Packing For The Early Winter Trek

We are a few short weeks away from our Early Winter Trek that will take place December 5 – 8 on the Conecuh Trail in the Conecuh National Forest.

One of the objectives of this trek is for our students to have a multiple day-night experience in a wilderness setting where putting their learned skills to work will be a necessity. Part of putting these skills to work involves the mental gear shifting that occurs over a lengthened period of time in a wilderness setting … something that does not happen in a series of three hour classes or an overnight camp in a park setting.

Other than procuring and processing water … we will not be relying on the wilderness to provide all of our necessary food items. That would be an exercise this class is not ready for. We may indeed supplement our packable food items with small game and fish as part of the experience but we will not be relying on them as our sole sustenance.

So here are some easy to prepare suggestions for packable food items for the trek.

Morning

Packets of instant grits

Breakfast bars

Powdered breakfast beverage

Mid-Day

Trail mix

Jerky

Dried fruit

Cup-of-Soup

Evening

Ramen

Dehydrated mix for soup

Bannock mix

Packets of hot-chocolate mix 

The pre-packaged Mountain House meals we have tried are quick and easy to prepare. Simply boil water, add the measured amount of water to the package, seal the package, and wait ten minutes.

I suggest that each day of measured rations be packaged separately in zip lock bags. The zip locks make the rations waterproof. Separate daily packaging also makes daily supplies of rations easy to dispense and account for to avoid borrowing from tomorrow to eat more today.

There is definitely a practical lesson in personal dietary discipline involved in this multiple day-night exercise.

One of the easiest ways to up your daily calorie intake is to pack along a few candy bars. One regular size Snickers contains 250 calories and occupies very little room in a food packet.

Hygiene and First-Aid

Be sure your kit contains hygiene and first aid items. Keep it simple … toilet paper, toothbrush, a few Band-Aids, a few Tylenol.

Clothing

Be prepared for come what may.

Layer your clothing and wear clothing designed to retain body heat.

A good winter weight coat may not be necessary during the day when the sun is out but once the sun goes down, or if the skies cloud up and it is rainy, a winter weight coat is a good thing to have. It can easily be rolled and tied to the outside of a pack to save room within.

Adequate headgear is important. Include a stocking cap to wear as part of your sleeping gear.

Be sure to pack a complete change of clothes in a dry bag in your kit.

Although not as critical in warm weather, in cooler weather a poncho of some type is important to keep dry and to protect your core temperature if it rains.

Wear some blaze orange … at least a hat.

This is not a legal requirement but one suggested by the Wildlife Authorities that oversee the area of the forest we will be in. It is a solid safety practice. I do not anticipate anyone getting lost. However, if the need arises, the extra visibility is a real plus in locating someone.

NOTE –

Now is the time to inventory and inspect your kits.

You have been using your kits in class settings over this while. Check them over. Make sure all of your essential kit items are in good working order. Now is the time to make repairs or upgrade kit items.