#1 PACK AS LIGHTLY AS YOU CAN

Every little bit counts:

• Instead of a full-sized towel – bring a hand towel or rag (if you even need it)
• If you don’t have a hiking pillow, just bring a pillow case (you can stuff it with clothes)
• If it’s not going to rain on your trip – leave the raingear out.  This includes the built-in backpack rain cover you can remove
• If your sleeping bag is heavy, bright a light blanket & sheet
• Smaller Everything – If you bring Mosquito repellent, sunscreen, soap, bring small bottles/quantities.
• Don’t bring a full change of clothes – bring extra socks and a shirt
• Don’t use heavy bags, use zip-locks (plus they’re water proof)

Get your backpack weight between 10% and 30% of your Body Weight

#2 HOW YOU LOAD YOUR BACKPACK MATTERS

• Keep things Close to your Back – If you attach anything heavy to the back of your backpack, it will constantly pull back on you and cause your abdomen muscles to tire out.  
• Heavier things Higher – When you load heavy things down low, it too pulls on your back.  Better to load those higher.
• Center – When you load water in your side holders, load evenly, so that you don’t constantly pull to one side.
• NO DANGLING ITEMS – Dangling items will irritate you and your fellow scouts, as well as waste energy
• Keep Hiking Things Accessible – Keep things like water, snacks, chair (or plastic), knife, compass, flashlight where you or a buddy can easily get to them.
• Organize – Use your side pouches and back pouches for smaller items to organize.  Inside your main bag, use zip-locks to organize

FOUR STEPS TO PUT ON YOUR BACKPACK:

1. Put on your Shoulder Straps
2. Have a buddy lift up your backpack so there’s no pressure on your shoulder straps (or use a tree or stump, or hike it up yourself and lean over to hold it in place)
3. Suck in your gut
4. Put on your waist belt (and tighten if needed) 

#3 BE READY TO EAT!

You will burn a LOT of calories when backpacking, and need to be ready to eat

• Prepare to Cook – Each trip has it’s own cooking needs.  For this one, you just need your FOIL REFLECTOR OVEN for making Pizza Bread,  and a METAL MESS KIT to cook eggs, hash browns & bacon for breakfast (or a lightweight pan).
• Bring a Cup – Bring a lightweight drinking cup.  That way you can use drink powder (troop has) to mix with water in your cup to make a refreshing drink.
• Bring a Rag – Super handy is a small rag, bandanna, or dish towel.   Good for a napkin, and for helping to rinse/wipe your mess kit when done.
• Bring Utensils – Don’t forget eating utensils.  You need them to both eat and cook your food
• What about my lightweight Plastic Mess Kit? – You are welcome to bring it on this trip, but you still need a metal mess kit (or lightweight pan) for cooking over the fire.
• Bring a Trash Bag – This can be a small trash bag or grocery bag.  You need something for leftover trash from the troop dinner & breakfast.  Everyone needs to hike out.

TRAIL SNACKS DO’s and DON’Ts

Having trail Snacks is not a requirement, but it can help you maintain energy, and it’s fun!

• Not Too Salty – Super salty snacks will make you super thirsty, and make you drink too much.  For instance crackers, pretzels, or a bag of salty chips aren’t the best choices.
• Moderation – You don’t want to fill your belly while hiking.  That makes you slow & hot.  Don’t make a meal out of it.
• Ideas – Jerky, Healthy Bars, Nuts, Apples, Oranges
• Avoid Chocolate – In Florida, things melt, including M&M’s and Chocolate chips.  Avoid these in trail mix if possible.