You Will Learn to Hate The Load: Revisiting My Camino Packing List
Last Updated on September 6, 2017 by lydiaf1963
When I bought my backpack I turned to my husband Rick, the former Army guy, to help me get it fitted properly. His advice? ¨Pack light because you will learn to hate the load.¨ So I carefully planned my camino packing list.
To be honest, it didn’t take long to get used to the weight on my back, but I learned there’s a right way and a wrong way to pack and when I carried extra food I definitely noticed the change in weight.
Looking back on my original list, I’m surprised to see I used everything I packed at least once. Even so, I had to pick up some items along the way. My days often started before sunrise so I bought a head lamp after I missed a turn and had to double back. When I started preparing more of my own meals I needed to purchase a container to carry my leftovers. Eventually it became apparent I needed to charge two items at once so I also purchased a charger with dual USB ports. I was going to buy a strip, but it weighed too much. I was much savvier about what went into my pack by the time I reached a city large enough to find the things I needed.
When I started walking the temperatures were in the mid 80s (29C) and it was very warm at night in the albergues. I made good use of my sleeping bag liner and used the large pashmina scarf as a lightweight blanket. As the nights grew colder I used the blankets provided by the albergues. I was sorely tempted to get rid of the poncho liner but it came in handy on the coldest night when there were no blankets available. I think a lighter weight 3 season sleeping bag would be a better choice.
In addition to my hiking boots, I started out with a pair of sandals as well as a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower. Eventually the sandals broke so I bought a new pair that I could wear with socks and use in the shower and replaced them both. I also bought a pair of hiking pants and a long sleeved shirt to wear in the mountains. My slow drying cotton socks were replaced as well. After starting with 3 outfits, I ended up with two.
Oddly enough, I saw a few people carrying umbrellas on the three rainy days. Between my poncho, pack cover and a few plastic bags I was able to keep my stuff mostly dry. I sweated under the poncho believe it or not, but felt warm when we ascended to O Cebreiro in a fog filled with little ice crystals. Thankfully, all the Galician albergues I stayed in had dryers.
I can’t say I really learned to hate the load. In fact, I came to appreciate it. My backpack contained all I needed with a few extras. Things that no longer served were left behind. Sometimes I had to wait to address new needs, but I was always able to deal with them. My load wasn’t so heavy I couldn’t manage it, but what a relief to take it off at the end of the day! I’m sure there’s an allegory in there somewhere.
