Student Backpacking

For the fortunate few, life isn’t complete without a backpacking trip through Europe. This right of passage is believed to further the maturation process of college students, according to sociologists. Of course, others have opined that copious amounts of alcohol, sun and Amsterdam have something to do with it. Regardless of your purpose, you still have to figure out what to take.

Backpack – Getting In Touch With Your Inner Mule

Obviously, the first critical item is your backpack. While one doesn’t need to buy the $10,000 Himalaya Turbo Pack, you should also avoid the $12 blue light special. So, how do you pick a happy middle ground?

The best method for picking a backpack involves three phone books. Select/swipe/borrow three yellow page books from neighbors/friends/enemies and hit your local sporting goods store. With the books, head to the backpackapalozza section of the store and pick out a few sturdy/cool/outrageous rigs. Stuff the phone books in, adjust the straps and go for a walk. Now break out into a run to simulate future dashes for trains/ ferries/ toilets and make the sales people nervous. These steps should quickly reveal the perfect pack.

Now, you may have read other publications suggesting highly technical ways to select a backpack. Trust me, until you have run for the last ferry from Italy to Greece, you have no idea how to pick a pack. The three phone book test solves this nicely.

What To Take

There are a few mantras that every person should chant before packing for Europe. These chants were developed originally by the little known, Oh-My-Back Monks of Southeast Asia. The “OMB” Monks were known for traveling half way too far off cities, turning around, returning home and then traveling the full way to said cities. Religious experts opined as to the deep metaphysical meaning of such trips. They were later embarrassed when the monks revealed the back and forth nature of the trips was due to forgetting something, often whether they had turned off the iron. Nonetheless, such chants have become the guiding light of experienced backpackers.

Let us slowly and clearly chant together,

“I will pack only that which will not result in me being hunched over like a Sherpa.”

“Remember, I can pick it [(lower voice) toothpaste, book, soap] up over there.”

“I will not stuff thy pack to the point of bursting, for thy damn zippers always break/get snagged/refuse to work.”

“I will learn humility through wearing incredibly wrinkled clothes and shall not bring an iron.”

“I shall bring only one guide book, not one for each country that I MIGHT see.”

“I accept that I will come home wearing something I didn’t take and will have lost/traded/burned much of what I did take.”

For female travelers and, okay, the occasional male,

“I will not bring high heels or a gaggle of make-up.”

Admittedly, chanting these mantras will not bringing you immediate enlightenment. Fret, not. You can always throw items away or send them home in a box to your parents/friends/parole officer. For the resourceful backpacker, it is not unheard of to send particularly smelly/discolored/toxic clothing to an ex-girlfriend/ex-boyfriend/little brother. Follow these practical guidelines and you will soon happily be speaking in a loud voice to make foreigners understand you.

The Evidence

This is the hard part for most travelers to wrap their minds around. You will forget those special moments of your trip when you met the hunk Sven or babe Svenetta from Sweden and had a romantic evening/danced the night away/got arrested in Ios/Ibiza/the airport. Maybe not immediately, but you will eventually forget.

You will also forget or lose the contact information of people you meet, despite meticulously writing it down on the back of a coaster/napkin/your hand in a bar/poetry reading/jail at three in the morning. Surprisingly, said coaster/napkin/hand often survive the night/day/weekend and get deposited in your already trashed backpack. Of course, their presence is often forgotten when you later put a Oktoberfest mug/wet towel/toothbrush in. The extra padding at the bottom of your pack is specifically designed to deal with the decomposing result. Still, the information is gone and so is your future with Sven/Svenetta.

To properly record the magical moments of your trip, you must take a diary or journal. Don’t worry, you can burn it later before you get married/your parents get nosey/you have kids. You want a journal in a water/beer/sweat resistant case. Of course, I prefer a Nomad Travel Journal, but just make sure you take something. When you have some extra time in the bus/train/jail cell, you can record how you got there and the people you met.

Trust me, when you, Sven/Svenetta and your nine children are sitting on the porch 10 years later, you will greatly enjoy reading your journal. Of course, that assumes you didn’t burn.

Safe Backpacking - 5 Tips

Anytime you plan to go backpacking it is important that you plan your trip not only from a where are we going aspect to knowing what gear to bring. This is particularly true if you plan on spending an extended period of time in the wilderness. By creating a gear plan you can double check to make sure that you have everything you need before you strap on your boots.
There are five main things you need to think about when planning your backpacking trip

1. Where are you going and the environment you will be camping in. This is important because you need to let others know where you will be, when you are going and when you plan to return. It will also shape how you answer the next three points.

