That's Fit

For the first time since before our kids were born, my husband and I are planning an extended backpacking trip this summer. It'll be an eight day trip in honor of our eight-year anniversary. Don't worry, this kind of trip is our kind of fun, we spent nearly a month backpacking, climbing at high altitude and sleeping in a tent on our honeymoon. We have good karma on the trail, even when a nasty storm is rolling in and he's still tying knots to secure the bear-proof food hang. Geez, that always sets me off.

But I have to be real about this summer's trip. The last time I hiked deep into the woods for days with 45 pounds on my back was pre-motherhood -- I was around 32 -- I'm now 40. I also ruptured my achilles last summer and am still recovering. Frankly, I'm nervous about carrying that kind of weight for days at a time. Will my older body handle the pounding? Will I devote sufficient time to train properly? Let's get right to it -- will I suck?

While I cannot train lightly, I have thought about significantly lightening my load by following ultralight hiking principles. Even getting my backpack down to 35 pounds from 45 pounds (not a total ultralight weight), will take major strain off the bod. Charles Lindsey (pictured), author and publisher of The Lightweight Backpacker website lays out dozens of ways to lift ounce after ounce off your aching shoulders. Ounces add up to pounds.

For those truly interested in going light (this is not for car campers and bring-the-kitchen-sink backpackers), here are tips from Lindsey to pique your interest:

• Select lexan/ultralight utensils. Cut off the ends, keep a couple inches for gripping and sand rough edges smooth. Other than your trusty camping knife, do you honestly need more than a spoon? Cut down that toothbrush, hairbrush ... you get the idea.
• Bring the floss, ditch the container. Can also double as sewing thread.
• Use fine sand or gravel instead of a scouring pad. Trust me, from my experience leading National Sierra Club Outings this technique shines the blackest of pans.
• Portion control everything -- from sunscreen, soup mix, contact lens solution, you name it -- estimate carefully and only bring what you need.

It's definitely possible to knock off ten pounds from my pack -- time to start hitting the hills -- with only 35 pounds.