What to take on a backpacking trip - a handy list

 

In addition to those items you bring on a day hike, http://colorado-wilderness.blogspot.com/2009/12/your-day-pack-contents-what-to-carry-on.html, your backpack will contain those things necessary for spending one or more nights in the wilderness.  Because you'll be carrying everything for miles, sometimes with significant elevation gains, it's important to consider the weight and necessity of each piece of camping gear you put in your backpack.

• Tent - lightweight backpacking tents have been around for a while; depending on the season and climate of your trip, you may go with as little as a rain fly or as much as a four-season tent
• Sleeping bag - possibly the bulkiest thing in your pack, the right sleeping bag can make a big difference in your comfort
• Sleeping pad - inflatable foam core sleeping pads insulate you from the cold ground and give you a soft surface on which to place your sleeping bag
• Biodegradable soap, camp towel, and other toiletries
• Toilet paper and trowel (plus the knowledge of how to use them in the wilderness)
• Lightweight stove and fuel, pot for boiling water, cup or mug, spoons, water filter
• Second flashlight - I prefer LED flashlights, and will take one handheld and one headlamp
• Garbage bag (pack it in - pack it out)
• CLOTHING - in addition to what you would pack or wear for a day-hike, bring extra clothing depending on your comfort level wearing dirty clothes; a fleece vest might be the only additional insulating layer you'll need
• FOOD - some people take great pride in their ability to make "gourmet trail meals;" I prefer to think food-is-fuel, and bring things that are dense with calories, low in water (weight), and easy to clean up; see (insert post url here) for a complete discussion of trail food
• to be continued...

Fresh Tracks

The wilderness areas that we hike in all summer are too snow-bound for day hikes in the winter.  Many trailheads are inaccessible, the trails themselves are in avalanche-prone areas, and we just can't go as far on snowshoes in deep snow as we can in hiking boots on dirt trails. 

So we stay closer to home, and explore the local areas that are easy to overlook in the summer.  Today we we went up Basalt Mountain Road, on Missouri Heights.  Cross-country skiers, many with dogs, were drawn to this route.  Most of the snow was trampled, but I found a few clean patches, including this one with the tracks of a mouse that had run across it.

The Columbine is Colorado's state flower

Colorado's state flower is the columbine.  Last summer's hikes took us through fields dense with wildflowers, including some great examples of columbines like this one.

Buy t-shirts, mugs, and other gifts with this image on it at: http://www.cafepress.com/colorado_flower

Not only does it show your love for Colorado, but they're great conversation starters.

If horses are your thing, I've got products with horses too: http://www.cafepress.com/I_Love_Horses

Your day pack contents - what to carry on every hike in the mountains

 

It may sound like a cliche, but the weather in the mountains is very unpredictable.  It can snow any month of the year, and afternoon thunderstorms are very common in the summer.  Being prepared, by bringing the right things in your pack, can make the difference between a pleasant backcountry outing and a very uncomfortable - or dangerous - day in the wilderness.

• A day pack should be large enough to hold your things, and have a hip-belt for both support and stability.  Pockets and loops for strapping on additional items are helpful.
• Water - I bring two liters for every hike, and a water filter for long days.  It's easy to get dehydrated in the upper elevations, especially on strenuous hikes.
• Sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, and sun hat - the high altitude sun is laser-like, and can scorch your skin in little time
• Rain jacket and rain pants - the waterproof and breathable materials are well worth the extra cost; they're much more comfortable and keep you drier because they allow your body's moisture to evaporate
• Fleece jacket and pants - there have been days in June and August when I was glad to have the added warmth of a fleece layer under my rain gear; if you have room, throw in a fleece hat and gloves
• First aid kit, LED flashlight, butane lighter, pocketknife, and some nylon cord - you probably won't use them, but they take up little space, and you'll be damn glad you have them should the need arise
• Food - you know what your body needs, so adjust accordingly; I tend to favor fruit (dried and fresh), nuts, cheese, and crackers, because they pack a lot of calories in a small amount of space and are very satisfying
• A good topographic map - so many of the trails are easy to follow, and as you gain experience you'll be more confident in your ability to find your way around, but maps are helpful in identifying surrounding landmarks and knowing your elevation
• Camera - whether it's a lightweight point-and-shoot or a fancy DSLR, you'll want to capture the scenery to share with friends and family
• OPTIONAL (items that aren't necessary, but make things more comfortable if you're willing to carry them) - toilet paper, camp chair, light tarp (with grommets), camera tripod, spare socks
• CLOTHING - the new wickable fabrics make life outside so much more comfortable, as they pull moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry and warm; whether you wear boots or sturdy shoes is your choice, but respect your feet in your choice of both footwear and socks - your feet are your way back to the trailhead

Hanging Lake, Glenwood Canyon, Colorado

Hanging Lake is over a thousand feet above the Colorado River, in a small canyon off of Glenwood Canyon, upstream of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Winter Landcape

A hike up Avalanche Creek on a cold wintry morning yielded this photo of steam rising from the rapidly freezing water. Avalanche Creek is in the Crystal River valley, south of Carbondale, Colorado.

