Backpacking for Beginners

What is Backpacking for Beginners?

Most people fail to appreciate the true nature of backpacking. The reality of this kind of recreation is that you are placing yourself a great distance from any source of human communication, medical assistance, and often far from food and water as well. Going on a long-distance backpacking trip can be very dangerous if you don't properly prepare for everything you could potentially face out in the wilderness. Backpacking is an activity that requires an understanding of your physical health, environmental conditions, first aid preparedness, gear and supplies.

Physical Training and Good Health

The one significant difference between backpacking and regular hiking is that when you backpack, your pack is the only means you have of carrying everything you need for camping. This often means that your pack will weigh an average of 40 to 50 pounds. Carrying that kind of additional weight on your back during a hike puts added strain on your shoulders, hips, and legs.

Before you decide to take on the recreation of backpacking, practice an exercise regimen for at least two to three months where you regularly exercise your legs, back, arms and shoulders. Also make sure to include at least 30 minutes or more of aerobic activity every day. Once you feel you've established a good level of health, get a full physical check-up with your doctor before embarking on your first backpacking expedition. This will ensure that your heart is healthy and capable of the strain of a long and grueling hike.

Once you've established a fairly good level of health, take into account the level of your fitness while you plan for your trip. Carefully consider what your limits are in the gym when you are training and how those physical limits will affect your hike. There are several very important aspects of a backpacking trip to consider when it comes to your fitness level:

• Make sure the difficulty of the trail matches your abilities. Make note of how quickly elevation changes by observing the topography lines on the map. The closer the lines are, the steeper the climb.
• Train according to your planned hike. If you are planning to hike a difficult trail that includes climbing a steep mountain, take a day trip and attempt to accomplish the most difficult part of your planned trip with a 40 pound pack on your back. The experience may make you reconsider your plans.
• Always stretch before and after your hike. Carrying extra weight while hiking presents a high risk of injury. Stretching will ensure that your joints and muscles are warmed up and flexible, which will greatly reduce your risk of injury during a backpacking trip.
• Use common sense. If you're just getting started with backpacking, don't plan a three day hike where you'll be hiking up a 4000 foot mountain each day. Consider planning easy day hikes, and then slowly introduce more levels of difficulty each time you plan your next trip.

First Aid and Emergencies

When you are packing your backpack, in time you will learn tricks to reduce the weight of your pack. The sign of a veteran backpacker is a pack that weighs less than 30 pounds, yet contains all of the essentials. A first-aid kit is an absolute necessity during a hiking trip. A typical kit should contain at least the following items inside a waterproof bag.

• Sewing needle & thread
• Dressing pads, gauze pads, adhesive pads
• Bandages such as all sizes of normal, knuckle, and butterfly bandages
• Que-tips and cotton swabs
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment
• Tylenol, Aspirin and Ibuprofen
• Antacid tablets extra strength
• Allergy caplets with antihistamine
• Roll of gauze wrap and tape

Basic Survival

Ensuring your safety during a backpacking trip all comes down to how well you pack. Always know the environment that you're getting into before you head out on your trip. If you are climbing a mountain, don't assume that just because it's 80 degrees and warm at the bottom that it'll be the same at the top. Research the weather and pack accordingly. The following list represents a typical ultra light backpacking checklist.

Clothes:

• One pair extra wool socks and "liner" socks
• Thermal shirt and shorts or pants
• Light fleece gloves and liner gloves
• Waterproof rain mitts
• Fleece hat with flaps that cover entire neck and ears
• Warm vest and/or jacket
• Rain parka and pants folded inside a waterproof bag

Sleeping:

• Special light tent kit (shop for one-person tent specially made for backpacking)
• Lightweight sleeping back for cold weather
• Light pad or mattress that rolls easily

Cooking:

• Mini water filter
• Two or three water bottles
• Collapsible cooking pots
• Small bag with multi-utensil, condiments, toothbrush and paste
• Single burner cook stove (find one specially made lightweight for backpacking)
• Plenty of matches and a couple of lighters
• Bag to keep food in the trees away from bears

Food:

• Coffee and herbal tea
• Instant oatmeal
• Energy bars
• Dried berries and nuts
• Beef jerky
• String cheese
• Instant soups
• Freeze-dried meals
• Powder for drinks with electrolytes and vitamins

Miscellaneous:

• Compass and maps
• Paper, pens, and pencils
• Small flashlights and/or head light
• Swiss army knife
• Sun glasses in case
• Bug repellent, sun screen, and lip balm
• Small towel and compact roll of toilet paper
• Whistle, small mirror, duct tape, and firestarters

Final Words

Whether you are going on a relaxing one day hike, or a grueling five day mountain climb, following the guidelines above will ensure that you are fully prepared to meet every challenge that you'll encounter on the trail. Good health, proper planning, and careful packing will allow you to simply enjoy the experience of exploring the wilderness and soaking up the wonder and exhilaration of nature.