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Optional items to wear.-—A hat with brim or visor protects against heat, snow, and overhead glare. A lightweight knapsack may be useful for short trips away from camp, or for half-day tours. A handkerchief may well be reserved for cleaning glasses, since the general utility bandanna soon becomes greasy. A lightweight watch may warn one when to turn back on a dull day. Equipment to Carry The rucksack.—This should be based on a rigid or semirigid frame. Center of gravity must be low and close to the body; the pack must not sway in fast turns nor go over the head in a fall. A belly strap is essential. If most of the weight is carried on the hips, shoulder muscles are relieved. The pack should also be free from contact with the back to avoid dampness from perspiration, which is particularly uncomfortable in cold weather. A pack with a rigid frame is easier and quicker to pack and heavy, irregularly shaped articles can be placed close to the body without gouging the back. The Bergans-type rucksack with frame and bellystrap fulfills these requirements. Metal frames are more durable than rattan. Pack-boards of the Trapper Nelson or Yukon types are preferable for loads in excess of fifty pounds, or for packs that are not easily made up in a rucksack. The army plywood packboard is excellent. |
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