By Murray Selleck Day hikes into the backcountry don t get much credit. Supposedly, these are soft trips because time limitations keep you from reaching higher elevations and covering long distances. At work on Mondays, my accounts of going day hiking over the weekend are met with rolling eyes and attention spans plummeting to zero. What my coworkers don t realize is that some of these day trips cover 20 miles or more, that I travel fast and light, and manage to reach high alpine lakes and tundra where the hiking is really a cruise.
Day trips can offer great intensity and a high aerobic output.
The limited time can push you to go further and faster, and the rewards of doing so are great. But there is a trick to these adventures. Traveling fast and light requires the right pack. Lumbar packs are dismissed as being either too small, too big, or not offering enough support. The fact is, these packs are extremely versatile and work great while mountain biking, skiing, and hiking.