My First BIBE Trip Coming Up in the Middle of January

[Robert]

I think I did my first OML about 15 years ago. Compared to what we took on that trip you are way ahead of the game. My opinion is that what you have will be fine and once you make the trip you will better understand what works for you and what doesn't. Much of the decision making about what to bring comes from personal experience along with your priorities. Without getting out and using what you have you don't have a good frame of reference for making any major changes.

For example, I happen to think the Jetboil is an excellent choice for a stove. It may not be the lightest stove on the market but it certainly isn't the heaviest and it it very easy to use. I also like the idea of using cycling gloves with your poles. I've often thought of doing this myself. Just make sure you have some warmer gloves for the evenings and mornings.

For clothing, make sure you can change into some dry clothes once you have stopped for the day. Your clothes can get fairly drenched in sweat and sunny clear days will get cold quickly once the sun goes down.

The pillow is something I struggled with for years. I have bought about 3-4 different types of pillows and couldn't find one that worked until my wife bought a small travel down pillow. Since it's down it doesn't take up much room in the pack. But it took years for me to find the right one.

We used to take a candle lantern along. It is nice to have another source of light. Now I take a florescent light that also has a flashlight type bulb.

My point is that since you have all the major necessities go ahead a use them for this trip.

[badknees]

1. I didn't see a camera on your list.

2. Personally I like to carry a travel pack of wet wipes with aloe (prevents a chapped....you know what)

3. I'm a Jet Boil fan, and believe it is a good choice.

4. If you are scouting for an OML trip, I would carry more water to get used to it and see what you are up against. I find that the 1 gal/day is a minimum for longer days under pack. It is nice not to short yourself especially if you like tea, coffee, and also do Mountain House - 1 gal goes pretty fast.

5. Duct tape

6. Warm headgear (for nighttime)

[dkerr24]

Regarding the duct tape... an easy way to carry it is to wrap it around one of your hiking poles to dispense as needed.  There are a number of uses for duct tape:

1) Serves as good as moleskin (for preventing blisters) at far less cost.

2) Patch torn clothing.

3) Patch holes in water bottles, tents, air mattresses, etc.

4) Repair 'blown out' shoe soles.  There is a very interesting thread about blown out soles on this website.

5) Prevents rubbing/wearing out of fabric.  For example, my heel tends to wear out the inner lining of most shoes, so I put a piece of duct tape along those sections.

Regarding flashlights, google 'zebralight'.  They make amazing camp/work headlamps that run on a single cell.  Puts out a tremendous amount of light which is perfect for around camp duties.  Not so good for trail hiking as you need a light beam with more throw.  I have the AA version (they also make a CR123 version).  Also google 'Fenix flashlight' for another line of inexpensive (compared to Surefire or Streamlight) but well-made handheld flashlights.  I have the original "L1P" model which also runs on a single AA cell.

[catz]

If you are trying to cut weight, one of the first things I would pitch (no pun intended) is the tent--especially a three-man one.  Unless the forecast specifically calls for a 50% chance of rain or greater, it is very unlikely you will need it.  I've been hiking without a tent for 15 years and have gotten rained on only a couple of times.  If you're really worried about it, there are good-quality but lightweight tarps you can get which will very adequately keep you dry unless you run into a monsoon--almost a zero chance possibility. These tarps pitch using your trekking poles and a few small stakes.

Between the two, I would take the chair over the tent any time.

I am also not much of a fan of flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, etc.  They're heavy and, in my opinion, are rarely worth the weight.   I find that your eyes adjust really well to the dark (especially if there is a moon, but even if not).  It is very rare that I have really regretted not having one at the ready.  But then, I ensure that I will be at camp with everything set up and  with dinner cooked (if not necessarily eaten) before darkness.

[catz]

"On the JetBoil, I had considered the very small MSR unit, but was won over to the JetBoil with the utensils that hook onto the side of the cup, and coffee press.  It boils very fast, so may only need to bring one butane can.  However, need to head over to REI anyhow and will examine some lighter options while I am there."

