A pair of backpackers carry overnight gear along the Rogue River Trail between Grave Creek and Whisky Creek. it’s usually only crowded in August and September, when the legendary mosquitoes have died down somewhat. Of course, what constitutes a crowd is relative. In a wilderness of many thousands of acres, running into a dozen people in a day may feel crowded. But aside from uber-popular areas such as Mount Eddy and Sky Lakes, you’re likely to have lots of elbow room. There’s a demographic twist to thank for that. Backpacking surged when thousands of young people took to the wild in the wake of the turbulent ’60s. But backpacking numbers haven’t kept pace with the growing population since then, even though there’s been a revolution in hi-tech, lightweight, userfriendly equipment. “I think the pendulum swings,” Keith says. “The ’70s was the heyday. In the ’80s and ’90s, I think people collected a lot of toys. “Now, a lot of people are starting to realize how many good places there are. But you can still come back from a backpacking vacation completely relaxed.” Who backpacks today?
“A whole cross-section,” says Keith, who when he isn’t out in the woods owns and runs the Northwest Outdoor Store next to the Medford Bi-Mart. “It’s people out of college looking for adventure, older guys looking for rejuvenation. Tons of couples are going out together. Lots of the time a few buddies getting together.” Keith estimates 40 percent of the backpackers he sees are women. In a welcome development for a hobby in which you essentially carry your home around on your back, gear has gotten much lighter over the years. “A 60-pound pack used to be the norm,” Keith says. “Now it’s 40. For ultra-lites and Pacific Crest Trail through hikers, it’s 20.” Keith advises desk jockeys not to suddenly throw 30 or 40 pounds on their backs and strike off into the mountains. “Take some day hikes,” he says. “Hike Table Rocks with a pack on a couple times a week. Going up and down a mountain is different from a sidewalk.” Keith says the list of common beginner mistakes includes carrying
Mail Tribune file photo
too much stuff, not getting an earlyenough start to reach your destination with plenty of daylight left, and making camp too near lakes and streams. There are more mosquitoes near the water. Besides, today’s backpacking etiquette calls for pitching tents away from trails and no nearer to the water than 200 feet. Outdoors-oriented stores stock excellent guidebooks to local trails by William Sullivan, Art Bernstein and others. Read the trail descriptions carefully, noting the details of use, seasonality, distances, restrictions, dangers and the like. Bring rain gear, water (and/or a good water filter), food, a knife, waterproof matches, fire starter (Vaseline-soaked cottonballs work well), a first-aid kit, flashlight, compass and map. A GPS is no substitute for a topographic map (available at ranger stations). Campfires are frowned upon — and illegal during summer fire season — as is taking dogs into the wilderness. Once you’ve gone all primeval, take only pictures, leave only footprints.
April 20, 2014 • Our Valley 101