Getting set for backpacking can be almost Zen. What’s important in your life? Do you focus on being prepared for every emergency and carry a fair bit of medical equipment? Do you focus on nature’s capriciousness and prepare for sudden changes in weather? Do you carry pounds and pounds of water, because water is what’s essential and natural sources may be inadequate? Or do you go superlight and trust to speed and agility under those circumstances to get you through?
I could go on. But look in someone’s pack, and I think you would learn a fair bit about the person.
Fran and I enjoy wilderness camping, and having proper clothing is a practical matter. However I remember vividly one summer night in the middle of nowhere when the temperature was warm and dry, the moon was out, there was nothing bad underfoot, and most miraculously, no bugs! Once Fran and I got out of our hiking equipment, there was simply no reason to put anything else on. It was a magical time. We’ve never had a temperature event like that since, and comfort otherwise trumps any claims of “naturism.”
Comment by admin — March 2, 2009 @ 12:16 am