Archive for January, 2011
Backpacking in Grand Teton National Park
Hiking has always been a part of my life. Even when I was a little baby, my dad would strap me to his front in a baby carrier and up into the mountains we’d go; though, according to the video and photographs I’ve seen I was content to sleep most of the time. When I got older my family would go on weekend camping trips in National parks. I also honed my hiking and camping skills in the Boy Scouts.
I graduated from college this past May, and as our final hurrah before heading off into the real world, my college buddies and I decided to go backpacking in Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton is just south of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The alpine geography is gorgeous and was an incredible to explore. Lightweight backpacking, with dome tents, portable stoves, and minimal food, was definitely the right decision. Had we carried too much with us we would not have had the energy to explore so much of the park.
Packing a Backpack Tent
Breaking down a campsite can be a pain, particularly breaking down a tent. Most people assume that rolling or folding a tent is most effective, but that is not the case. Folding a tent is one of the worst things to do because fabric breaks down along creases, which can compromise water resistance. Simply stuffing a tent into the pack bag is the best option.
Start by unhooking the rain fly from the tent poles. Shake off any water, dirt and debris, and then stuff the rain fly into the bottom of the pack bag. Unhook the tent poles, pull out tent stakes and any other tent accessories and place those items in their appropriate pouches. Finally, pick up the tent, shake off any dirt and moisture, and then stuff the tent into the pack bag.