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Joseph Parker Backpacking in the Woods

Camping out in the backcountry is very different from camping next to your car, you need to check out my site before you head out.

If you don't have the items below don't go backpacking.

CAMP STOVE
If you're using a stove other that the Trailstove you obviously haven't heard of the Trailstove. It's the first wood stove that is light enough for serious back packing. If you include the weight of fuel it's actually lighter than any backpacking stove in the world.

FISHING NET
If you bring a small fish net in case of an emergency there's no way you will go hungry if you're near a creek or a lake. They weigh very little and guarantee a constant food supply just in case.

RUBBING ALCOHOL
There are two main reasons to bring alcohol, disinfecting wounds and starting fires. Don't waste alcohol to start a fire unless it's an emergency though, you don't need anything you don't find in the woods to make a fire if you do it right.

STEELWIRE
Excellent for fixing stuff and building shelters and other useful things. You don't need a lot, just a couple of feet.

DUCT TAPE
You can do pretty much anything without duct tape but a lot of things are much easier and less frustrating with duct tape.

HOW TO FIND WATER

Almost anywhere you go you can find water if you just go downhill, water flows in valleys and accumulates in depressions, it's all just gravity at work.

Look for different vegetation, greener vegetation far away often indicates the presence of water.

Look for a chain of uniform vegetation, this often means that there is a riverbed.

If the riverbed is dry there may be water under the ground, the best place to dig is by the largest plant you can find.

The steeper a slope is the lower the chance of finding water puddles.

Look for flocks of birds, they know where the water is.

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Sedro-Woolley, WA

Here the beautiful Stehekin Valley, with a portion of fjordlike Lake Chelan, adjoins North Cascades National Park. The national recreation area is managed with the national park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area as the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. See the national park homepage for information about visiting Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and vicinity.

CONTACTS

Email - NOCA_Interpretation@nps.gov

Fax- 360-856-1934

Write to
c/o North Cascades National Park
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1239

Phone
Visitor Information - 360/856-5700
Headquarters - 360/856-5700
Visitor Information(TDD) - 360/856-5700 x310
Visitor Information - 360/856-5700 x340
Visitor Information - 509/682-2549

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
It is possible to reach the Stehekin Valley in the recreation area yearround by passenger ferry or float-plane but never by road. There are no road connections between Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the outside. There are a number of trails available for hiking to the area in the summer.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service

CAMP STOVE If you're using a stove other that the Trailstove you obviously haven't heard of the Trailstove. It's the first wood stove that is light enough for serious back packing. If you include the weight of fuel it's actually lighter than any backpacking stove in the world.
FISHING NET If you bring a small fish net in case of an emergency there's no way you will go hungry if you're near a creek or a lake. They weigh very little and guarantee a constant food supply just in case.
RUBBING ALCOHOL There are two main reasons to bring alcohol, disinfecting wounds and starting fires. Don't waste alcohol to start a fire unless it's an emergency though, you don't need anything you don't find in the woods to make a fire if you do it right.
STEELWIRE Excellent for fixing stuff and building shelters and other useful things. You don't need a lot, just a couple of feet.
DUCT TAPE You can do pretty much anything without duct tape but a lot of things are much easier and less frustrating with duct tape.