| There are endless enjoyment opportunities you | | | | equipment. The cheaper gear you will find in |
| can do in the great outdoors. You can take a | | | | discount stores and the like will leave you in dire |
| walk around the block or carry a backpack and | | | | straits someday. |
| head across the world. It is up to your imagination | | | | We left on a five day backpacking tour of the |
| to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, or the cold or | | | | Cape Breton Highlands on Cape Breton Island on |
| rain. As long as you plan ahead and use the | | | | the Canadian east coast. A beautiful place to hike. |
| experience of your friends as well as reading | | | | Our friends had pretty good equipment except |
| articles such as this, you should be fine. | | | | for the tent. They could afford a new one, but |
| You cannot tell who is or who is not a | | | | they were trying to get one more year out of it. |
| backpacker. My wife and I ran into a young | | | | On the third night out we camped on the middle |
| couple while on a three day trip in the Yukon | | | | of the trail as there was no clearing big enough. |
| Territory of Northern Canada. They were no | | | | An eight foot wide dry creek cut the trail. We |
| more than 21 or 22 years of age. They had well | | | | camped on one side of it and they camped on |
| used backpacking equipment we assumed they | | | | the other. Their tent was old. They had lost the |
| had bought from a used outlet somewhere. We | | | | poles years ago and simply cut a small tree to |
| decided to spend the night nearby and over | | | | use. In the middle of the night we were hit by a |
| dinner we found they have been backpacking for | | | | cloudburst with thunder and lightening smashing |
| four years and were on their way to their vehicle | | | | here and there. The wind blew their tent apart. It |
| after a 9 day hike. They were experienced | | | | was torn to shreds. Everything they had was |
| packers. You cannot tell a book by the cover. | | | | soaking wet. Needless to say their trip was ruined. |
| They had purchased their gear when they first | | | | If you are going to get into the great sport of |
| met and although it looked a little ragged now it | | | | backpacking go to the best outdoor store and |
| was still doing them well. | | | | buy the best equipment you can afford. You will |
| We have found over the years that quality | | | | not be sorry. |
| counts, especially when it comes to backpacking | | | | |