First Time Backcountry Camping
Hi everyone,
I’m going on my first backcountry camping trip in Killarney with a few friends from July 9–11. None of us have done backcountry camping before, but we have hiking experience and have hiked longer than 16 km.
Our plan is:
Day 1: H5 Cave Lake
Day 2: H16 Three Narrows
Day 3: Hike back out
I’m not too worried about the 16 km hike back because we are prepared for it to take most of the day. My main questions are about food, bugs, food storage, scented items, swimming spots, and ticks.
For food, I’m not really sure what to bring besides ramen and mac and cheese. Are eggs okay to bring and fry in the morning, or is that a bad idea for backcountry camping? Any simple meal ideas for a first trip would be really helpful.
For bugs, what should we expect around July 9–11? Should we be worried about mosquitoes, blackflies, deer flies, or ticks? Also, what bug repellent do people recommend for Killarney? Is spray better, or should we bring a lotion/cream-type repellent?
What precautions should we take to prevent tick bites while hiking and camping in Killarney? Should we be using a specific repellent, etc.? Any advice on what has worked for you in that area would be appreciated.
I’m also confused about the bear-bag/food-storage situation. Would a 20 L dry bag with rope be enough to hang food and scented items from a tree? Or is there a better setup people recommend for this area?
I also read that we shouldn’t keep any scented items in the tent. Does that include deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen, bug spray, lip balm, hand sanitizer, soap, etc.? Should we avoid wearing deodorant completely, or is it okay as long as the deodorant itself gets stored with the food/bear bag overnight? Same question for toothpaste, should we brush away from camp and then store it with the rest of the scented items?
Another question: what do you guys think about swimming in Topaz Lake? It looks like it’s on the way from H5 Cave Lake to H16 Three Narrows. Is it worth stopping for a quick swim? Are there any other nice swimming spots along this route or near these sites that you would recommend?
I’m trying to make sure we’re prepared and don’t make any obvious first-timer mistakes. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!