How not to prepare for a pack trip
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:36 pm
This is kinda embarrassing to share this, but others have shared some of their failures or harrowing experiences and it has helped others learn, so I’ll share my own epic fail from last weekend even though it’s certainly not my highest moment of backpacking. I was supposed to meet up with some of the HST crew (Old Ranger and Marksor) in the Woodchuck area for some fishing. I had been part of the planning for months and was really looking forward to meeting some of the HST crew and getting to do some back country fishing with them.
Now, while I am no backcountry mountaineer and have done far fewer trips than many on this site such as the guys I would be hiking with, I’ve been at it since the mid 70’s and my background as a geologist has me quite comfortable with cross country travel and route finding. However, one thing I need to account for more these days is I’m just really getting back into packing after only going on a few pack trips in the 00’s. Choices, career, and youth sports limited me to just 3 pack trips in the 00’s. But as my kids have moved on to college and out of the house, I have revived my passion for backpacking and have gone on 6 trips since 2011. In fact, my children (19 and 24) our now venturing out on their own into the backcountry, and if there’s one talk I always give them, it’s the old “try and acclimate before the hike, get plenty of rest, and stay hydrated” spiel. So of course I always follow my own advice right? Well as it turns out, not always. :retard:
By chance, my work required I be in Sacramento on Friday, so I couldn’t make the Friday start with the others. Add to that that I didn’t get all of my stuff together before I left on the work trip, so I still had to pack and do some last minute shopping before I could hit the road. This is not my typical MO for getting ready for a pack trip, but it was for this one. Long story short, it was midnight before I was packed and closer to 1:00 am when I hit the sack. I also had not picked up my wilderness permit, so I had to wait until the Forest Service office opened in Prather in the morning.
So I got up at about 5:30 with about 4 hours of sleep, drove from my home in Clovis (~350’ in elevation) to Prather to pick up my permit, and then on to the trailhead at ~ 8,200’. Knowing I needed to have something to eat before I took off, I grabbed some greasy fast food on the way up. I ski regularly at our local ski resort (elevation about 7,000’ at the base), and I typically do quite well going from Clovis to the resort and skiing in the same day so acclimation is not typically an issue for me.
I got going a little after 10:00 am and noticed I wasn’t really myself right away. I was sweaty and my stomach was queasy. I figured a granola bar and some water would smooth things over and I would just tough it out. I made it about a mile into the trip and had just made my way up to a point at ~ 8,600’, where I planned hike across a canyon and join the main trail. However, near the top of the ridge I became very dizzy and light headed. Luckily, I was near a good shaded spot and had some water. I dropped my pack and drank some more water, hoping to clear up my head. It didn’t work. I was overcome by nausea and I got sick. I was very dizzy and very near passing out (may have, not sure), and I knew I had to stop and rest. Still the old geologist in me figured I would be able to continue. I tried to convince myself that a 20-minute power nap would replenish my energy and I would be able to continue on.
I woke up to find myself hot, sweaty, and in the direct sun. I looked at my watch and it was a little after 1:30 in the afternoon. I had been asleep for over two hours and I still felt like crap. I had to make a few choices at this time. Continue on? Sure I could, but I doubted I would get to the lake that afternoon. Still, I could camp at the lake in front of it and make my way to the guys on Day 2. This might have been about the time I made what I now think was my first smart decision of the day. I still had to drop down cross country about 400’ and then up another 300’ or so to the trail. Nothing technically nasty, but off trail none the less. I stood up and found myself weak and my legs were shaky. I knew that my best option was to turn around and head back to the trailhead, but I was distressed about not meeting my friends at the lake. What would they think? Would they be worried and change their plans and maybe place themselves in harm’s way? I was seriously conflicted, but after some time, I knew I needed to head out as much as it pained me to do so.
What took about an hour to do on the way in, took me over two hours to do on the way out. I was still nauseas and dizzy and had to stop often (not that my being slow is that unusual, just worse than normal). I refilled my water bottle by a small stream and the cool water actually made me feel a bit better for once, so I rested some more. Finally back at the car I rested for another half an hour before leaving a note for OR and Marksor and letting know what happened to me. I then headed back to Wishon Reservoir. By chance, some friends were camping at the resort and I saw them at the store. They were concerned and said I didn’t look well. I kinda laughed and said I think I feel worse than I look. I spent some time with them in camp, and actually started feeling a bit better in the late afternoon after some rest and good food. They invited me to stay, but I packed it up and headed home with my tail between my legs like one thoroughly whooped puppy.
All of this falls firmly on my shoulders. I broke almost every rule I have for going on a pack trip and I paid the price. You would think a guy in his 50’s with my experience would know better, and I do, but??????. I should have gotten my things together far earlier than I did, and I should have spent the day before at elevation to acclimate myself. With the fact that I didn’t get organized or a good night’s rest, I should have delayed the start one day and just hung around Wishon and Courtright to acclimate and get a good night’s rest, and then started the following day. I’m sure I also concerned those who were expecting me to show up. I sincerely apologize for that, but in the end I knew the best option for me was to retreat, so I could return to hike another day.
