33 Top Tips From Trail Pros

i never get all the hate i read in these comment sections...not that i worship the ground he walks on, but didn't ralston climb all of colorado's 14rs during the winter...that is no small task and it at least deserves some respect

The Sea To Summit waterproof stuff sack also work great for a pillow. It is a little small but otherwise very comfortable

from river trips to bagdad sleeping holes i have had my trusty camelback that i fill every night and close the valve, i cant find a better pillow

Anyone know of good set up or backpack for backpacking for photographers. is there a backpacker style that is slightly modified for a photographer taking a SLR 2-3 lenses, flash etc. hit me back at rellima@hotmail.com would be great, Cheers

Anthony

Gauthier's advice wins. Nice to get such verification from a pro. 'cept for the iPod part. Leave the iPod home and listen to the sounds of nature.

Like I would ever take outdoor advice from Aron Ralston! The guys a jerk and is in the same league as the jerk from Into the Wild.

Survivalist...no...a-holes.

I created an expanded Excel spreadsheet w/all my mountain climbing gear essentials. I always have a running total of ounces which is very critical for an solo minimalist. My (4) page spreadsheet covers everything from my food to the specifics of all my gear. Amazing how many people I have emailed this to for their own modifications. chris.yeager@mac.com

Years ago I went on my merry way for a 5 dayer. You know, it's the lack of the simplest thing: my pot handle! Okay, I know it wasn't a big deal, just a nice bit of convenience. So when I got home, I developed my "Backpacker's Checklist". Now I just whip out a page and touch each bit of gear and "check it off the list" as I put it into my pack. I actually sold them in 20 sheet pads at REI, but alas, that was an earlier era for me.

So where exactly are the 33 Top Tips this article is boasting? All I can find are 6 short paragraphs about a few items they seem to always bring with them?

While the first person who commented on this story is as much of a douchebag as he believes the writers of the story are, I have to agree that this is a really lazy piece of journalism. I could have written this after spending an hour in the library. If you're going to hunt down big names, do it, or lessen your expectations. I'm sure tips from top park rangers would be just as valuable as a guy who has summited a dozen peaks. It's the "real life" element that makes people want to read.

Wow! 6 "real" quotes...Brown doesn't count for those us below 18,000ft and Skurka is a douche. And then 4 pages of lifted quotes out of books that I could walk the 3 feet to my bookcase to read? Friggin' linkbait. Don't lure me to your site with schattastic promises and then try to get me to subscribe to your schattrastical magazine. Mundane douchebag journalism.

Good Point Mr. Big,

Oh, just one thing...
I believe we all STARTED as the weekend warrior, we've all had that one or two (or five)experiences where we didn't perhaps follow the best course of action and put ourselves in harm's way. I can certainly recall carrying to much gear , not properly packed, and realizing I had everything I needed except what I needed at that particular moment. But then again, I'm not Mr. Big...
Thank you BACKPACKER magazine, for providing the best of all aspects of the packing lifestyle. From down and dirty EXPERT advice to adventure pieces to lighten the mood and learn from. I belive the real Experts are those who can tell the difference.
Tally ho!

Ed Viestur's journal is similar to the lists that I have been recommending for years to Boy Scouts. We call the two lists, "Shudda's" for the things that you should have brought and "Shudd-na's" for the items that you should not have brought on backpacking trips. As to coffee makers, I bring a brew bag. Hey, we're a'sposta be ruffin it!

I'm amazed with Skurka saving 6hr. in 7mo.
I guess smelling any roses is surely out of the the plan. Wow!
Great Job! I guess?

Come on BackPacker you really are pandering to the Mall Set. Aron Ralston, I read his book, an accident looking for a place to happen and you hold him up as an authority. Give me a break.

While I agree with Brittany, that Aron's escape from Blue John is quite amazing. I'm glad to know that his new found fame is being channeled to fight for our wilderness as well. However, Disappointed has a valid point. His choices do go against many fundamental safety principles; and is one of the main things that put him in his Blue John situation. Had someone known where he went, or had others been with him; his situation would have been different... I don't know how much I would trust advice on what to carry from him. Definitely a good lesson in perseverance and not giving up though...

I feel like BACKPACKER is becoming the voice of weekend warriors who think a good backpacking trip consists of 5 of your most drunk friends and 60 pounds of thoughtless gear purchased at REI. "Experts" are people who gained fame from being stupid, people who have lugged senseless gear for miles on end without a thought to improve their situation, or people who are willing to eat a few bugs here and there to prove they are more manly then the next guy. Most equipment in BACKPACKER is from mass marketing even if carrying something so heavy, so big, and so durable, is simply useless and kills the pleasure of being outside in the first place. BACKPACKER, please get back to basics. Understand that the adventure is the story - not the portable coffee maker or the 5 changes of clothing. Understand that the experts are the people who have tried their best, failed, and learned from it, and people who have found new and innovative ways to make the experience better by exploring alternatives to lighten the load and fabrics which make more of an impact.

Andrew Skurka - You've got to be kidding.

Andrew Skurka - You've got to be kidding.

My problem is that I have too many favorite things, and getting my pack weight down is always interesting! While I was a scoutmaster, I would find boys forgetting things such as jackets, sleeping bags, etc..... I guess that is where I got my habit of packing extra gear :)

Bill
www.ScoutLists.com

To Aron Ralston and Backpacker,
Why would you want to promote such an idiot? He breaks common sense rules that you publish every day yet you put his picture up and endorse his blatant disregard for safety? Hopefully a big name isn't needed to make this magazine; rather you should be promoting smarter people who won't get themselves in his situation from the get go.

This is to Aron Ralston.
You have inspired me so much.
I just wanted to say thank you for doing what you did. Many people wouldn't do what you did that day in the canyon. I really do appreciate that.

I don't put foot on the trail without triple-checking for my $1.00 plastic poncho. Recently, I survived a 15 minute thunderstorm that went from sprinkle to horizontal rain with hail in heartbeat - and I was caught on a high ridge. I threw on my poncho and crouched down on a nearby log and hoped for the best. After the wild storm, the shirt I was wearing was bone dry. Bonus points that I had caught a nice pool of water in my lap.

After 4 years my trusty boots turned on me, probably from all the wading I did that day hiking in Escalante, giving me 7 blisters. I was dreading the hike out the next day. I found that instead of making moleskin donuts for each blister, I used "corn pads" shaped like donuts. They come in small sheets with numerous pads. I had no pain on the hike out. Now I don't leave home without them!

I survived a 30 below 0 blizzard with a 20+ sleeping bag, a thermarest, my 4 season tent, and a Nalgene bottle. I boiled water at about 10pm, put it in the nalgene, and slep with it in my sleeping bag. At 6am the water in the bottle was still just warmer than my body temp and i was cozy all night long.