When the weather starts to cool, I find that I am more likely to go outside. This used to make me a bit afraid because of new stoma. But I love this time of year more than any because it is the best time to be active outside. When you have a stoma and carry around ostomy gear, it is not super fun to hike covered in sweat. I am not the biggest fan of being super sweaty at any point in time, but add on some ostomy gear and you know that the extra sweat and weight are just not that fun. So fall is the perfect time to get outside and have fun on the trails. That is what I want to talk about today and it is how to properly prepare for a good hike or backpacking trip with an ostomy because that is something that I love to do.
Gear is always important and being healthy and safe in 2021 in the backcountry starts with good gear. Now, this can be the right ostomy bag, but I think a backpack is also important. For me, I like to do really long day hikes instead of backpacking. That is because on an average backpacking trip I usually do about 10 miles a day. But I also found out that if I simply carry a very small backpack that fits water, food, and clothes for a day that I can hike that amount of miles in one day. That leaves the other 2 days of exploring new territory. That is a concept I learned from my brother in law and we were able to explore national parks 2 to 3 times faster than the average person doing this style and that is a cool thing to learn.
Since I have a stoma, I do have to take a few extra things. My pack needed to be just a little bigger. That is because I like to take emergency gear along with me. When hiking mountains or just woods you can slip, fall and puncture yourself or your gear. When you have an ostomy bag that can be a gross and frustrating experience. So be prepared for the worst. I don't go overboard, but know that If something happens I have extra gear and cleaning supplies to make it. It is totally fine to carry that extra gear to me.
I think that you should get a great backpack for the task. I like to use a medium size backpack that is super comfortable for my body. I use a chest strap to help divert the weight a little from my shoulders. But if you are able to with your stoma then getting a hip belt can be really useful. That is not necessary though, transferring weight to your hips is more important for backpacking and not just a day hike. So if you cant use a waist belt that is ok. Get a backpack that has comfortable shoulder straps and a chest buckle.
Waterproofing is also important. I like to waterproof my ostomy spare gear. This can be done super lightweight which is also important to me. I like to use double zip lock bags. This is a good tip and trick to stay lightweight and dry.
