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Posted by OldGrowth on August 1, 2006 at 3:12:55 pm EDT
In reply to Re: Most useful item(s) in your pack posted by Ed G on July 30, 2006 at 7:03:18 am EDT

Bandannas—For washing, cleaning, drying, bandaging, splinting, and filtering or prefiltering water.

Pliers, such as on a Swiss Army knife or multitool—For repairing metal parts of backpacks and tents. Helps untie tight knots or pull anything tweezers can't budge.

Trekking Poles (obviously not "in" the pack)—Helps speed climbs and descents while wearing backpacks and lessens the strain on joints, reduces fatigue when hiking on flats, can be used to test the depth of mud in muddy stream crossings, can help find stepping stones buried just under the mud, helps keep balance when fording swift water, helps steady cameras for clearer photos, can be used as poles for tents and tarps. Can help hoist food when bear bagging.

Bear Resistant Food Containers—Protects your food not only from bears, but from marmots, squirrels, and almost any creature without opposable thumbs. Can be used to carry large amounts of water to camp, makes washing dishes 200 feet away from the stream a snap, makes a handy stool for sitting around the camp fire, and holds enough water to thoroughly douse the camp fire afterward. (Hint—Keep a stuff sack to hold your food when the bear resistant container is being used for other things. Buy bear resistant containers made of clear plastic, it lets in light, which helps you see what you are rummaging for.)

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