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Light backpacking next step after day hikes
San Juan Mountains Association
Photo by Courtesy of Will Rietveld
Will Rietveld enters Chicago Basin in the Needle Mountains, Weminuche Wilderness. Chicago Basin is a popular destination for backpackers wanting to climb Mount Eolus, Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak – three 14,000-foot peaks that border the basin. San Juan Mountains Association volunteers make frequent trips to Chicago Basin to encourage backpackers to adopt Leave No Trace techniques.
With millions of acres of public lands surrounding us, many of us love to get out on day hikes to explore new places while enjoying the scenery, wildflowers and wildlife.
I was a day-hiking machine when I first retired in Durango, smitten with the lust to explore the mountains and canyons and gain the physical fitness that comes with it. I couldn't stay home for more than two days without having to get out and get my fix again.
But, like any other addiction, I had to have more. I realized that day hiking burned up a lot of gas and time just getting there and back, and I had to turn around just when I was getting to the "good stuff." I learned that there's a wilderness world to explore beyond day-hiking range.
We are privileged to live at the doorstep of the Weminuche Wilderness (the largest in Colorado), the Lizard Head Wilderness and many others within easy reach. Backpacking is the next logical step to fully explore our amazing backcountry.
Many people balk at backpacking because it's hard work and costs money. Yes, it is work, but it doesn't have to be hard work. While some people don't mind being a pack mule and readily hoist a 40 to 50 pound pack, the rest of us prefer to use our head instead of our back, so we look for a smarter way. There is some cost involved.
Lightweight and ultralight backpacking has become popular in the last 10 years. Instead of lugging a pack full of heavy gear and feeling exhausted at the end of the day, you can carry a 15-25-pound pack and still feel energized at day's end. The more you trim pack weight, the more backpacking feels like day hiking, and the more you will surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.
Everyone can benefit from the lightweight approach, from the youngster who wants to go faster and farther to the oldster who wants to keep backpacking until she's 80. And it's a great way to get your family to enjoy backpacking with you.
Taking it one step further, lightweight backpacking combines well with other pursuits - like photography - so you have room for the other gear you need to take. And the San Juan Mountains Association invites you to join its cadre of wilderness information specialists - volunteers who hike wilderness trails to promote Leave No Trace principles, provide information and collect backcountry data.
Some people will argue that trimming pack weight results in a loss of safety and comfort, but nothing is further from the truth. In response to the increased interest in lightweight backpacking, manufacturers now offer a lighter version of every backpacking essential, so safety and comfort are not compromised. The key factor is that you have to do your homework to learn about lightweight backpacking gear and techniques, and decide what is right for you.
Will Rietveld is a volunteer with the San Juan Mountains Association.
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