shape, enthusiatic but inexperienced hiking partners fizzle because of new or wrong boots. Personally, I like a leather-lined mid-weight (Raichle -for my wide foot). There's alot of rocks in the Rockies; they can really beatup and bruise your feet if your wearing a softer boot. I understand MI is quite rocky in parts, too. I wouldn't try to break in stiffer boots on a hike. Wear 'em around the house, to work, etc a few weeks before you leave. When you do break in a leather-lined boot it feels luxuroius.”

“You forgot to tell him to poop in the cars of anyone that cheeses him off on the trail.”

“that you take your desire to continue playing in feces to the appropriate thread. We're talking "gear" here and I'd like to peacefully provide advice. If you're bored go out and get some fresh air and try to put positive thoughts in your mind.”

“The main Ranger Station for Pictured Rocks in in Munising, a few minutes from the Munising Falls trailhead.

You need to reserve sights in advance for overnight trips.

Shuttles can be arranged if you don't want to do the whole trail. Check online for shuttle info.

Our UP friends will tell you that the bugs are terrible in early summer. I went in June and the mosquitos were so intense. I can't even really describe it except to say that they remain just as bad during a downpour!

I don't know when the blackfly season is. Probably a good idea to call the Ranger Station in advance to find that out.

If the bugs are too bad, it could sour your wife on the whole idea of backpacking.

And, finally, as laqtis mentioned, we (Michigan Folks) do dayhikes on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Come to a few of these to get advice and maybe even join us on an overnighter!”

“Newbies always have their packs half full of survival crap some fear-monger scared them into buying/carrying. The best survival gear is the ability to get out of dangerous situations. You don't need to be prepared for an arctic expedition, trauma rescue or a hurricane if you can get back to the car in an hour!

I've been backpacking/mountain climbing for 9 years now and nothing bad has ever happened to me in the woods (except blisters on my feet). No medical emergencies, no wild animal attacks and no blizzards.

So you don't need a bunch of waterproof/breathable stuff to start with when you can get a plastic poncho for $3. I got the cheapest of everything to start with until I went on a few trips and figured out where best to spend the money.

Don't be afraid of being politically incorrect, either. If the animals crap in the woods, you can too. It doesn't hurt to build a fire in an existing fire ring. The Indians never practiced Leave-No-Trace. Enjoy God's creation and let it put you back where you belong in the universe.”

“I am very surprised at the outpouring of advice and help. The hiking community here is much more friendly than i expected, and i would love to go on a dayhike or overnight with someone sometime. thanks alot for everything. I am indeed overwhelmed.”

“
"I am very surprised at the outpouring of advice and help. The hiking community here is much more friendly than i expected, and i would love to go on a dayhike or overnight with someone sometime. thanks alot for everything. I am indeed overwhelmed."
greatwhodonny
12:44:43 PM
02/07/02

Where is thewisper now?”

“If you don't want anybody to remember that you said it, don't say it.”

“Don't forget liquor.”

“It's lunchtime here in the Mountain West; beautiful day, snow outside my office window, nothing but pines and mountains; a little sore from skiing the other day. I'm off to Australia on Saturday for business and some pleasure. I'm feelin' great, got a good job, good life, smart and experienced.
Skullie, does that burn?
I have a feeling I have all the things in life that you will only hope to have unless you get a new mindset.
It's all in how you think and judging by your desire to trash a thread with a good vibe your life must be utterly pathetic.
Well, time's up; gotta get back to work.
G'day and most of all, peace Skullie.”

“Greatwhodonnny - Here's another thing you should definetly take along that I don't think was mentioned before: duct tape.

Great for repairing just about anything and go ahead and wrap a few strips around the back of your heels to prevent blisters, especially if you're still breaking in a pair of new boots.

I think early on in backpacking it's good to overpack a little, unless you're destroying your back! Being relatively new to the sport, you don't want to spoil your trip by wishing you had brought along something. Better to over-do it just a little and then work on narrowing down and going lighter (which can also be fun and challenging, and is something many here on TT spend time discussing).

Enjoy your trip, and be sure and stop and smell the roses along the way. I like to drive fast, ride my bike fast, walk fast.. and sometimes find myself hiking fast and probably missing out on spotting wildlife or something else of interest. Relax and enjoy the adventure! :-)”

“It's called a joke.


But if I have to tell you that you obviously don't have a sense of humor to begin with so it's a waste of my time to try to explain that to you. Try to smile.”

“Wow, 2 trolls in 2 days. Don't bite skullie.”

“I'd echo the shakedown trip. Last May I was getting ready for my first trip which was 3 days on the AT in North Georgia. I decided that an overnighter close to home might be a good idea. I couldn't believe how much I learned from the guy I went with, as well as what NOT to pack. I also got a few ideas on what to take such as an extra plastic shopping bag to prop my bare feet on during breaks. The little extras such as some cool-aid to have with supper and lots of zip-lock bags.”

“A couple of things I don't see above. Depending on where you are hiking - you might want to bring rope to hang your food away from animals -- even squirrels can make a real mess.

My first backpack I didn't realize that at elevation there would still be snow on the ground in mid-April, even in Arizona. I nearly froze. Another camper explained that having a light pad (ridgerest) between me and the ground makes a tremendous difference in staying warm. It is also more comfortable for sitting at breaks. Don't forget the first aid kit. We don't carry much, but moleskin and motrin are absolutely necessary (aspirin before bed makes it easier to sleep when all the small muscle aches start acting up) and things like bandaids, antibiotic cream, a serious painkiller, etc. are occasionally necessary. Bring a Bandana too - as a part of the first aid kit, potholder, bathtowel, sweat rag, etc. The big place where newbies tend to overpack is clothes and food. It is good to have something dry to put on at night when the weather is bad, but you don't want to be bringing a spare shirt or socks for every day you'll be out. (i.e. one to wear and one for spare, but not 5 for a 5 day trip.) And food variety is good, but don't bring the heavy stuff (canned goods or fresh fruit, unless you plan to eat it at lunch the first day), and you probably won't eat as much as you think you will at home.”

“There was a piece by a river guide in one of my paddling magazines once where he recounted how a couple well-to-do young city women clients went on a rafting trip quite heavily laden with newly purchased outdoor duds (i.e. Patagonia, TNF) and were shocked to discover that there wasn't going to be any way to wash their clothes. Rather than, gawd forbid, put "dirty" clothes in the drybags with the clean stuff, or even worse, wear the same clothes twice, he said they burned their dirty clothes before going to bed in what became a giddy nightly ritual. Guess they had light gear loads by the end of the trip.”

“Sounds like Mr. and Mrs. Powell in Gilligans Island to me. LOL”