BL Workshop

Backpack Without the Backache

By Tom Nader
Illustrations by Jameson Simpson

It’s typical to have hard hikes in the winter. You need more gear to stay warm. And soft snow makes walking with heavy backpacks even more difficult. Don’t worry.  With a little time and a plastic sled, you are well on your way to an easier hike. Build this back-saver with a rope belt for easy pulling and with two PVC handles that will help keep the sled from running you over on downhills.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Two sections of 1/2 inch PVC pipe, each 6 feet long.
• Manila or hemp rope, two 7-foot lengths and one 6-foot
• A plastic sled, 3 to 4 feet long. Use a plastic toboggan,
  with ridges on the bottom. These ridges help keep the sled behind you.

WHAT YOU’LL DO
Step 1: Start with the belt. Using a bowline knot (left), tie a one-inch loop about one foot from the end of the six-foot rope. Wrap the rope around the back of your waist with the loop just in front of your left hipbone. Tie another one-inch bowline in front of your right hipbone.

Step 2: Attach the PVC pipes to the sled. Tie each seven-foot piece of rope to the sled in place of the rope handle that came on it. Thread the ropes through the PVC pipes.

Step 3: Tie each rope to the loops in the belt. Never untie these ropes from the belt. When pulling the sled, tie the belt around your waist. When you reach camp, untie the belt, but leave the rest intact.

Step 4: Lash it or lose it. Once underway, you could drop something important without noticing. Tie everything securely to the sled.

Read 10 comments about “Backpack Without the Backache”

1. 1 - AR says:
   March 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm

   i made one of these at a Spring Campreee

2. 2 - BSA Luvr says:
   March 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm

   Hey I like this idea I think it would work best in the snow thiugh.

3. 3 - Galactic Marine says:
   April 10th, 2007 at 8:34 pm

   Great idea, but probably doesn’t work in the mountains where its most needed!

4. 4 - Collector of chickens says:
   April 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm

   Question……Why wouldn’t it work in the mountains?..There is
   plenty of snow way up there!

5. 5 - Galactic Marine says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 3:41 pm

   Well, Collector of chickens, the mountains are usually rocky and very steep!

6. 6 - Dude1234567890 says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 4:08 pm

   hey marine! this would not work for me, I live in hot places d00d!

7. 7 - smokey says:
   August 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

   I will try that for ice fishing

8. 8 - m says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 5:45 pm

   open a door

9. 9 - OTTER says:
   January 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm

   WHAT IF THERE WAS NO SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINES

10. 10 - nerd123 says:
    February 17th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Otter, if there was no snow then you would not use it!

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