What’s in your backpack? Ten…Eleven Essential and No Machete
May 2021: Harpers Ferry Hike
It’s been a year since Arizona Eagle, our son, was in Ohio. He flew back for a two-week break between semesters using a soon-to-expire Southwest Airline ticket (Southwest had allowed a one-year extension for the ticket due to COVID). The winter season had brought another round of COVID infections that increased the number of hospitalizations and deaths. When May finally came with its sunshine and flowers, it felt different to me. The world felt hopeful and we (universal we) would get through this. Spring was a good reason to celebrate and we decided on a family vacation. I suggested Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: the mecca for the Appalachian Trail, for history (Ohioan, Abolitionist John Brown’s raid of the Federal Armory), and for baked goods (Bolivar Bakery).
Back in May 2021, we didn’t have an actual start date for our flip-flop. Our flip-flop was a vague adventure to happen somewhere in the future. I wanted to see the Appalachian Trail Conservatory Headquarters; watch AT thru hikers posing for their celebratory halfway photo; talk to volunteers at the conservatory, and place my hiking boots on the trail for this future dream.
The first day in Harpers Ferry, we planned a day hike in Virginia. The three of us slung on our daypacks filled with “The 10 Essentials for Hiking” (The American Hiking Society and The Mountaineers recommend ten pieces of equipment for hikers. These items have been identified as “lifesavers” in an emergency). The three of us have used the “Essentials” as a foundation for building out our gear for either a day hike or an extended backpacking adventure. That day we ate my go-to lunch menu: Curried Chicken Salad served on Triscuits, Girl Scout Cookies, and apples.
February 10, 2025
The Trek Editors
We are the word nerds of The Trek who want nothing more than to infuse some hiking and backpacking joy into your day.
Explorar más contenidos
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
The Sawyer Mini can filter up to 100,000 gallons—yep, you read that right—and fits in the palm of your hand.
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
A favorite of ultralight hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is the gold standard in water filters for anyone concerned about weight and universal compatibility.
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
This popular repellent from Sawyer has 20% Picaridin, which protects against a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers and sand flies.
Del Escuadrón
Conversaciones de campamento con nuestra comunidad, desde los miembros del escuadrón y los embajadores hasta los socios de marca y el equipo de Sawyer.
