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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/13/2018 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I am just getting into backpacking and am going on my first trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness this fall. I am nervous about filtering water and getting sick, even though I bought a good filter and bought purifying tablets as a back-up just in case my filter breaks.
Posted 8/13/2018 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Those things do a good job. Test it with some standing water close by you that does not have sewage in it.

If you will be doing any camping, its always good to boil some water.
Posted 8/13/2018 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've done some multi-day backpackers (hiking in the mountains with pack on, or canoe-camping with everything tied to the hull), it's fun despite UC. There's lots of woods around you, should nature call, and you need to use the facili-trees. Just bring some rolls of that camping-toilet-paper (tightly wound, without the hollow cardboard core) in a ziplock bag to save space and keep it dry.

I carry in water with my camelback bladder, and refill in mountain streams without filtering or boiling (dumb, I know, but I am lazy). If it's high up on the mountains, and emphasis fast-moving then I've been okay (drink from a murky, green, or slow moving water and your fooked). The iodine tablets taste bad lol. The filters are good, but have time on your hands to work (take a while) and add a pound or more to your pack. I try to hike light, around 26-28 pounds max (tent, food, sleeping pad, stove, water, etc.), as the more weight you carry the slower you go, and the more you will hurt.

Try and eat well, a lot of those preserved, pre-packed back-packing astronaut foods are full of crappy ingredients and taste like crap. Veggies do fine without refrigeration, easy to stir fry peppers, onions and other things over a little backpacking stove with some spices premixed in a ziplock bag. I'll run my dehydrator before going and have some meat jerky, dehydrated banana/strawberry/etc other fruits ready to munch on. Usually bring some trailmix, breads, bagels, etc which preserve well. Those Annie's homegrown organic, cardboard-boxed soups are good for backpacking (burn the box after use).

Post Edited (iPoop) : 8/13/2018 12:29:16 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/13/2018 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! The filter I got is actually super light (Kathdyn BeFree) and has a fast flow-rate. It holds .6L. I don't care for the Camelbak bladders; I prefer bottles. I didn't get iodine tablets due to the taste. I got some other type of tablet that is supposed to taste better. The lakes and rivers up there should be pretty clean, but I will still filter or boil all of my water. This trip is just 3 days canoeing and camping two nights, with some portaging on islands between all the lakes and rivers. I'm excited!

I'm trying to keep my pack light, but it's already 25 lbs without food or my messkit (one of my friends going is carrying the stove, gas and pots)! I bought all lightweight gear, too, other than my sleeping bag! I want to get a dehydrator at some point. I did buy a few of those backpacking meals (beans and rice and couscous with apricots and almonds), so hopefully they aren't too bad, but I also plan to bring bagels, p.b., granola, banana chips, larabars, Cliff bars, pita bread, instant potatoes, and hot chocolate (It gets down into the 40s there in September)!

So funny that the one item I did not think of packing was toilet paper!!!! How could I forget that?!?
Posted 8/13/2018 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds fun! A predominate canoeing trip can afford more weight, volume, and luxuries (I had bag chairs). Portages are usually fairly short, and you can carry the canoe with the gear in it. Let me know how the food tastes, maybe they've gotten better in the last 5 years lol. Try out the filter and pills before you go. Yes, pack lots of tp, and your meds too.

To get super light, you need to really minimize and go $$$. It's an art to travel light, and you do without a lot; it's hard. I have a 2-pound Big Agnes Tent, 2-pound sleeping bag, 1-pound inflatable sleep pad, MSR camp stove with fuel cylinder is less than a pound, old boyscout mess kit with plastic utensils, and frame backpack about 5-pounds. Plus clothes, food and water (which are cumulatively make up the other half of the pack weight).

Post Edited (iPoop) : 8/13/2018 2:13:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/14/2018 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Don't really have anything to add, ipoop pretty much covered it, backpackers with UC unite!

My UC seems to keep in check when I'm out backpacking, haven't had any issues. I did two trips this summer, one on the Rogue River down in Southern Oregon and one on the Olympic Peninsula in Wa, Hoh Rainforest and Quinault River Trail. The Rogue River was a blast, we did that one rafting. And the Quinault River in the Enchanted Valley is just unreal in how beautiful it is. Anybody makes it out West, highly recommend the Olympic Peninsula area in Washington state.
Posted 8/15/2018 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Just a quick addition regarding food suggestions whie hiking. For those that don't eat processed foods bc of chemical additives, I've found a liking for Naked Bars... different varieties and many made with dates, cashews, figs, etc...no added sugar. Those and raw almonds are my go to snacks for hiking.
Posted 8/15/2018 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! Yes, backpackers with UC unite! Lol. smile

Powerfullife -- Larabars are also good for a healthy fruit and nuts bar. I'm not sure I've tried the Naked bars; will have to try those. You can also make your own "energy ball bites" and they're really easy to make and tasty! I use a recipe that includes oats, peanut butter, coconut flakes, nuts (I usually use pecans or peanuts), and maple syrup. You can throw in whatever you want basically!

iPoop -- I had a hard time deciding between a Big Agnes or MSR tent, but I went with the MSR Hubba Hubba. It is slightly heavier but still really lightweight and I like it so far. I bought a nice lightweight sleeping pad, too. One place I could shave weight off is a sleeping bag, but I didn't want to buy a new one -- I've already spent so much money on all my other gear and need to reel myself back in for a while -- ha! Yeah, I'm not TOO worried about weight for the canoe trips, but we will have some semi-long portages, so I'm still trying to keep things as light as possible! Thanks for all the tips/advice.

Verucasalt -- Those trips sound amazing!

Cmburks -- Thanks for the reassurance on the water filters! I've had a stubborn, nasty bout of infectious colitis before and I don't want to revisit that! Ha.
Posted 8/28/2018 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
I went on my first backpacking trip this past weekend. Just a short, easy, one-night trip close to home. It was fun! Although my 30-pound pack was a tad on the heavy side!
Posted 8/28/2018 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Glad it went well. Yeah lighten it up for next time and you'll have an even better time: be less tired and less sore. Go through what you brought and eliminate the non-essentials.
Posted 8/29/2018 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I feel like everything I brought was essential -- that is my problem! Lol!
Posted 8/31/2018 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I love backpacking but I haven't done it in years now because I'm afraid to with my IBD. I don't just backpack in nature but I travel to foreign countries. It's hard to get good advice on how to prepare for all that on the regular backpacker forums online since most people don't have to deal with anything like IBD.

My main challenge is that I'm celiac (must be gluten/wheat free) and lactose intolerant, so wherever I'd travel in the world there needs to be foods that I can use for that. I also need to cook most of my meals and not eat each, which raises the cost of accommodations since I basically need a kitchen. Not sure how to negotiate that as I'm low income right now.

For foods backpacking, I've never been clear on how to pack a tent, potable water, food, cooking gear, and clothing without the backpack weighing a tonne.

Any advice on either of these travel challenges?
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