Air Travel for Backpackers

by Jay Demagall

Read More Tips & How-to's Articles

Trail Magic: Giving Something Back by Noah C. Kady
Trail Magic: Step Carefully by Noah C. Kady
Trail Magic: Angels Are Out There by Noah C. Kady
Navigating without a compass by George G. Spearing
Lessons from a Boy Scout by Nick Narigon
What is ultralight hiking? Why should I hike light? by Steve Green
How Fish Finders Work? by Andrei Loskoutov
A land of the rising sun by Elena Reboni
India – an experience of your lifetime by Constance Blair
How To Get Your Kids Along On Your Next Hike by Mats Lundkvist
Why Should You Use Hiking Poles? by Mats Lundkvist
Explore the adventurous side of you by Loreal Oliver
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles by Mats
Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim, A Guide for First Timers by Irene Jacobs
Paresthesias Can Be A Pain by Christine Dobrowolski
Ultralight Backpacking Gear & Techniques by Ryan Jordan
Going Light by Jason D. Martin
Air Travel for Backpackers by Jay Demagall
The Johnny Appleseed of Backpacking by Jay Demagall
Have Your Cake (and carry it too) by Gerry McDermott
The Art of Long Duration Backpacking by Virgil Kret
Looking Out For Number One by Zaring P. Robertson
Rainpacking by Eric Blumensaadt
Packing a Pack by Matt Johnston
A Tent For All Seasons by Kenneth Koh
21 Things Not To Forget On A Day Hike...And Why by Norm Zurawski
Testing Your Salesperson by Matt Johnston
Beginning In The Backcountry: A Guide For No-Timers and First-Timers by David Jones
Pack It In - Pack It Out by Matt Johnston
Too Much or Not Enough? by Matt Johnston
Rebounding From Sticker Shock by Matt Johnston
Unshaking Your Pictures by Matt Johnston
Hiking in the Grand Canyon Backcountry: A Book Review by Robert Goff
Making Your Gear Count by Zaring Robertson
The Valuable Day Hike by Norm Zurawski
The Vapor Barrier by Luigi Seli
Travel and Car Maintenance by Kirk Mueller

In the aftermath of 9/11, many things have changed at your local airport, and many of these changes directly affect the traveling backpacker. As in the backcountry, it is essential to know what you are up against when traveling in order to save time, money and hassle.

Some of a typical backpacker's gear looks mighty suspicious when being scanned by an x-ray machine. Your average security guard, who has never seen a simmerlite, might mistake your stove for some Russian made land mine. In other words, half of your gear looks suspect, so expect to have your bags searched! I take two bags. The first bag consists of my fully packed backpack minus anything metal, stuffed in a duffel. The second bag is filled with my stove, cookset, headlamp, gps, camera, knife, trekking poles, etc. Anything that remotely could look threatening through an x-ray machine goes in this bag. If they need to search, all your suspect gear is in one place, and you will get through the process much quicker and with much less hassle.

Another thing to consider when traveling is your camera film. X-rays will damage high speed film, and supposedly leave any film under 800 untouched. I have noticed a slight difference in my film and won't subject it to the airport x-ray machines again. Buy your film at your destination and bring a self addressed stamped envelope with you. Before you leave, mail yourself the undeveloped pictures and now there will be no doubt as to the photos' integrity.

In addition, always remember that butane or cannister stoves have no place on an airplane. Be sure to buy your fuel at your destination. For those of you using isobutane, try this. I noticed on a recent trip to Colorado that the local town had a "free stuff" bin. The bin consisted of old clothes, maps, and other backcountry related things. I simply put my unused fuel in the bin so someone else could use it without having to shell out $5 for a new one.

Lastly, try to bring enough bare essential gear with you in your carry on. If the airline loses your gear, at least you'll have the bare essentails to go back packing with. I try to have an set of clothes, fleece, iodine, nalgene bottle, map, hip-pack, poncho, knife and lighter in my travel pack. Hopefully, if you are prepared, your trip won't be ruined by a luggage mishap.

Finally, have fun, and stay safe, and know that all this hassle is a necessary precaution in order to keep you safe.

About the Author