Backpack capacity for overnight hiking ~ Mt. Whitney hiking as an example

Stuff I carried to Mt. Whitney Hiking in 2016

Other than that, I also carry a sleeping pad and a camera

   When people go hiking overnight, people need to carry some extra stuff such as a tent, cookware, stove, fuel and etc.   Then people need to pick a larger backpack.  The question is how big backpack they need.   It also depends on how many nights people stay on the trail and how many people are in your group.   The other factor is how much weight a person can carry.  Obviously if people cannot carry it, there is no point pick a big backpack.  This tradeoff is how we define detail plan for a hiking.   Some cases, it might not be possible to do.   So it is very difficult to discuss what would be a right capacity in general.

   Then, we probably need to specify and limit a condition to discuss such topic.  Here is one of example I can share.  In the past, I have some overnight hiking to Mt. Whitney.   My condition is number of nights are one or two.  Number of people in the group is also one or two.  Then, I picked either 40-litter or 70-litter backpack for those hiking.

   When I went there with somebody, then we can split some stuff with them.  Therefore, stuff I really need to carry by myself is less.  If it is just one or two nights, I may be able to use 40-litter backpack when we can split them even.   However if I need to carry most of stuff, I might need to use 70-litters.   In the past I picked 70-litter 3 times out of 5.  I picked 40-litter twice.  For Mt. Whitney, storing all foods in a bear canister is mandatory, therefore this is one of key thing to pick a backpack.  Originally, I got a large canister and I used it even if I went there alone.   However it is too much for a few people with just a few nights.   It is too large to pack in a smaller backpack.  It is not efficient.  So that I got a smaller one for this year.  Then I will be able to pack everything into 40-litter backpack.  So 40-litter is probably all right even if I carry everything by myself for a few nights on Mt. Whitney Trail in summer time.   However people needs to pick stuff carefully.

A wild bird is in an extinction crisis

 Marbled Murrelet ~ extinction crisis 

   During climbing / backpacking, people usually do not use water for cleaning their tableware, silverware and cookware so much.  Typically, they use paper to wipe and clean them.  I usually carry bath tissue for this purpose.   However, many people still wash them with water during a typical family camping.  Also, people use some disposal stuff to avoid cleaning.  I think this is okay as long as they keep clean around a faucet.  For example, using a bucket to wash them instead of using water from a faucet directly.  Because using water from faucet directly, some of food wastes could be on the ground.  Many faucet at a camp site typically does not have a sink.  Therefore, there might be higher chance to spread the food waste without using bucket.  

   I found out a policy change in a state park when I camped there in May this year.   They started charge a large amount of fine if people leave some food wastes at a camping area.  It is a kind of common sense for all campers.   But there is another reason people need to pay special attention for their food.  Because some of wild birds are in an extinction crisis.  Some of foods and food wastes that human bring to a campsite is a big cause of braking the food chain.  One of big problems in the park is ravens.  Its population is getting increased due to some food / food waste around the camping area.  Then they will eat eggs for those wild birds.  Originally, the population of raven in the area was not so many.  But many people start coming to the camping area and leave some foods / foods waste, therefore ravens are also coming to the area to look for those foods and their population is getting increased.

Raven

   That is the reason the park decided to define a new regulation to control those foods in the camping area.  As a part of changes, I also saw a sign which says “DO NOT WASH xxxx”.  Even though I still saw some food wastes around the faucet.   I guess this is because it is hard to identify who did in the faucet which is in a common area.  If it is a camp site, it is obvious who did.  Also, most of people do not take this very seriously because they probably do not know the background of the regulation.   For our group, we often attend a ranger hosted camp-fire many times.  At the camp-fire, a ranger kept explaining what actually is going on.  So people really understand the situation and understand why we need to do.  The problem is many people are not aware what is going on.

   We probably better to pay more attention what is really going on the area where we enjoy our outdoor activities.   It is not so difficult to manage the foods and food wastes during our camping.  Cleaning them is one of areas we might need to consider different way during a family camping.   Just using a bucket, will help not to spread food waste as well as saving a lot of water during cleaning.   Also, it might be a good idea to wipe them before washing.

Poison Oak

 Poison Oak

   There is an unexpected plant “poison oak” in all hiking trail around San Francisco Bay area.   The plants may cause itching and allergic rashes.  It is better not to touch them.  However, it might be hard to avoid during hiking in the area.   The best way to minimize the risk would be wearing long sleeve shirt and pants.  Then, it is better to wash using a special soap, which can be bought in outdoor stores and drag stores in the area, after the outdoor activities.   Also, it is better not to touch outer wear after hiking where people see poison oak.  It is better to wash after the hiking without touching any other stuff.  

It is beautiful, but .... 

   For me, I have never had a problem with poison oak after outdoor activities.   However, I saw some people, who were doing almost the same thing during the outdoor activities as myself, got really bad allergic rashes.  So it is really depending on person.  Some people could be very sensitive with them.

   There are a few parks where they are cut intentionally to avoid such problem.  A ranger in a state park mentioned, the park is usually cut poison oak to protect visitors.  Except such parks, almost all hiking trails have them.  Especially people take dogs and / or cats to outdoor, they need to pay special attention to them.  Or no matter they touch them or not, it would be better to wash after go home or before getting into a car.   If they touch poison oak and human touch those animals, then human may get allergic rash.  Whenever people wash by themselves or animals, they must use a special soap.  If people use a regular soap, it will get worse such as spreading the rash.

Special soap for poison oak

   If the rash spread your body, it is better to see a doctor as early as possible before getting worse.