I have had very good luck with the type where the burner screws on to the fuel cannister.  Weighs basically nothing and you can store it inside your cook pot while you're hiking.  No priming, sets up in about fifteen seconds.  The flame can be adjusted down to almost zero, so when the recipe calls for simmering, you can actually do it.  The newer kinds--including MSR's-- are made to operate on a variety of fuels so you aren't locked into one (unlike like my old Gaz model).

[mule ears]

I have had very good luck with the type where the burner screws on to the fuel cannister.  Weighs basically nothing and you can store it inside your cook pot while you're hiking.  No priming, sets up in about fifteen seconds.  The flame can be adjusted down to almost zero, so when the recipe calls for simmering, you can actually do it.  The newer kinds--including MSR's-- are made to operate on a variety of fuels so you aren't locked into one (unlike like my old Gaz model).

I concur with that, very easy (once you have a canister, if flying in) and if you do "cook" which usually requires some simmering they work great. You will need some kind of windscreen though on the windy side of the stove.

[RichardM]

I am also not much of a fan of flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, etc.  They're heavy and, in my opinion, are rarely worth the weight.   I find that your eyes adjust really well to the dark (especially if there is a moon, but even if not).  It is very rare that I have really regretted not having one at the ready.  But then, I ensure that I will be at camp with everything set up and  with dinner cooked (if not necessarily eaten) before darkness.

I agree with most of that, but I will always make sure I at least have the little LED light I carry on my car key ring. It weighs maybe an ounce and throws a fairly bright and useful beam. I love hiking by moonlight/starlight, but trying to extract cactus needles from your toe without at least some artificial light is a pain, literally.

[Joe]

I always carry at least a headlamp. Sometimes I never use it, but you never know when you may need some light in the middle of the night.

[Cookie]

Regarding the duct tape... an easy way to carry it is to wrap it around one of your hiking poles to dispense as needed.  There are a number of uses for duct tape:

1) Serves as good as moleskin (for preventing blisters) at far less cost.

Duct tape is great! I have never had any luck with moleskin actually sticking for a whole day while hiking. I like to bring a 16 oz water bottle that you can add the single shot drink mixes in (crystal light, electrolyte types, tea, etc.) and then wrap the duct tape around the bottle. It's nice to have something else to drink besides water for 3-4 days, and a great place for the tape. the key is to use to use the duct tape when you first think you might be getting a rub, don't wait till the next brake....I learned the hard way and hiked about 8 miles out of the Guadalupe mtns with a bleeding blister on my heel.

I also like to carry tweezers and fingernail clippers in my pants pocket for quickly getting those pesky thorns out.

Don't forget the wool/knit cap for your mellon!

The pillow is tough. I have a thermarest soft fill one that works pretty good when I wrap my fleece coat around it. My husband packs a buckwheat pillow(heavy) but considers it his "luxury item" and swears it is worth the weight.

What else are you packing to eat besides the freeze dried dinners?
~cookie

[RikD]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the hiking wisdom.  I get the feeling there have been a lot of collective lessons learned out there on the trail.

Robert - Thanks for the input!  I probably am fairly well prepared.  At this point I am just fine tuning the process.  My friend that went out to BIBE over Thanksgiving mentioned that there were many different styles of backpacking.  Some were strict minimalists, and others had packed lots of stuff hanging all over their pack.  Everyone else fell somewhere in between.  When I started this, I think my goal was to stay under 50lbs total weight.  After trying the pack on with 40lbs, the 50lbs may be just a bit much.  Ultimately, I will have to develop my own style.  I will say it's nice to get all of the different perspectives.  BTW, I really do like the Jetboil.

Badknees - Yes, definitely bringing a small digital camera that takes quality pics.  The wipes have been mentioned to me already and are a part of the 40lbs.  I do have some other Nalgene containers, and could bring up to 9 liters of water.  That would put me at 50lbs.  This is something that I will be testing out next week.  I have heard about the duct tape, and glad you (and others now) have mentioned it.  Got some in the garage.  Interesting idea from Dkerr24 about putting it on the trekking poles.  For the head warmth, I have a turtle fur headband.  As well, the top ot the Big Agnes sleeping bag wraps around my head - sort of like a hood on a jacket.  I can imagine that a cold noggin wouldn't be much help in the sleeping department.

