By James Smedley

There is a simple charm to moving through the wilderness with the bare necessities strapped to your back. Backpacking may sound a bit too much like exercise, but a quickened heart rate can be the perfect accompaniment to the sounds, sights and smells of the Northern Ontario outdoors. And backpacking does not have to be arduous. It's a worthy mode of travel if you are well equipped, plan carefully, and smell the wild roses along the way.

As a die-hard paddler I always wondered why anyone would walk somewhere when they could canoe. Where paddling provides intimacy with lakes, rivers and shoreline, backpacking invites a closer relationship to terra firma. My initial perception of backpacking came from hauling copious amounts of gear over portage trails - while wearing running shoes or work boots. The purchase of a pair of decent hiking boots was the first step to the enjoyment of backpacking. 

Even for day hikes proper footwear is imperative. A good hiking boot should have an aggressive tread for traction on steep, or slippery terrain. The sole should be stiff, bending only at the balls of your feet. The upper boot should provide ankle support and a degree of water resistance. Above all a hiking boot should be comfortable. Expect to pay anywhere from $75.00 to several hundred for a pair of boots providing these features in a lightweight package.

For short hikes the only other equipment you need is a day pack to bring additional layers of clothing, something to drink and high calorie snacks to keep your energy level up. A two or three hour day hike is a good way to initiate yourself to the concept of extended walks through the wilderness.

Backpacking overnight requires a bit more planning and a bit more equipment. A high-volume frame pack is essential. It must have the capacity to hold everything you will need for the length of the trip - and do so comfortably. Padded shoulder straps and a good wide waist strap help to distribute the weight to your hips, shoulders and back. Be prepared to peel off about $100.00 for a good internal frame pack. 

I am used to packing light for canoe trips but, aside from portages, the canoe carries all the weight. Backpacking means your back carries all the weight all the time. Lightweight and compact are the watch-words for modern overnight gear. Nylon tents of less than 5 pounds seem weightless compared to their canvas predecessors. A down or synthetic-insulated nylon sleeping bag stuffed into a compression bag becomes a shadow of its former self. A compression bag is encircled with straps that are tightened to compress bulky items into a small bundle.

Clothes take up less room if rolled or stuffed. Bring just enough to cover all possible weather conditions. Unless your pack is waterproof pack everything in a garbage bag within the pack.

Some consider a sleeping pad a luxury but on rain-soaked ground it is the key to warm, dry nights. A closed cell foam mattress is inexpensive and functional but self-inflating models like Thermarest are more comfortable, roll into a small package and insulate very well.

Minimize pots, cups, plates and cutlery. Cooking over a fire saves hauling in a one-burner stove and fuel. Breaking wood by hand is one option, but a saw makes the job a lot easier. The problem with saws is they are bulky and difficult to pack and many collapsible models simply don't work very well. However, one collapsible worth mentioning is the take-down buck saw by Trailblazer - a Canadian company based in Halifax. It's reminiscent of early wooden buck saws but with a Swedish steel blade and an aluminium frame that breaks down into five pieces. It's quick to set-up and take-down and the pieces fit into the saw's one-inch-by-19-inch tubular handle. She really rips through the wood and, when broken down, can slide into just about any crevice in your pack.

Packing-in water is not necessary in most areas of Northern Ontario. A water filter or purification tablets mean worry-free drinking from creeks, lakes or rivers. Water can also turn envelops of dehydrated food into palatable meals - eliminating the need for cans or bottles. Ziplock bags of raisons, nuts, trail mix and granola bars make great on-the-trail energy food and raspberries, blueberries and wild peas should be taken full advantage of by hikers craving fresh food.

The most prevalent danger to the backpacker is injury from slipping and falling; the lichen-covered rocks of the Canadian Shield are especially slippery when wet. Backpacking with a partner adds a margin of safety and means sharing the load.

How far you can travel in one day depends on the terrain and the condition you are in. A good trail on flat terrain can mean logging 20 km or more, but steep hills and slippery rocks slow the pace dramatically. When planning a hike take more than distance into account. Over rough terrain, plan to cover about 2 km in an hour. When you start to drag your feet, start looking for a place to camp. Hiking with a heavy pack when tired invites injury.

If you've ever been bogged down in a quagmire of boats, ATVs, coolers of food and truck-loads of camping gear - you might appreciate the simplicity of backpacking. Living out of one pack is a skill worth acquiring. And after a strenuous day on the trail, even dehydrated food tastes pretty darn good.