Packing for a two-day loop

A 32-liter pack holds a tent, a stove, food for two days and a warm layer if you pack it in that order. Heavy items sit close to your back. Keep the rain shell at the top so you can reach it without unpacking.

Pitching a tent in wind

Point the narrow end of the tent into the wind and stake that end first. Clip the poles in before you raise the body. Guy lines go out at 45 degrees and get a second look before you sleep.

If the ground is too hard for stakes, tie the lines to rocks or a log. A tent that moves a little is fine. A tent that flaps all night is not.

Cooking on a small stove

Boil water first, then add food. A lid cuts the boil time by about a third and saves fuel. Keep the stove on flat ground and never inside the tent.

One 230-gram canister covers about eight boils for two people in mild weather. Carry a second one in winter, when the cold slows the burn.

Looking after wool socks

Wash them cool, skip the softener and dry them flat. A pair worn on three trips still shows no thinning at the heel. We rotate two pairs on longer walks and air the spare on the pack.