See more photos from the day, as well as photography from other outings, at:
www.flickr.com/photos/silbecl

Colorado's Crystal River

Late autumn and early winter offer some incredible photo opportunties on the Crystal River.  These stretches will be almost completely snow-covered soon.  Right now, with the mixture of ice and open water, they have so much more visual interest.

These two photos were taken between Marble and Redstone, Colorado.

autumn leaves

I really wanted to see how this red leaf would look on a black background. This is a scrub oak plant backlit by the afternoon sun. All the leaves and grasses really show off their fall colors when the sun is behind them.

No Name Creek, Glenwood Canyon

Running north from Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River, the No Name Creek trail is a pleasant hike for a lazy autumn afternoon.

Don't hesitate to click www.flickr.com/photos/silbecl to see more of my work. The transition seasons are good times to try close-up work instead of the landscape photography I favor in the summer.

autumn near Marble CO

This is not the one I posted to flickr. That one was a horizontal orientation. I like verticals because of all the foreground they can include. While at the pond I saw some good foreground elements, but when reviewing my photos, they didn't make the cut. This one has the shallow rocks and a good amount of reflection.

This pond near Marble is a favorite subject of mine, and if you explore my blog, you'll find photos taken in all four seasons here. 

Snowmass Balloon Festival

Also not wilderness, this is one of few good photos I got from this year's balloon fest. The weather was a double-edged sword - it scared off most of the fliers (only eight balloons inflated Sunday morning, and one of those never left the ground), but the clouds made for more dramatic photos than a clear sky would have.

Even though we favor the backcountry and wilderness areas for our trips, once in a while it's nice to check out the things that most tourists see.  The Balloon Festival is especially appealing to photographers, because of all the big bright shapes.

early autumn morning in Colorado

This isn't the wilderness. It's a bend in the Crystal River about a mile from my home. It's one of my favorite places to wander around, in all seasons. The river was high last Saturday due to some recent rains, and this pool was fed by water flowing under the rocks.

That's Chair Mountain in the background.  Chair Mountain is part of the Raggeds, and the Raggeds Wilderness is one of many wilderness areas that are easily accessible from this part of Colorado.

Mormon Lake, Holy Cross Wilderness area

The hike to Lyle and Mormon Lakes is one of my favorites, despite only doing it twice. There are many opportunities to view the lakes from above, and complex shorelines with all sorts of interesting features that I incorporated into my photos.

We've done this as day hikes until now, but think that it would make a great backpacking trip, as there's so much to explore here.

This shot was taken on our way back to Lyle Lake.  As you can see, most of the wildflowers are gone now, and the amber and red hues of autumn are starting to dominate the scenery. 

Also in the Holy Cross Wilderness, like Savage, Carter, and Josephine Lakes, the trail to Lyle and Mormon lakes is on the way up to Hagerman Pass at the eastern end of the Frying Pan valley.

Josephine Lake, Holy Cross Wilderness area

On our way to the Savage/Carter loop last week, we passed a trailhead marked #1912. Checking the map, we found it led to Josephine Lake, a small oblong body of water surrounded on three sides by mountains. It was agreed this would be our next hike.

Like all the trails in the Holy Cross Wilderness area, Josephine Lake did not disappoint.  It was one of the more challenging day hikes, however, as there's quite a bit of elevation gain until you start descending to the lake.

We experienced just about all types of weather this day, the main reason to be prepared when hiking or backpacking in the mountains.  This photo was taken during a break in the rain, when sun bathed much of the area and helped the lake show off it's fantastic shades of green and blue.

Lower Savage Lake, Holy Cross Wilderness area

I couldn't stop at just one. This is the lower Savage Lake. Just about any view across the lake was nice. What I looked for as I walked around, were interesting foreground elements. Because the polarizer allowed me to cut through the glare of the water, I also liked shallow rocks.

The Holy Cross Wilderness Area has many great trails, and is accessible from both the Frying Pan Valley as well as the the Eagle River Valley.  As backcountry hiking goes, the trailheads east of Ruedi Reservoir give an explorer access to some of the most incredible scenery anywhere in the rocky mountains.