2. The length of time you will be out in the woods will determine what you take and how much you take. The longer the trip the more food and clothing you’ll need to take. If going with a group how will you divide up the hauling responsibilities. If going alone how much can you comfortably carry while still meeting your daily needs.

3. What time of the year are you going? For summer backpacking trips you’ll generally only need lightweight clothing while the cooler months and winter camping will require heavier clothing. No matter what time of the year be sure to take good rain gear because nothing will ruin a trip quite like getting soaking wet.

4. What kind of shelter do you need? Are you camping in the open which will require a tent or are you doing a hut or wilderness cabin trip. This can make a difference because carrying a tent takes up space in someone’s backpack, often at the expense of other items.

5. Food and water are of course two of the most important items on any trip. Planning your meals and snacks for each day will ensure that you bring enough to last the journey. Dehydrated meals that can be found at any outdoor store are a good choice because they are lightweight but highly nutritious. You will also need to have a plan in place for drinking water because dehydration is not something you want to experience during any backpacking trip. A water filter is definitely on the list of things you must take. How much you carry will depend on where you are going and the available sources along your route.

Planning ahead will ensure that your backpacking trip comes off successfully because the last thing you want to have happen are those unforeseen surprises that ruin what should otherwise be a fun and rewarding experience.

35 Top Sites For Your Backpack Travel

When planning a trip to Europe, there are a ton of available resources for travelers. With this is mind, it is often time-consuming to wade through all of the websites to find really valuable information.

Here is a list of some of the top travel resources for planning a trip to Europe.

1) Wikitravel
This is one of the best sites for travel available. It is open source, so it is constantly updated; further, it is usually locals or people who have direct, experience with an area who contribute information. Thus you get localized information you might not have gotten elsewhere.

2) World Travel Tips
This is a huge, comprehensive resource for world travel. It includes forums, articles, links, free membership and much more for every continent. Their European section covers every European Country and offer in-depth information about each one.

3) About.com: Europe for Visitors
This is a great site dedicated to travel in Europe from About.com. Geared towards everyone from first time to experienced travelers, it is a goldmine of European travel and planning information.

4) Virtual Tourist
This is a great travel guide. Their motto is 'real travelers - real info." This seems consistent with the site, which has everything from transportation reviews to the best travel deal and trip planners. The site also includes forums where you can read about other people's adventures in Europe.

5) Travel Europe
This is an swicki (cross between a search engine and wikipedia) where community users can add, remove and improve the results. This particular swicki is geared towards travel in Europe and is a great resource fro planning a trip to or in Europe.

6) Visiteurope.com
This is the European travel commission's guide to Europe and is packed with tons of useful information, articles, advice and much much more.

7) Europe for Visitors
This is a site that offer European news, general advice, specific country advice, hotels, links to city guides, tourist offices and much, much more.

8.) Europecities.com
This is a comprehensive portal site that offers European city reviews and guides to hundreds of European cities and over 40 European countries.

9) Travel Library
Travel Library is an impartial resource for travelers and offers a plethora of resources that offer in-depth travel information, from hotel and hostel ideas to travelogues and most popular locations.

10) Europa: Traveling in Europe
A huge site that offers tools and information for over 30 European Countries. Each country has their own site dedicated to travel resources, information news and more from that country. Categories for visitors include: documents you will need, choosing a time to travel, getting there, staying healthy, money, shopping, communicating, pets, and if things go wrong.

11) Europa: Your Europe
While this site is geared towards European citizens, it still offers tons of great information for visitors outside of Europe. Information categories include: working in Europe, education and study, living in Europe, traveling in Europe, consumer protection, European citizenship and diplomatic protection.

12) European Union Website
This is the official website of the European Union. It offers news, educational resources and tons of links to information about what's going on in Europe and well as youth travel portals, travel guides, transportation information and much, much more.

13) Yahoo Answers
This is a great place to ask questions and get answers about anything Europe related. You ask the question and get a number of answers, then choose the answer that fits your question best. This site is great because it gives you several points of view to read and learn from and is focused on sharing knowledge.

14) Travels Wise
This site offers tons of information about travel in Europe and countries including Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.

15) Rick Steves' Travel Tips
This site is a large portal site that offers tips and advice for exploring Europe safely, effectively and confidently. From packing tips and safety to accommodations and communications, you will find what you're looking for.

16) Travel Punk
This site offers travel tips and advice targeted at backpackers, budget travelers and tourists. Offers tons of great information as well as travel tools and resources for finding cheap flights and accommodations.

