Big South Fork 2022

Jason's Tips

• Pro Tip #1 - if water filters freeze they can no longer be trusted to work effectively. If you store your water filter in a garage that gets below freezing in the winter, you should replace it. This also applies if you go on winter hikes, winter trips and are not diligent in keeping the filter in your jacket pocket during the day or sleeping bag at night. There is no way to check the integrity of a sawyer squeeze. If in doubt, I'd replace!

• Pro Tip #2 - Waterproof your pack with redundancy. Options include Water proof dry sacks, pack that is made from water proof matierial, pack cover, pack liner (trash compactor bag, trash bag). I would pick 2. If your pack is not made of waterproof material I would use a pack cover to save the weight of water soaking into your packs material. Water resistant coatings on nylon cannot be counted on to stay dry during an extended rain. Seems on waterproof packs will allow water in, making redundant protection with a pack liner necessary. If your down gets wet in cool temps it can be a trip ender.

• Pro Tip #3 - Freeze dried meals can be difficult to pack. The packaging is quite rigid and bulky. One way to make your food more packable is to repackage each meal in quart sized freezer bags. THEY MUST BE FREEZER BAGS, as normal ziplock bags will melt when boiling water is added. I usually take a sharpie and write on the bag what the meal is, how much water to add, and the time suggested to rehydrate (info from original packaging). I then remove the oxygen absorber and put food into ziplock. Be sure to remove excess air and seal it up. Then I take all the meals now tightly packaged and place into a gallon sized ziplock bags for double protection.

• Pro tip # 4 - Nalgene bottle are commonly used for hiking, but are heavy. An empty 1 liter nalgene weighs about 6 ounces. Most people carry 2 of them, so that is 12 ounces of weight BEFORE water is added. A lighter alternative is to buy two 1 liter smart water or life water bottles. These weigh about 1.2 ounces a piece, saving you about 10 ounces of pack weight! One good reason to stick with a Nalgene bottle however would be if you fear your sleep system may be a bit inadequate. Prior to going to bed you can put hot water into a standard nalgene and put it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. This will act like a space heater and keep the inside of your bag toasty warm. I would put the bottle inside a plastic bag for leak protection.

• Pro Tip $5 - For many people getting a good night's sleep in the back country can be challenging. Unfamiliar bed, unfamiliar unnerving sounds, fellow campers snoring nearby all can be a challenge. Bring earplugs! They add almost no weight and really help with trouble sleeping. Benedryl or Tylenol PM is also a good sleep aid if you really struggle sleeping in the woods.

• Pro Tip #6 - Take food and trash out of your pack at night. Best practice is to hang it. This includes all snacks out of your pockets. Mice and squirrels will eat through your pack and or even your tent to access food damaging your gear.

• Pro Tip #7 - Pack your pack with things you will only need at camp in the bottom (sleeping bag/quilt/pad, shelter). The things you may need while hiking should be near the top (the day's food, your down jacket for stops, rain gear). Keep your water filter on the outside of your pack for easy access.

• Pro tip # 8 - Down jackets and down sleeping gear lose insulating value once wet. Forecast shows we will get some rain. It is imperative to protect these items as our low temps appear to be getting into mid to low 30s. Cold and wet can be dangerous.

• Pro Tip # 9 - Give your family the number for our satellite phones. See numbers below. Phones will be turned on during each meal time. Please only have them send messages for emergencies. Please tell your wives/lovers not to send pillow talk/miss you/I need you-type messages, as all messages will be reviewed by Kris and I and discussed openly around the campfire. I routinely send my wife a message each morning and each night to let her know “all is well”. If you want someone who cares about you to receive that message send me their cell phone number in a separate message. Jason Satellite Phone - (551) 302-4888 Kris Satellite Phone - (310) 905-5852

• Pro Tip # 10 - Keep your phone on airplane mode. This conserves battery and allows you to still take photos. You’re on vacation! One of the best benefits about backpacking is it forces you to disconnect from the world. Tik tok, Twitter, and Facebook will still be around for you to use when we get off the trail (unfortunately).

• Pro tip #11 - Bring a SMALL duffel bag with a towel, body wash, and a change of clothes to leave in the vehicles. It seems that we may have access to a shower house when we finish.