Upper Savage Lake, Holy Cross Wilderness area

A return to one of my favorite destinations allowed me to see the upper lake, and some of its features, from a different vantage. I love these rocks, and spent quite some time exploring how I could use them in the foreground of a landscape photo.

Savage Lakes (and the side spur to Carter Lake), in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area, make a better day hike than backpack trip.  The trail is not terribly challenging, and there are many places to explore at both lakes (as well as the "third lake," one of several ponds high above the upper lake).

Frying Pan Lakes, Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness

I think this is one of my best photographs of the year.  We were having lunch a few feet from the upper Frying Pan Lake when I thought these rocks would make great foreground elements for a landscape photo.

The first time I did this hike was only four weeks ago. It's unusual for me to return to the same trail twice in a season, let alone so quickly. Despite the snow (on the trail and in the air), we got some good photos that first time up here. Still, we were determined to return soon and see what it was like with more green. We were not disappointed. The skies weren't too cooperative this time, but the wildflowers were in abundance, including more columbines than I had ever seen before.

I took many photos of the water (including several of fish and some partially submerged rocks), because the polarizing filter was doing such a good job of cutting through the surface glare. This landscape looked great on my pc, and I'm posting it here to see it with a black background.

petulant

Okay, this is neither a wildflower nor a shot from the backcountry.  This petunia was one of many on my deck that got drenched by the overnight rains.  I had to take my camera and tripod outside to photograph the flowers and grasses with all the fabulous water beads and droplets.

panoramic view

This panorama was stitched together in the newest version of photoshop.  I used three photos to get this view of approximately 150 degrees.

On the left side of the frame you can see the back of the Maroon Bells.  One of the most photographed icons in Colorado, most people aren't familiar with this view.

Click on the photo to see it larger.

Lead King Basin, Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness

Lead King Basin is in the Snowmass/Maroon Bells wilderness area, and contains the headwaters of the Crystal River.

It's a great place for day-hikes and backpacking trips.  We camped near Arkansas Mountain, and could see for miles in nearly all directions.  The back of the Maroon Bells were to our east, while the snow-capped mountains to our south made a great backdrop for some of my photos.

The trails still have quite a bit of snow on them, especially above 10,000 feet and in shaded or north-facing areas.  The biggest challenges to hiking the backcountry this time of year are the stream crossings.  The water is high and fast - and very cold. 

approaching spring

Spring comes later to the mountains. A winter storm left snow frosting all the trees when I went out to take this photo. I really liked the wind-sculpted ridges in the snow.

The "mud season" is around the corner, but until then, great days like this are wonderful times to go for hikes in the snow.  The sun is getting pretty high in the sky now, and it feels much warmer than the thermometer would have you believe.

Walking in Sunshine

Sun, wind, gravity, and the unlerlying terrain create unusual shapes in the snow.

This scene was not far from the Marble Road, near the Bogan Flats campground.

More from the Crystal River

Another snowstorm, another snowshoe outing.  The pillowy shapes formed by the snow on the rocks and river banks make the scene look like a fancy dessert.Snowshapes on the river keep drawing me back for more.

Colorado National Monument

A cold morning outing was well worth it for the images I brought back.

 

The trails are snow-packed and icy, but hiking around the base of the Monument isn't difficult.  Winter is a great time to visit many of Colorado's desert destinations.  Not only are they uncrowded (often empty), you'll see them in a very unique way.  The contrast between the rock and snow makes the vistas more striking than the same views in summer.

Nightscape

The January full moon, otherwise known as the Drive Without Headlights Moon, is high and bright, and it's abundant light reflects off the snow to create some fantastic landscapes. I think the shutter was open for about twenty seconds in this one.

 

Once in a while you need to leave the warm comfort of home and head out into the winter night to enjoy views like the one above. 

Snowshoeing on the Crystal River

Winter offers a completely different set of opportunities and challenges - both to exploration and photography.

Snowshoes are my favorite way to explore the backcountry in winter.  It takes about twice the energy to cover a mile as it would hiking in summer, but the rewards are great scenery and an incredible experience.

I recommend carrying spare camera batteries in a pocket that's close to your body.  The cold weather saps the juice from your camera batteries rather quickly.  Other than that, the only other challenge I've found to winter photography is fogging - of the lens, the viewfinder, and my eyeglasses.  My DSLR behaves like a champ in much colder temperatures than my 35mm could handle. 

If you're planning a ski vacation to Colorado, consider taking a day or two to explore the backcountry by snowshoes or cross-country skis.  You probably don't get our here too often in winter, so take advantage of a bad weather day to try a new outdoor activity.