17) TERC Europe Travel Tips
Offers tips on traveling in Europe and categories run the gamut from packing tips and staying healthy and safe to money matters, budget planning, food and accommodations and much more. It is a huge site that is well worth visiting for any Europe travel-related needs.

18) Accessible Journeys
This is an awesome travel site that offers a wealth of information, tips and travel advice about accessibility and traveling in a wheelchair. With information on everything from traveling with your wheelchair or scooter to equipment rentals, handicapped parking permits in Europe and accessible ways to travel, it is a great resource.

19) Europe Travel Tips
A large portal with tons of travel tools, articles and information about travel in 40 European countries, from Austria to the United Kingdom.

20) Independent Traveler

Great site offering lots of travel tips and advice to independent travelers.

21) Travel-and-transport.com
This is a highly useful portal that offers basic and necessary transportation information for Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. New to the site is a route planner that is especially handy.

22) Travel Notes: Europe
Comprehensive travel notes and advice for traveling throughout Europe. Lots of links, resources and tools for travelers.

23) Open Travel Info
Great travel site with a large amount of travel and Europe related information. The forums and articles are especially useful.

24) Discover Europe
Another excellent portal site that offers a wealth of tools, resources and links for travelers to learn about different European countries and plan their trips effectively and efficiently.

25) World 66: Europe
This is a great wiki site that allows members (free) to change and information. It has a great travel guide, maps, and resources for getting to Europe and getting around it. Members can also post photos and there is a cool photo gallery of different places in Europe. Well worth checking out.

26) Backpacker.net
Geared towards backpackers, this is one of the better sites for information, advice and travel planning for backpackers. Users can submit and read recommendations for hostels, tours, bars, beers and much more.

27) WorldWideBackpackers.com
This site is another excellent resource for backpackers and other travelers. While it is geared towards backpackers, there is a wealth of rich information for all travelers, so you should definitely pay them a visit.

28) Gate 1 Travel
This is a travel site for Central Europe. there is a wealth of information that is super handy; they offer info from climate and clothing advice to packing, required travel documents, travel insurance, transportation, communication and much more.

29) Backpackeurope.com
This is another site that is geared towards backpackers in Europe but is highly useful for all travelers. Has Europe travel tips, advice on packing, hostels and hotels, transportation and links to other travel resources.

30) Gemut.com
This is a great travel site that offers visitors advice on everything from car rental and rail travel to hotel reservations, money matters and much more.

31) Travels With Friends: Travel Tips for Europe
Travel tips and advice from planning your trip to executing it. The site's creators travel Europe and research sites, accommodations, destinations and much more, so there is great, first-hand information available on all aspects of travel in Europe.

32) Suite 101: Eastern Europe & Russia Travel
Travel, culture and trip planning and advice. This is an excellent resource for finding out more about Eastern Europe and its cultures.

33) Traveler's Point
Europe advice, tips and travel help for all European countries.

34) Budget Travel Online
Great site offering ideas, how-tos, advice and tips for travelers.

35) Yahoo Travel
Yahoo's comprehensive travel site offers a wealth of information on all European Countries and many of its countries. Another great resource to check out.

River Craft Lite: Floats Great, Less Filling

Here is a great article thats I found in New York Times by STEPHEN REGENOLD.

HELMET strapped on and life vest buckled tight, I pushed off from the bank into a churning stretch of the Arkansas River near here. A backpack loaded with gear was tied to the bow of my boat. “Lean forward in the rapids!” shouted Chelsey Gribbon, a former whitewater guide, as the current whisked around a corner and dropped from sight.

Lightweight Rafting

In the mist of the heaving water, my small raft bobbed on waves. I rocketed downriver and held on for my life.

A whitewater kayak would have been fitting for the chutes and ledges ahead. Or maybe a six-person raft like the commercial vessels that course the Arkansas in the summer months. But I was in a pack raft — a portable, inflatable craft that might be mistaken for a pool toy.

Pack rafts have roots in aviator survival boats from World War II. But for decades adventurers have employed the lightweight and durable vessels to cross lakes, descend remote rivers or portage for miles to reach wilderness in far corners of the globe.

The small rafts have seen a resurgence with outdoors fanatics. Competitors in adventure races have used them, since they are equally capable of handling rapids, ocean bays and long lake crossings. They can weigh as little as three pounds and are easily stowed in a backpack for transport on dry land.

“Pack rafts are the Swiss Army knife of boats: small, versatile, packable and a jack of all trades,” said Andrew Mattox, an owner of Alpacka Raft, based in Mancos, Colo., which sells a range of models starting around $600.

