Knowing Squat About the Woods
Was your freshman trip an ordeal?Try again, with ten femme essentials.
Before my freshman trip, my camping experience had been limited to numbered lots in state parks where someone was always blasting "Free Bird." Hiking over Mt. Moosilauke, my trip leader put me in front so I wouldn't be left behind. "Could we please pick up the pace?" somebody actually asked. It was snowing at the top. That night I lost my dinner during the Doc Benton story. So why did I join the Outing Club and become active with Cabin & Trail? One reason was the C&T women. They swung axes, they reveled in dirt and hard work, they were confident and energetic, and they weren't ashamed to be seen knitting in public. They were the coolest people I had ever met, and I wanted to be just like them.
I don't know if I ever achieved any level of cool (I never could finish a knitting project), but I did go on four more freshman trips as a leader. And sisters, I am here to tell you this: It doesn't take any particularly steely sort of constitution or a multi-day death march in new boots to enjoy the out-of-doors. It only takes the desire and a little preparation. Go buy one general guidebook, such as the annoyingly titled Complete Idiot's Guide to Hiking, Camping, and the Great Outdoors, by Michael Mouland. There you will learn what you need to know about the so-called ten essentials you need for the woods: map, compass, flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb), extra food, extra clothing (including raingear), sunglasses and sunscreen, pocketknife, matches in a waterproof container, a candle or firestarter, and a first-aid kit. Then add these ten femme-specific tricks of the Chubber's trade.
1. Jogbra. Veteran hiker Katy Milligan '90 deems it "the best thing for women athletessince Amelia Bloomer." Not only does a jogbra offer better comfort, support, and bounce control than the slew of "Cross Your-Heart" contraptions she has endured, but (praise be!) it offers you the optionof taking your shirt off when you're hot and sweaty.
2. Squatting technique. I've actually caught women dangerously limiting their water intake to avoid peeing in the woods. Remember the "wall sit" your gym teacher used to torture you with? "Sit" with your I back against a tree, let go with the flow, and note that your shoes are not getting sprayed. If you are in a boulder field above treeline, try suspettding yourself between a couple of big rocks, your back to one and feet braced against the other.
"Number two" makes things a little more complicated but still not particularly difficult..Use a shovel or stick to dig a hole, then squat, treesit, or hang your hind end over it and do your business. If you can't bring yourself to bag and pack that toilet paper back with you, use the stick to mix it and some leaves in with your deposit, then fill the hole and tamp it down. Or, if fire danger is zero, burn it. Packing it out is best, though.
3. Your own toilet paper. Lauren Arnold '87 warns us not to believe anybody who says there's enough toilet paper for everybody. Always have your own supply. Guys don't know how much we need.
4. Tampons or pads. Keep a supply in the bottom of your pack, says Alicia Wilson '91. Those who forget their own will be grateful that you didn't.
5. Ziplock bags and a nylon ditty bag for packing out used tampons or pads. They take "somewhere in the neighborhood of forever" to decompose, estimates Sarah Konrad '89, a trip leader for the National Outdoor Leadership School who spends months at a time in the backcountry. She keeps her tampons in a strong plastic bag inside a little ditty bag so she doesn't have to look at them. To combat the smell, she throws in an aspirin or a pepperminttea bag. Menstruation does not put you at higher risk for bear attack. But, "since bears are attracted to anything smelly," Konrad says, "that bag of used tampons should be treated like food in bear countryhang it with the food, and keep it away from where you sleep."
6. A revised notion of beauty. Nobody else expects you to look like a model after a night in the woods, so you shouldn't expect to either. On the other hand, you don't have to embrace dirt and sweat. During extended stays in the wilderness, Anna Adachi '92 finds a daily dip in a stream or waterfall a refreshing luxury. Forget soap or a bathing suit," she says. "Just jump in! And do it as often as possible." If you prefer suds, use a very small amount of a biodegradable variety like Campsuds or Doc Bronner's (the minty Outing Club favorite that comes complete with wild religious declarations in small print all over the label).
If cold-water shock therapy isn't your thing, Lelia Mellen '86 suggests heating some water and using a bandanna as a washcloth. As part of her morning camp ritual, she uses some of the water being heated for tea to wash her face.
If you have long hair, advises Adachi, you can keep it out of the way and stay cooler by braiding it. "The more grease you have on those strands, the easier they are to braid," she reveals. If you re camping for several days and want to wash your hair, try this system that Adachi and friends devised out in the Montana wilderness: Warm a big pot of water. Wet your hair in a stream or have a partner pour water on your head. Then shampoo, and have your buddy pour more water to rinse. (Don't get shampoo in the stream.) Now wash your buddy's hair. "This whole process takes a bit longer than the daily hair-washing ritual in civilization," notes Adachi. "So think of it more as a reward for a few days' hard exploring."
7. A lighter pack than the bigger guys (and gals). You shouldn't carry more than a third of your body weight on the trail. Keep in mind Lauren Arnold's "majority rales" principle for spousal harmony on the trail: "If you eat more than half the food, you should have to carry it all. If you take up more than half the tent space, you should carry the whole thing. This rule helps even out the hiking pace so my husband doesn't end up back at the car five days ahead of me during a six-day trip," Arnold says.
8. Gear made specifically forwomen. Unfortunately, many retail stores carry only a small selection. Nonetheless, if you know what you want, a store can special-order it for you. Or hit the catalogs. The major manufacturers, such as North Face, Marmot, Patagonia, Sierra Designs, and Mountain Hardware, offer just about their entire clothing line in women's sizes. The Campmor catalog is a great source for gear in odd sizes, and it offers some pretty good deals.
High-end backpack companies such as Osprey, Dana Designs, and Gregory make packs designed for women and have women's shoulder harnesses that won't smush your breasts. Dana and Osprey also provide women's hip belts, while Gregory's belts can be tilted to accommodate curves. Always try on a pack with some weight stuffed into it before buying.
9. A buddy. If you've come prepared, you're probably safer in the woods than in the city. But your first-aid kit isn't useful to you if you re unconscious and alone. Also, a companion will make you less vulnerable to those rare bad guys in the woods. Don't leave your city smarts behind when you hit the trail. Stick with a friend, appear alert and confident, and don't tell strangers such information as where you're going, how long you 11 be out, and what you've got in your pack. Check with park rangers about any recent incidents and safety precautions they advocate.
10. Awareness and attitude. The most important way to get comfortable on a backpacking trip is to stay on top of how things work and what's going on. If you don't know how the stove works or how to setup the tent, have someone show you. As Lauren Arnold admonishes, "Know the maps, know the routes, know how to use all the equipment, and basically make it clear at all times that you are not at anyone's mercy."
Which, come to think of it, is not a bad policy for the rest of life aswell.
Look, look. No, don't look.
Small is best.
A former staff member of this magazine, Heather Killerrew writes for magazines and sells outdoor gear in Denver, Colorado.
