BACKPACKING TIPS

• INVEST IN A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS AND SOCKS.  OFTEN IT IS A GOOD SOCK THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEVELOPING HOT SPOTS (BLISTERS) OR NOT. 
  
• IF YOU DO FEEL A “HOT SPOT” DEVELOPING, STOP AND APPLY MOLESKIN, OR ONE OF THE MANY OTHER BLISTER PREVENTION ITEMS AVAILABLE TODAY.
  
• BE PREPARED.  HAVE REALISTIC PLANS FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAUL 50 LBS TO BE WELL PREPARED FOR AN OVERNIGHT TRIP IN THE SOUTHEAST.  (SEE LIST OF RECOMMENDED ITEMS).
  
• USE A HIKING STICK OR TREKKING POLES.  THEY HELP MINIMIZE FALLS AND ARE VERY HANDY DURING RIVER OR DEEP CREEK CROSSINGS, (AND MANY OTHER USES).
  
• KEEP YOUR THINGS DRY.  YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER TRIP IF YOU PREPARE FOR YOU OR YOUR GEAR TO BECOME WET.  (I.E. BACKPACK COVER, RAIN GEAR, ZIPLOC BAGS FOR GEAR AND EXTRA CLOTHES, ETC)  DRESS FOR COMFORT.  LEAVE THE TIGHT JEANS AT HOME.  COTTON WILL BECOME WET AND STAY WET.  QUICK-DRYING FABRICS WILL BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE.  SHORTS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST CHOICE, EVEN IN HOT WEATHER.  DOWNED TREES, OVERGROWN BRUSH, BRIARS, AND POISON IVY ARE JUST A FEW REASONS LOOSE FITTING LONG PANTS MIGHT BE A BETTER CHOICE.  
  
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO MISJUDGE THE SEVERITY OF POSSIBLE WEATHER CONDITIONS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER.  HYPOTHERMIA (A SUDDEN DECREASE IN BODY TEMPERATURE) CAN OCCUR ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES.  THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS TO KEEP WARM AND DRY.  SOME SYMPTOMS INCLUDE SHIVERING, SLURRED SPEECH, IMPAIRED REASONING, SEVERE WEAKNESS OR WORSE.  THE VICTIM NEEDS TO BE WARM, HYDRATED, FED AND RESTED.  IF NECESSARY PUT VICTIM IN SLEEPING BAG WITH ANOTHER PERSON TO SHARE BODY HEAT.  IN SEVERE CASES, THEY WILL NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
  
• KEEP WELL HYDRATED.  IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO DRINK ENOUGH WATER.  HOWEVER, DO NOT DRINK FROM QUESTIONABLE WATER SOURCES.  THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO PURIFY WATER.  BRINGING WATER TO A ROLLING BOIL, USING A WATER PURIFICATION FILTER, USING WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS (OR OTHER CHEMICAL METHODS), OR YOU CAN BRING WATER FROM HOME.  THERE ARE SEVERAL HARMFUL MICROORGANISMS THAT WILL CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS IF INGESTED. 
  
• USE “NO-TRACE” CAMPING/HIKING.  USE EXISTING CAMPSITES IN GOOD CONDITION.  NEVER CUT DOWN TREES OR SHRUBS TO MAKE A NEW CAMPSITE.  CAMP AT LEAST 150ft AWAY FROM WATER SOURCES AND 100ft FROM THE TRAIL.  DO NOT WASH DIRTY DISHES DIRECTLY IN A SPRING OR STREAM.  USE BIODEGRADABLE SOAP, AND NEVER BURY TRASH OR FOOD SCRAPS.  ANIMALS WILL DIG THEM UP.  WEAR SOFT SOLED SHOES IN CAMP, AND LEAVE THE CAMPSITE LOOKING BETTER THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU FOUND IT.  BRING A PLASTIC BAG TO CARRY TRASH OUT, YOURS AND LITTER YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY.  IF YOU PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT!  WALK IN SINGLE FILE AND NEVER CUT SWITCHBACKS.
  
• IF YOU MUST BUILD A FIRE, ONLY USE DEAD AND DOWN WOOD.  USE EXSISTING FIRE RINGS.  KEEP THE FIRE SMALL, AND DO NOT LEAVE TRASH; IF IT DOES NOT BURN COMPLETELY…PACK IT OUT!!!  NEVER BUILD A FIRE ON A WINDY DAY.  MOST OF THE TIME, A BACKPACKING STOVE IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR COOKING.  STOVES HAVE BECOME QUITE LIGHT AND SMALL LIGHTWEIGHT FUEL CANNISTERS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL. 
  
• HAVE BACKCOUNTRY COURTESY AND HELP PRESERVE THE SOLITUDE FOR OTHERS.  DO NOTHING THAT WILL INTERFERE WITH ANOTHER HIKER’S ENJOYMENT.  KEEP GROUPS SMALL (SIX OR FEWER IS GENERALLY RECOMMENDED), AND CAMP AWAY FROM OTHERS TO HELP MAINTAIN THE PEACE AND QUIET. 

ENJOY YOUR BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS.  STOP AND SMELL THE WILDFLOWERS.  OUR AMAZING FORESTS ARE TRULY A GIFT TO BE APPRECIATED.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT DISAPPEAR FOR GOOD.

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