For explorers like Roman Dial, a mathematics and biology professor at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, pack rafts have opened new vistas. Mr. Dial wrote a book on them, “Packrafting: An Introduction and How-To Guide” (Beartooth Mountain Press, 2008), after more than two decades of pack-rafting expeditions to places like Borneo, New Zealand, Patagonia, Tasmania and the Western United States. In 1986 Mr. Dial traversed the Brooks Range in Alaska, a 1,000-mile trip on foot and skis, and — for the rivers and lakes that dotted the terrain — in a pack raft.

In the foreword to Mr. Dial’s book, Jon Krakauer, the author of “Into the Wild,” wrote, “Roman was among the first people on the planet to understand that the pack raft would revolutionize wilderness exploration.”

This year I joined a group of experienced pack-rafters on a two-day trip in the San Isabel National Forest. At a boat launch on the Arkansas, we sorted gear to prepare for the journey, which would cover about 25 miles of travel equally divided between land and water.

“Here’s your raft,” said Jason Magness, the trip leader, tossing me a small rubbery bundle. It weighed five pounds and fit snugly in the bottom of my backpack.

I stuffed food, a sleeping bag, a shell jacket and survival gear in as well, all cinched in waterproof sacks. With a kayak paddle strapped to the outside of the pack, I followed Mr. Magness and two companions, and the hike began.

Mr. Magness is a founder of a troupe of outdoors athletes, adventurers and yoga teachers known as the YogaSlackers, who embark on trips that push the limits of the body and the mind. Pack rafts have allowed Mr. Magness and his group to complete expeditions from Canada to Costa Rica, including two-week journeys in remote wilderness.

Our adventure included backpacking, mountain climbing, canyoneering, camping out and then — after inflating the rafts on the second day — a long whitewater paddle back to the cars. Our route, an off-trail tour past geographic landmarks and old mines, was sketched vaguely on a topographic map Mr. Magness had printed. “We’ll figure it out as we go along,” he said.

For an hour we walked north next to the Arkansas River. Whitewater poured over rocks, the river pinching down inside canyon walls.

The group — Daniel Staudigel, Mr. Magness, Ms. Gribbon and me — shared food and gear throughout the trip. Each person carried a raft and paddle. But a small tent, first-aid items and layers of clothing, all split among us, were considered community gear.

Moving fast and light, we covered five miles of back country in a couple of hours. We squeezed up a canyon where the walls narrowed to 10 feet wide. Above 8,000 feet we reached an obscure ridge marked as “The Reef” on our map. An old mine, abandoned and forgotten, edged a dry tributary far below.

By sunset we’d hiked and climbed about 13 miles. A final descent into a canyon led to a sandy wash, where we camped within sight of the Arkansas.

Morning brought bright sun and a line of commercial rafters bobbing downstream. We inflated our pack rafts at the river’s edge, watching the six-member crews buck and drop in raging water below.

“What is that thing?” a rafter shouted, stretching to see the strange little crafts being inflated onshore.

As an experienced kayaker, I took to a pack raft with little issue. My vessel, an Alpacka raft, looked to be not much more than an inner tube reinforced with a floor. But on the river I felt in control. The craft could ferry across the current. I paddled into an eddy for practice, bracing as the boat spun around.

Our day on the Arkansas entailed a line of rapids with big names — Graveyard, Widowmaker, Zoom Flume — and with ratings up to Class 4. (Class 6 is the hardest, considered unrunnable.) On the first major set, Pinball Rapid, I leaned forward and paddled fast.

Waves exploded over my head. Water rushed in, filling the raft. I shot out the other side soaked but upright, the craft bumping through like a tank.

Farther downstream, after running a steep chute, my raft flipped, and I went overboard. The shocking cold of the mountain river knocked out my breath. I swam in a swirling mess of whitewater, raft and paddle edging away.

But the rapid washed into a pool. I swam and grabbed my gear, flipped the raft without trouble and climbed in, my backpack still secured to the boat.

A reach and a pull with the paddle, my feet pressed inside against rubber walls, and I powered back into the waves. Once again the river fell out of sight. I held on, bracing for the wild ride downriver and beyond.

IF YOU GO

A handful of guides offer trips, including the Backpacking Light Wilderness Trekking School (backpackinglight.com). The Montana-based trips range in length from three days to two weeks.

YogaSlackers (yogaslackers.com) arranges occasional pack-raft trips in the Western United States. In Anchorage, Alpacka Raft Rentals (pacraftalaska.com, 907-727-4238) rents pack rafts.

