Slack Packing

[ZEKE #2]

When a hiker "slack packs" what essentials does one take with them and what do they carry them in?

I would think, depending on the section of the trail that you are hiking, you would need water, food, raingear (?)...

[bfitz]

Headlamp!!!!

[Alligator]

The 10 essentials would be a good place to start. I ran into some slackpackers recently though, and they were carrying at most food, water, and a rain jacket. In fact, I was able to tell they were slackpacking because they looked like thrus and they were carrying next to nothing. (Ok, maybe they had a few other things in their pockets.)

[Footslogger]

[quote=ZEKE #2]When a hiker "slack packs" what essentials does one take with them and what do they carry them in?
===================================
Everything you'll need or think you might need for the number of hours being hiked. Ironically, slackpacking rarely if ever allows me to cover a lot more miles than I normally would. The big difference is that you're not hauling your full load of gear/clothing.

That said ...anything can happen when you're out there, whether you're carrying your full pack or a daypack. Take plenty of snacks. Include a warm jacket or shirt/raingear if you're hiking where/when the temps are likely to change a lot. Throw in your first aid kit and some TP. As already mentioned, include your headlamp in case you end up hiking out in the dark. Last but not least, take a large capacity water bladder or multiple small water containers and whatever you'll need to filter/purify your water.

[SGT Rock]

I think Ms Janet can tell some stories about thrus slack packing and it taking them longer to do a section than they thought. I think that is why she offers to loan some old book bags and such there so you can carry a few items.

[Alligator]

I think Ms Janet can tell some stories about thrus slack packing and it taking them longer to do a section than they thought. I think that is why she offers to loan some old book bags and such there so you can carry a few items.

As a matter of fact, two of the slackpackers I ran into were behind schedule.

[The Solemates]

I wasn't slackpacking, but I spent this past weekend in the Smokies with only these things:

Camelbak bladder-backpack (about 1000 cu in., excluding the water bladder)
100 oz. Camelbak water bladder
30 deg sleeping bag
3/4 ZRest
small pot
rain jacket
TP
bug dope
iodine
enough food for the weekend
the clothes i was wearing

It was awesome; Ive never traveled so light. My whole pack weighed less than 10 lbs.

[Two Speed]

Gonna have to change your trail name to "Wolf 23001."

[Skidsteer]

I wasn't slackpacking, but I spent this past weekend in the Smokies with only these things...

What did you cook with? A cookfire?

[jazilla]

What the heck is slack packing?

[Alligator]

What the heck is slack packing?

It's when a hiker who normally carries a full pack instead hikes a section with less than the full load. Like dayhiking. Someone may drop the hikers pack X miles ahead or the hiker may return to a home base.

[StarLyte]

It's when a hiker who normally carries a full pack instead hikes a section with less than the full load. Like dayhiking. Someone may drop the hikers pack X miles ahead or the hiker may return to a home base.

what's dayhiking?

[Alligator]

what's dayhiking?

It's when you don't carry a full overnight pack on the trail as you don't have any plans to overnight. It's a bit like slackpacking .

[StarLyte]

It's when you don't carry a full overnight pack on the trail as you don't have any plans to overnight. It's a bit like slackpacking .

Alligator-
I was being sarcastic but funny.
Now I have to apologize.
Unless that little blue winkly face knew.
M

[Alligator]

Alligator-
I was being sarcastic but funny.
Now I have to apologize.
Unless that little blue winkly face knew.
M

No need to apologize. I'm vaguely familiar with the use of sarcasm.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...asm#post103894

[FLHiker]

What's Hiking?

[Alligator]

What's Hiking?

Hiking is a form of recreation where participants travel to natural settings to put one foot in front of the other. Like walking.

[FLHiker]

oh,

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Cool

[berninbush]

Before someone asks.... walking is the process of moving oneself forward by constantly falling... with style. And catching oneself with one's feet.

[Alligator]

I'm glad you answered BB because I was chewing gum.