Forming a Packing List
Thankfully, we bought our travel itinerary for a 3-night and 4-day hiking trip through the W-trek. All meals were included, along with sleeping bag, water bottle, park entrance, and transportation–all we had to do was show up and hike!
For any and all adventures, I love using my tan bug out bag since it is versatile in size and has a lot of pockets and compartments to store equipment. No lie, in the past, I have maneuvered the size of my bag to fit underneath airplane seats.
We were arriving into Puerto Natales, Chile and leaving from Buenos Aires, Argentina for about 10 days. Before heading out, we unpacked, repacked, unloaded, and rethought since every single item weighs and matters.
Overall, we broke it down and grouped it by 1. Daytime hike 2. Nightime hangout 3. Transitional gear 4. Supplies
For me in particular, I had to pay close attention to 4. Supplies–I needed to consider the worst case scenarios to prepare adequately. Some of which included:
Possible Scenarios to Consider for my Knees
- Tripping or slipping on slippery rocks, rain or shine.
- All my weight putting pressure on my knees during declines.
- Hiking strenuously for 7-10 hours a day for 50+ miles.
- All the pressure and strain affecting other joints, like my ankles.
Choosing Products for Strenuous Hiking
Nothing was going to get in my way of hiking Patagonia, but I had to be realistic of my limitations and the risk I was taking. Primarily, fitness played a big role beforehand in making sure the muscles surrounding my knee joints were ready for the W-trek.
After considering and writing out my anxities, it allowed me to best plan and think through what products should I invest and consider for Patagonia.
Since I would be hiking 50+ miles, several hours a day, that would greatly strain and put pressure on my patellar tendon.
The dual knee strap had a larger price tage, but I having support on both the top and bottom sides of my knee gives great relief. While I purchased these two products for the hike, I also have used for long plane and care rides where I sit for long periods of time.
Other products I considered when thinking through my worse case scenario list was back-up supplies that could help my while hiking.
At first I thought having both my knees and ankles braced up was overkill. However, it protected me from pressure build-up that comes from descending down the mountains for hours on end and sustaining heavy weight with back-pack.
Towards the end of Day 1, while descending down a long, windy trail back to the campground–my right knee was blazing on fire trying to keep up. My hiking bestie whipped out the tape, ontop of the knee braces, was a game changer to finish up the day without injury.
If you have knee or inflammation-type of pain- and want to hike Patagonia–BRACE UP! Double down with athletic tape! Also, make sure you have sturdy boots with ankle support. At the very least, carry the tape in your supply kit in case of emergencies.
Choosing ‘Post Hike’ Products
During the hike is one thing, the post-hiking pain was a whole other monster to consider, especially since it was a multi-day hike. Thankfully, my bestie was very understanding about the situation and encouraged resting, if needed. If I could go back in time, I would have packed more of the Icy Hot Patches. The first day of intense hiking was brutal on my body and the patches helped me sleep through the joint pain.
For both preventative and post-hiking care, I looked to a strong herbal ally used heavily by my Andean ancestors. Ruda (or rue) is used for inflammation, rheumatic pain, cough, muscle pains and cramps. Spiritually, it eliminates fear, clears the mind of persistent thoughts and invites peace.
Ruda is a very powerful plant ally only to be taken in small amounts and not used when pregnant. Given that I have a long history of inflammation, and strong anxiety about undertaking this journey–I was lucky to find RUDA cream while in Puerto Natales.
Whenever on breaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I would massage the ruda cream all over my knees. Taking in the strong, pleasant scent it would calm my thoughts and invite gratitude for a strong spirit, mind, and body.
Final Thoughts
- Preparedness is key. Think through both the best and worst case scenarios and prepare effectively, so you don’t regret it on the trails.
- Helpful to think two-fold–supplies for ‘during’ and ‘post’ hike.
- Make sure to stretch before and after the hike, apply the relief patches and creams for a good night’s sleep.
- Mental strength and fortitude is key to completing the hike. Don’t doubt yourself, listen to your intuition and be present with nature.