MANUFACTURERS

Boats made by Alpacka Raft (alpackaraft.com) are constructed of urethane-coated nylon and are made to run flat water to advanced whitewater rivers. The Yukon Yak model, which weighs a bit less than five pounds when deflated, costs $790.

A more affordable option is the Sevylor Trail Boat, for $75.99 . It weighs 3.5 pounds and comes with two paddles. Sevylor boats (sevylor.com) are not commonly used on serious whitewater.

What backpacking gear is ideal?

When planning your backpacking trip, you need to think carefully about what equipment to take and what you can afford to leave behind.

There are some things that you simply must have. Whilst there are plenty of new gadgets and devices that are supposed to enhance your backpacking experience, when it comes down to it, there are some traditional items that you should never leave home without, regardless of what new technology you may have in your pack. These essential items are listed below.

Map

The key here is to choose a map which has sufficient detail to clearly show the trails and area details of where you will be backpacking. Apart from that, it really does not matter what type of map you choose.

Compass

You will need a good quality compass that will withstand the elements outside. The fact is you have to know which direction you are going. Just taking a map is not going to work.

Flashlight

It is very important that you always can see where you are going. A good quality flashlight is essential, plus batteries. You can now buy wind-up torches, which remove the need for batteries. Remember, it can be very dark in none-rural areas. Not having adequate lighting can contribute to falls or injuries which can really ruin a good backpacking trip.

Extra food and clothing

Instead of packing just what you need, you should try to pack extra just in case. You could get lost, or encounter bad weather, or you might just get stuck and not be able to get back. You must always be prepared for the unexpected, and extra food and clothing will help you cope.

First Aid Kit

This is a really important item. There are many things which can happen out in the wilderness. Even if you are traveling in a very well kept area, you can still find a need for a first aid kit. Make sure you get a kit that is well stocked with a variety of supplies.

Knife

Ideally you should have a multi-function knife which incorporates several different tools. Such tools can prove to be very important and their uses are endless when backpacking. At a minimum, a nice sharp knife that can cut through fabric and cord is necessary.

Matches

Matches can prove to be a lifesaver, particularly in cold weather conditions. You should either get waterproof matches or carry your matches in a waterproof container.

Water or water treatment

Drinking water is essential as you must stay hydrated while backpacking. If you do not carry water, an alternative is to have the necessary supplies to adequately treat water.

These are the essentials, but as you plan your trip you will quickly find there are many considerations when deciding on what to take. Make sure you seek good advice from the many resources available to you.

Important! Get the right bag when you backpack.

Its important to get the right backpack bag when you are off backpacking for a long period of time. The bag will be your only friend (besides the friends thats with you of course) and if you have a to small bag, it will not be so nice on your trip! You should check this bag that has good recommendations from many backpacking sites.

Backpacking in Europe

The thought of schools are always tied in with backpacking. What if you get a chance to go backpacking in Europe, one of the most beautiful locations in the world? It would be an experience to recall. The most important thing required for this trip is of course a backpack, which is strong enough to carry your belongings. Do not over pack your backpack, as you must remember that you have to do a lot of walking to catch the ferry or the tourist buses in and around the cities in Europe.There is a certain segment of individuals who prefer backpacking to Europe during summer as they can savor summer activities and visit various beaches. But there are others who opt to plan a trip to Europe in wintertime. Winter would not be disappointing for them too because France have the skiing opportunities. The best place for skiing would be Interlaken which is on a double lake system completely surrounded by mountain peaks. Another interesting event during winter is the winter carnival at Venice, Italy.It is very essential to pack according to the weather conditions when planning Backpacking in Europe. Don't forget to have two pants with lots of pouches if visiting in summer. It is more handy if you take pant that can convert to shorts when needed. Pack 2 -3 shirts with one or two long sleeve shirts. You have to have at least 3 pair or under garments. Hiking shoes or walking shoes would be the most preferable shoes for the backpacking trip as you have to walk a lot. You can also carry a pair of sandals or flip flops to walk around the place you stay.When you decide to go on backpacking trip to Europe, you may not be certain where you might pass the night. This is where travelers' inn comes in convenient. They are very much cheaper and handy that hotels. The best places to spend a night while in Europe are the traveler's hostel. They are cheap and you do not have to make any reservation. Do enquire about the stuff they provide at the hostel which would make it convenient about what to pack in your back pack.Most significantly, get copies of all your essential documents such as passport, your medical info and put it in different places in your backpack as well as your wallet and your trouser pouches. Last but not the least; Remember to enjoy your Europe trip and have fun backpacking!!