My hope in sharing this with all of you is that others can learn from my poor planning and hopefully won’t make the same mistakes.
Now, while I am no backcountry mountaineer and have done far fewer trips than many on this site such as the guys I would be hiking with, I’ve been at it since the mid 70’s and my background as a geologist has me quite comfortable with cross country travel and route finding. However, one thing I need to account for more these days is I’m just really getting back into packing after only going on a few pack trips in the 00’s. Choices, career, and youth sports limited me to just 3 pack trips in the 00’s. But as my kids have moved on to college and out of the house, I have revived my passion for backpacking and have gone on 6 trips since 2011. In fact, my children (19 and 24) our now venturing out on their own into the backcountry, and if there’s one talk I always give them, it’s the old “try and acclimate before the hike, get plenty of rest, and stay hydrated” spiel. So of course I always follow my own advice right? Well as it turns out, not always. :retard:
By chance, my work required I be in Sacramento on Friday, so I couldn’t make the Friday start with the others. Add to that that I didn’t get all of my stuff together before I left on the work trip, so I still had to pack and do some last minute shopping before I could hit the road. This is not my typical MO for getting ready for a pack trip, but it was for this one. Long story short, it was midnight before I was packed and closer to 1:00 am when I hit the sack. I also had not picked up my wilderness permit, so I had to wait until the Forest Service office opened in Prather in the morning.
So I got up at about 5:30 with about 4 hours of sleep, drove from my home in Clovis (~350’ in elevation) to Prather to pick up my permit, and then on to the trailhead at ~ 8,200’. Knowing I needed to have something to eat before I took off, I grabbed some greasy fast food on the way up. I ski regularly at our local ski resort (elevation about 7,000’ at the base), and I typically do quite well going from Clovis to the resort and skiing in the same day so acclimation is not typically an issue for me.
I got going a little after 10:00 am and noticed I wasn’t really myself right away. I was sweaty and my stomach was queasy. I figured a granola bar and some water would smooth things over and I would just tough it out. I made it about a mile into the trip and had just made my way up to a point at ~ 8,600’, where I planned hike across a canyon and join the main trail. However, near the top of the ridge I became very dizzy and light headed. Luckily, I was near a good shaded spot and had some water. I dropped my pack and drank some more water, hoping to clear up my head. It didn’t work. I was overcome by nausea and I got sick. I was very dizzy and very near passing out (may have, not sure), and I knew I had to stop and rest. Still the old geologist in me figured I would be able to continue. I tried to convince myself that a 20-minute power nap would replenish my energy and I would be able to continue on.
I woke up to find myself hot, sweaty, and in the direct sun. I looked at my watch and it was a little after 1:30 in the afternoon. I had been asleep for over two hours and I still felt like crap. I had to make a few choices at this time. Continue on? Sure I could, but I doubted I would get to the lake that afternoon. Still, I could camp at the lake in front of it and make my way to the guys on Day 2. This might have been about the time I made what I now think was my first smart decision of the day. I still had to drop down cross country about 400’ and then up another 300’ or so to the trail. Nothing technically nasty, but off trail none the less. I stood up and found myself weak and my legs were shaky. I knew that my best option was to turn around and head back to the trailhead, but I was distressed about not meeting my friends at the lake. What would they think? Would they be worried and change their plans and maybe place themselves in harm’s way? I was seriously conflicted, but after some time, I knew I needed to head out as much as it pained me to do so.
What took about an hour to do on the way in, took me over two hours to do on the way out. I was still nauseas and dizzy and had to stop often (not that my being slow is that unusual, just worse than normal). I refilled my water bottle by a small stream and the cool water actually made me feel a bit better for once, so I rested some more. Finally back at the car I rested for another half an hour before leaving a note for OR and Marksor and letting know what happened to me. I then headed back to Wishon Reservoir. By chance, some friends were camping at the resort and I saw them at the store. They were concerned and said I didn’t look well. I kinda laughed and said I think I feel worse than I look. I spent some time with them in camp, and actually started feeling a bit better in the late afternoon after some rest and good food. They invited me to stay, but I packed it up and headed home with my tail between my legs like one thoroughly whooped puppy.
All of this falls firmly on my shoulders. I broke almost every rule I have for going on a pack trip and I paid the price. You would think a guy in his 50’s with my experience would know better, and I do, but??????. I should have gotten my things together far earlier than I did, and I should have spent the day before at elevation to acclimate myself. With the fact that I didn’t get organized or a good night’s rest, I should have delayed the start one day and just hung around Wishon and Courtright to acclimate and get a good night’s rest, and then started the following day. I’m sure I also concerned those who were expecting me to show up. I sincerely apologize for that, but in the end I knew the best option for me was to retreat, so I could return to hike another day.
My hope in sharing this with all of you is that others can learn from my poor planning and hopefully won’t make the same mistakes.