btbg

You have three basic choices. Two of them have already been discussed.

First you could take someone with you. That can cut your load significantly, especially if they aren't photographers. The advantage is a lighter load, someone with you in the event of an emergency, and someone to share the adventure with. The disadvantage is you get more locked into someone else's schedule and it is less convenient.

The second choice is to get a wide angle lens and a zoom in the 28-300 range and hope that is good enough for what you want to do. Remember that water is about 7 pounds a gallon and you may need as much as two gallons of water a day depending or even more depending on where you are going and how strenuous your hike. That can be cut down if you know there is a good water source along the way and you have a good filter, but it is still a major consideration.

The third choice is to take most of your camera gear and go as light as possible on everything else.

I'm backpacking this summer. I will be taking a Nikon D5 a D300s, a 12-24 zoom, a 24-70 f2.8, a 70-200 2.8, a 150-600 zoom, and a 10-20 zoom for the D300s. I will also have two extra batteries for each camera, extra memory cards, a large tripod (extends up to 7 feet when the center post is extended. I will also have a set of extension tubes and a flash. I will also have two head lamps, three flashlights and some extra batteries.

I expect to have between 75 and 100 pounds counting my camping equipment and food. It means I will be walking slower than most other people and will be making frequent stops, but that's not a problem as I plan to photograph along the trail. No I'm not one of the young bucks here, I'm in my 60s. Current plans are either to hike the Hoh river valley in Olympia National Park. About 20 miles one way, or to hike Rainier National Park. The Olympia National Park trail is longer, but much flatter. The Rainier National Park trip would include a 7.2 mile hike one way that ends at 11,700 feet.

Either way they will be great trips. The big thing is to make sure that you have done enough training so that you know what your capabilities are and to plan carefully so that you know where you can camp, where there is water, and what time of day you need to be at specific locations.

Plan carefully, pack as lightly as possible other than your camera gear, and have a great time.

Because of the weight I plan on leaving the trailhead before sunrise, while it is still cool.

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

When I bought my D5500, I bought the videos on how to operate the camera by Michael the Maven. When he was talking about lenses, he said he takes just one when he travels - the Tamron 18-270. So, I bought one, and am very impressed with it.

Haydon

If you're concerned about your gear going missing, insure it. That should give me peace of mind. An extension of your homeowners insurance is reasonable.

philo Loc: philo, ca

My insurance co said that my camera equipment was automatly covered.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

My suggestion: A few days in advance: set up your camp in your back yard and spend the night, cooking your breakfast there the next morning. Best to find out what's missing and what's not needed ahead of time...

Haydon

Against what? Is it insured against theft, drops etc? Are their exceptions? Deductible? I wouldn't take things at face value. I'd investigate what the policy ACTUALLY covers.

There's a reason companies like State Farm have extensions on their homeowners insurance and that you pay extra for camera equipment.

I can't afford NOT knowing when I risk a 5 digit loss.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Oh, you didn't say you were in Texas.... probably fine to leave in car covered well of course.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Well I spent 7 years in Nam back packing.:) Carried a rifle for all 7, with a lot of extra fire power on my back. And have been in good shape my whole life. But last month I had a stroke!!! It was an eye opener!!! Lost the use of my whole right side! I thought at the age of 65 I was still in good shape. The Doc said I looked like I was 40-45 years old.:) And my heart was very strong! I am doing pretty good now. The right leg is little wried some times.

Take a friend!!!!!!!

mjmoore17 Loc: Philadelphia, PA area

Btbq

Enjoy the Hoh trail. It is worthwhile. I climbed Raniener about three years ago. It was to replicate a trip I did with my father when I was about 11. Lots of changes in those fifty years. Mostly with me, I doubt I will repeat with my granddaughter.

Michael

btbg

Michael, I still haven't decided which direction to go, but i will enjoy either one. Just have to go slow and steady. trying to get things like this off my bucket list before I'm too old to do them in the style that I have become accustomed to.

Most of my friends think I'm crazy, but you only live once and you might as well enjoy the experience.

Frank47 Loc: West coast Florida

Your conditioning is impressive! I've carried a lot of backpacks over the last 30 years and most folks no matter how slow they travel even in their prime age 30-50 can't handle a pack of 75-100 lbs especially ending at 11,000+ elevation.

Actually, there is also a 4th choice. At age 68 my last four trips we have rented llamas. Depending on where you are traveling and availability, this option is amazing. Our experience is that they are well trained and with a little training on your part they are responsive and great trail partners. They do the work and you take the photos.

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

There are small lightvweight backmpscking tents. Dehydrated food, a small mess kit and a single burner stove and you are all set total weight would be about 10 pounds. In cold weather, add a lightweight, down filled, sleeping bag.
If you want more luxury, consider a pack horse.

philo Loc: philo, ca

Hold on a pack horse is not going to fit into that tent.

btbg

its not all about conditioning. I'm 6-6 and weight 220 which kind of give me an advantage for carrying stuff.

Disadvantage climbing, but helps with carrying big loads.

Pack animals are a great alternative if there is adequate feed and water for the animals and they are allowed in the area you are backpacking in.

Photography in the back country is something that each person has to figure out for themselves. There is no right or wrong way to approach it as long as you take steps to be safe and to make sure that someone knows where you are in case of an emergency.

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

btbg's response brings back great memories (and some not so great). My last backpacking trip was along the Hoh River Trail, taking a left at the Ranger station and then five miles up to Hoh Lake. That five miles nearly did me in as it included very near a mile in elevation gain and I was overburdened and under conditioned! Over burdened by too much around my middle, and too much gear. That upward stretch was really tough on my knees - I thought there might be permanent damage, but after about three months they slowly got better.

Fortunately, I had raised my backpacking partner, and he, my son, was recently discharged from the army and in great shape. He ended up carrying much more than his share of the load.

Getting back to the OP's question, a photo/backpacking trip can be extremely rewarding, and very taxing! First, spend the time and effort to be physically prepared for the hiking. And that means some hiking over rough terrain; sidewalks or groomed park paths won't do it! Make sure you are wearing good solid boots WELL BROKEN IN!

I had a camera and multiple lenses on all my trips, but would advise being very judicious about what you bring. I usually had a flash, but can't remember one picture it was useful for. (Would have been great for that Kangaroo mouse in Maine, but every time I turned it on the whine scared the little guy off. Today's units are quieter, but ...). If your doing wildlife a telephoto is an absolute necessity, but you don't want to carry a large aperture lens, or a really long one. For scenery, you will need at least a modest wide angle and a decent zoom covering the mid-range. And you will want a tripod, but don't carry any but the smallest, like a MeFoto.

Your photo equipment will use up a substantial portion of your weight budget, and that puts you in the expensive section of the camping store for your kit. A light weight tent (except maybe in the Southwest), three season sleeping bag plus pad, cooking gear, small stove, change of clothing, cold and bad weather gear, food for your entire trip, water filter and carrier (you need to carry a days supply), first aid and sundries, all in a solid back pack; you're carrying 50, 60, maybe more pounds. And that golf cart thingy someone suggested, it won't work on any trail I've ever hiked!

Now that I've discouraged you, don't let me! Properly prepared, this can be one of the great adventures of your life. A true joy.

One more thing, for camping gear on a budget, check out Campmor in New Jersey. Get their catalog and you can shop comfortably, even from in hiding!