Images of the Wilderness
Hiking in Comfort
by Helen Longest-Slaughter
Are you under five feet six inches tall and weigh less than 135 pounds? Are you having problems finding a comfortable way to carry your photography equipment on wilderness hikes?
Being a small person, under five feet five inches tall, I have struggled on hikes with my forty pounds of equipment plus water and snacks, especially in the rugged jungle areas of Costa Rica. Add food and clothes on round-trips in and out of base camps in Costa Rica to the normal load of forty pounds, and the weight can easily exceed fifty pounds.
As the years passed, I began to think that my struggling was due to being out of shape. Consequently, I joined a gym and began working out daily -- a full fitness workout on cardio and weight training machines. Yet, while in better shape, I continued to struggle on rugged hikes.
Then I discovered that my problem was a backpack that was made for people with larger physiques. On rugged trails it tended to move on my body and cause problems with balance. Also, carrying the Gitzo 340 tripod with the Studioball head on my shoulder was unwieldy.
I began to look for alternatives. I considered a llama, but ruled this idea out. Since a llama was not a viable option, my attention turned to framed backpacks sized for slender people who are short.
I selected an Eureka Traverse internal frame backpack, because it did not have interior dividers and is accessed by a front-zipped flap. I can put a long lens case inside for my 500mm lens.
After looking at long lens cases Domke won out, because of how it opens. I can access the camera and lens with the case in the backpack. It holds my 500mm F4 Nikkor lens with the lens hood inverted and with the Nikon F-3HP camera body and motor drive attached. An outside pocket on the lens case holds my 1.4 teleconverter.
The balance of equipment that I carry on wilderness hikes is another Nikon F-3HP body, Nikkormat body, Nikkor lenses -- 20mm, 24mm, 85mm, and 200mm, PN-ll extension tube, small manual Vivitar flash, Kirk Enterprises flash bracket, polarizer, neutral density filter, warming filter, cable releases, batteries, and other miscellaneous items. These are carried either wrapped in Domke wraps in the backpack or in my Xtrahand Vest made by Vested Interest.
My Gitzo tripod lashes to the backpack with straps and bungie cords that
are part of the pack. This leaves my hands free to use a walking stick. Rain-gear, snacks, and emergency supplies go in a top outside pocket which fastens down over the pack, further protecting my equipment from rain and salt spray when making boat transfers. Water bottles are in holders on the side of the pack, angled forward for easy access.
Do I transport my gear in this setup on the plane? No. I use my Tenba backpack, the PB large, which fits in the overhead for carrying gear on planes. When traveling by air, I ship the Eureka frame pack in a military type duffle bag with checked luggage. Then I store the duffle bag and the Tenba backpack at my friends' home in San Jose before heading out into the jungle with the Eureka frame backpack setup.
I also use the Tenba backpack when doing nearby trail photography and when working out of my vehicle in the U.S. I normally carry more lenses when working on short trails or out of my vehicle, and the Tenba works great in these situations. Additionally, I use the Tenba 600mm long lens case. With this case, I can keep the lens hood extended on the 500mm, and the lens is immediately ready.
I have two setups, one for wilderness hiking and one for nearby trail work
and for working from my vehicle. Both are great for these entirely different
modes of nature photography. Now wilderness hiking with photography equipment is
fun!
© 1996 Nature Photographer Magazine.
Helen Longest-Slaughter,
photographer and
writer, residing in
Florida, is Photo Editor
of
Nature
Photographer. Her
publication credits
include Backpacker,
Bird Watcher's Digest,
Das TIER,
Defenders of Wildlife,
The
Guilfoyle Report,
Living Bird; Natural
History, Shutterbug's
Outdoor & Nature
Photography, Sierra,
WildBird, and others.
Helen is the author of
how-to booklets, a
nature photography
correspondence course,
and has a new book,
The Complete Picture.
She lectures and leads
tours and workshops
throughout North
America, in U.S.
locations and in
Costa Rica. Helen
is a member
of
CNPA and NANPA.