Catscats - I actually read another thread that discussed the no tent concept.  Not that I have a phopia of insects, but I just wouldn't like something crawling on me while I am sleeping.  When I was a teenager (many years ago) I did some backpacking in California and ended up with some bugs on my face in the middle of the night.  They didn't do anything to me, but it affected my sleeping for the rest of the night.  My son was in the Army out at Fort Bliss and they slept on the ground without tents out there someplace north of the base.  He got a big spider on his forehead while sleeping.  Fortunately someone saw it before it bit him, and brushed it off.  However, the tent I have is relatively heavy - 6lbs. with the footprint.  On my first trip, I'll be splitting the load with my partner.  If I do a solo trip, I may get the one man MSR, or the Eureka - both under 3lbs.  There is also the bivy that Eureka sells that's about 1.5lbs.  I have looked at them all.

Cookie - That's a good question about food.  I planned to bring one Mountain House dinner for each day.  For breakfast, I eat oatmeal or granola everyday - so will probably get some granola with apples or cherries from the health food section.  I also planned to bring some snack bars.  I really like these bars from "The Garden of Eatin".  I like the bars, that still have enzymes as they help with the digestive process (something I have to keep an eye on these days).  I may also bring some jerkey, and trail mix - lots of good choices out there.  My friend that went out on Thanksgiving, ran into a couple that brought tortillas and spinach leaves with some sort of meat.  He said it looked pretty tasty compared to the MH he was eating. 

-Rik   

[catz]

There are only two recipies of freeze dried that I can tolerate:  the spaghetti and (barely) the so-called enchiladas.  They are definitely convenient, though, and light weight, which are the two reasons I continue to carry them.  And usually even eat!

Totillas I ALWAYS take.  They are the perfect hiking bread (even though they are just a tad heavy).

[Cookie]

If you are trying to cut weight, one of the first things I would pitch (no pun intended) is the tent--especially a three-man one.  Unless the forecast specifically calls for a 50% chance of rain or greater, it is very unlikely you will need it.  I've been hiking without a tent for 15 years and have gotten rained on only a couple of times.  .

Your'e a braver hiker than me! Last time we did the OML, we checked the weather everyday for a week leading up to the trip and got an up-to-date report right before leaving, a very slight chance of rain on day 3. We started in short sleeves and warm temperatures, by the third and last night in the zone camping in Blue Creek it was freezing rain, sleet and snow all night long. We hiked up and over the rim without stopping in the hardest snow I ever want to hike in. Although beautiful in the snow, especially sharing the trail with a buck at he went our direction as bewildered as us, we would have been screwed if we would not have had a tent. Worth every pound!
Of course when we got to the basin, there was just a sprinkling of snow on the roof tops. Gotta love Big Bend!
~Cookie

[Al]

Great shots and it looks y'all were well prepared.  Very well done! 

To the side a quality 10' x 10' tarp, with appropriate ties sewed on it, properly set up, would have protected you well too.  Total Weight: ~2.5 lb plus nylon cords.  A proper tarp (one with ties as well as grommets) is very flexible with setups ranging from high and just for shade, to hunkering down when the wind blows with precipitation. One does need to know how to set a tarp up for various conditions which is not rocket science. For those worried about bugs and critters, I've never had a problem in Big Bend in the winter. Too cold for those guys, especially at night. The flexibility of a tarp is nice.

Al

[mule ears]

Great shots and it looks y'all were well prepared.  Very well done! 

To the side a quality 10' x 10' tarp, with appropriate ties sewed on it, properly set up, would have protected you well too.  Total Weight: ~2.5 lb plus nylon cords.  A proper tarp (one with ties as well as grommets) is very flexible with setups ranging from high and just for shade, to hunkering down when the wind blows with precipitation. One does need to know how to set a tarp up for various conditions which is not rocket science. For those worried about bugs and critters, I've never had a problem in Big Bend in the winter. Too cold for those guys, especially at night. The flexibility of a tarp is nice.

Al

I agree completely, a good tarp is a great lightweight, flexible option. I actually use an old North Face rain fly that I set up with two trekking poles (17 oz. with 6 stakes). In 2004 we (2 people)used it for an unexpected inch of snow in Juniper canyon and had a warm and dry night. I also have never had any bug or critter bother me in the desert sleeping out in the open.