Yup, good suggestion, Tom, thanks. Both the Steripen and Aqua Mira work well, though I’ve seen the former fail on rare occasions and the latter technically requires waiting hours before drinking the water (which I’ve never done, without any negative consequences). But they both also are best for clear water sources. If the source is somewhat silted or murky water, as found in some desert streams, for instance, a filter helps clear that out.

Thanks, Alan, for sharing your experiences. I like having a ground cloth for sleeping under the stars, especially in an environment where you’ll be on dusty dirt.

Well, yes, that’s true.

Hi Paul,

Well, I don’t think all the information in this article is obvious to all who read it. I believe your question about the Canadian Rockies is intended to suggest adapting your gear kit to specific places, seasons, and weather, and yes, that’s true, a point I delve into more deeply in my story “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking” (linked above, too).

Still, the Canadian Rockies have a summer season that’s a bit shorter than but otherwise similar to summer in neighboring Glacier National Park (photo above) and the U.S. Pacific Northwest (photo above from Rainier’s Wonderland Trail), and I saw conditions more severe in the first week of August on the Wind River High Route (photo above), where most of the 96 miles we backpacked were between 10,000 feet and 12,000 feet and we used ultralight gear, than I’ve sometimes seen a month later in the Canadian Rockies.

So yes, these tips can be applicable to north of the U.S. border, but yes, you certainly should adapt your gear kit to your circumstances.

Thanks for the comment.