Jul 13, 2021

Backpacking - the bad way

Here at Fossil Outdoor we like to get outside and experience nature. We are experts in moisture transport technology to dry your hydration bladder and other hydration gear. We are not always so competent when it comes to the activities we engage in. One activity that we have a hard time with is Backpacking. We love it, but we are serial over packers.

Recently a couple of us went out on the southern end of the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) on an overnighter to Dardanellas Lake. This is on the east side of the lake but on the California side. We started from the Big Meadow trailhead and hiked south. The weather was in the high 80's, sunny, but the trail was well shaded.

When we arrived at Dardanellas Lake we encountered a large group which included a lot of children. This was impressive because of how remote the lake was. We quickly learned that they had used Lamas as pack stock which only made slightly more sense given the number of people. I am going to estimate 50 including the children. We hiked a bit further to give them space and not disturb whatever they were up to.

We found a great campsite atop some granite slabs with a very flat surface. This was the spot.

Given the distance, and duration of the hike we knew that our packs were way too heavy. You see, the reason we know we are bad backpackers is because we believed every single item that we brought with use was extremely necessary. A great backpacker could probably whittle our supply down to a manageable weight and have an equally enjoyable experience.

Here is the list of items in my pack:

BōnDry - hydration pack dryer (I needed it for pictures)
3L Hydration Bladder
Kelty 2 person tent
Sleeping Bag
Sawyer Mini
Jet Boil
Jet boil propane can (small)
Rope
Bear bag (I suggest getting a bear can)
Two dehydrated meals - Backpacker's Pantry
First Aid Kit
Camp Stool
Headlamp
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Coffee
1 Shirt
1 Pants
1 Running Shorts (This is what a prefer to hike in)
2 Pairs Socks
Rain jacket
In-Reach Mini
Toilet Paper
Trekking poles (not in pack)
Camp shoes
Nomadix Towel
2 Ichy IPA's

Not the perfect list to be sure. It is worth mentioning that I am a side sleeper and really wished I had packed an inflatable pillow. The wadded up clothes I tried to use just don't do the job.

Overall it was a great time, and we look forward to continuing to be more or less prepared on future trips.

What would you do differently?