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| UL Backpacking on the HRP trail in the Pyrenees, 2012. |
Today I was asked a few practical questions about how I go about organising an ultralight backpacking trip. I thought I would share the response more widely for anyone who is interested in taking up this activity. It should be mentioned that the inquiry was made in response to this kind of video on my youtube page.
How do you find these treks?
I basically like 2 kinds of environment: the high Alpine zone and the rocky limestone coastal regions of the eastern Mediterranean. As you can see from my youtube page, most of my treks are in these regions, with the majority in the Alps, the Pyrenees or Greece. There are many classic long distance treks in these areas, and I always check out the route and trip reports on the internet before I make up my mind to go.This page is especially useful.
For the alpine region, I am looking to spend as much time as possible above the tree line, with the possibility of covering about 25 km horizontally and 2000 m vertically per day. This is a good website to use to find out what long-distance alpine trails are available.
For the eastern Mediterranean, the choice is more limited. There are few long distance trails in Greece, but Kate Clow's series of books about walking in Turkey are worth exploring.
How do you navigate?
In the Alps there are many good maps you can use. However, if you are a long distance walker, you end up buying a lot of these and they are surprisingly expensive and heavy! Best I have found is to use a GPS and load the maps and waymarks onto to it before you go. A simple handheld GPS unit (like my Garmin eTrex Vista) weighs the same as a map or two actually so it makes sense.
How do you preplan everything? How do you know what kind of clothes you need or how much food/water you need?
Most alpine regions in Europe have the same weather and the same terrain for any particular time of year. So in the summer walking season no matter where you are you can expect the odd thunder storm and burning sun when up above the tree line on a clear day (suncream ESSENTIAL). For me, I walk for 10 to 12 hours a day, so I always keep moving. This means that I only really need to make sure that I have enough equipment to keep warm at night. Most days, I walk with a long sleeved synthetic baselayer, summer pants and a light rain jacket to act as a windbreaker when up high (Outdoor Research Helium Rainjacket is my current favourite: 192 grams). At the end of the day in camp. I will add a down insulating layer under my windbreaker (Montbell UL Down Jacket 218 grams) and a buff head band if I am sitting outside. But mostly, I get into my sleeping bag (Alpkit Pipedream 400, 750 grams) which has kept me toasty warm even at minus 2. That was one night in high wind at 2,700 m under a glacier and I do not think that I will ever experience anything colder than this in the summer walking season.
Full details of my summer alpine equipment here.
One thing I should add: I do not carry a spare set of clothes. I watch the weather very carefully and always think about where the nearest shelter is. If I get stuck in bad weather, I know that I can always put up my tent, take off wet clothes, dry myself with a towel, get into my sleeping bag and sit it out.
Trekking in the European mountain ranges you are never more than half a day from some form of habitation: a refuge, a village a farm. Also, the lighter you are, the faster you can move and the more frequently you come across such places. Normally, I carry oats and sugar which I mix with water and eat for breakfast and lunch. I never carry a stove. Water is available EVERYWHERE. After all, the terrestrial half of the water cycle begins in the mountains with rainfall as well as melting snow and ice. Nevertheless, I always bring chloride tablets to purify water when I cannot see the source from which it has come.
Almost every day I will come across a refuge or town and pick up something nice like a sandwich or cake to go. This will be my evening's treat. Naturally I tend to pig out when I find a shop: food seldom tastes so good than when you are hungry and exhausted!
More careful planning is needed in Turkey or the Moroccan Atlas which are wilder locations. Still, I have never needed to carry more than 3 days food even there.
I hope this helps to answer your questions. Just let me know if there is anything else I can help you with!
