At last the moment of truth arrives. The moment is 1:45 p.m. and the truth is that I am clearly carrying way too much weight – about 15 pounds more than any of my more sensible colleagues have packed – while struggling up a trail that just gets steeper with every heavy footfall, in an atmosphere robbed by altitude of a deeply desirable portion of its oxygen.

This might seem like actual work except that I refuse to let it conform to my definition. Work, according to my lights, is something you don’t want to do. Theoretically, I want to do this. Yes I do! I’m loving it! Thus we see the utilitarian virtue of mind over matter.

Fortunately, pleasant distractions abound. The surroundings are bucolic, the temperature crisp, the scents by turn musky and fresh. We trudge by meandering streams, across fallen logs and through autumnal fields while ascending to Hobbs Lake, our stop for the evening.

Lakes are chosen for our campsites because that’s where the water is. Once we’ve emptied the first filling, our only source of drinking and cooking water is what nature bestows. The natural world has thoughtfully provided lakes, rivers and streams in abundance, amply supplied despite the general Western drought. The commercial world has thoughtfully provided water purification pumps, which are a huge improvement over those nasty-tasting little tablets from your scouting days.

  Speaking of the innovative spirit, it is on the initial climb that I devoutly wish I had pursued my Nobel-prize-quality idea of attaching a large helium balloon to my pack.

Monday, September 10: Up with the sun, which had the consideration to rise late behind a large rock adjacent to my tent. After breakfast, which in my case consists of hot chocolate, oatmeal, coffee and an excellent turkey jerky prepared by Chuck, we’re off to our second day of hiking. We head to Island Lake, which is to be our next stop. It is a challenging day but a very satisfying one in that all of us turn out to be fit, hardy and up to the rigors of the challenge.

After miles of hard climbing a respite awaits us. On the itinerary, Lindsay has thoughtfully suggested setting aside a second day at Island Lake for leisurely exploration of the area or for "climbing a high peak" as he insouciantly puts it. There is little doubt in my mind that "exploring the area" sounds a lot flatter than its alternative.

Outfitter's Advice - How to Choose a Backpack

Long-haul backpacks, or frame packs, are made for two days trips or longer. They use a metal or graphite frame that supports the pack on your hips. There are two styles to this, the Internal and External frame. Internals are narrower and have a tower like appearance. They integrate their framework inside the pack. The "stays", or flat bars are usually aluminum and are configured in a V-shaped. Composite stays are usually parallel, X-shaped or U-shaped. Stays are removable and are made to conform. The good points about an Internal are: Flexibility, Balance, Stability, Maneuverability, and Adjustability. They tend to be more comfortable, cushioned, and a lot more flexible then an External. The downside to Internals is: Usually only one main compartment and you will sweat more because the pack is closer to your back than an External. Externals also have their advantages, such as: they are cooler to carry, easier to pack, the pack won’t tend to sag, and the cost is lower for an External. The downsides to an external are the minimal agility and difficult when traveling. The capacity in choosing a pack depends on where you are going and for how long. For a one night hike use a pack no bigger than 3,000 cubic inches. For a 1-2 night trip use a pack between 3,000-4,000 cubic inches. If you plan on going for a 3-4 day hike take a 4,000-5,000 cubic inch pack. For a hike up to 6-7 days take a 5,000-6,000 cubic inch pack. For any trip longer than 7 days, plan on taking a 6,000 plus cubic inch pack.