The Beginner's Guild To Backpacking, Part 3 - Getting Out There

So, you’ve gotten familiar with some of the skills and concepts needed to begin backpacking; you’ve begun getting your gear; and now you’re ready to actually get out there. This is the exciting part. You’ll need to find a trail, preferably one that isn’t too challenging for your first time out (you can work up to those soon) and you’ll need to learn and follow a bit of protocol. Let’s start with finding a trail…

The Beginner's Guide To Backpacking, Part 2 - Getting The Gear

Unfortunately, getting out into the wilderness and spending a night or more involves acquiring a fair amount of stuff. Worse yet, that stuff can get fairly expensive. Like most things in our consumer culture, it can get extravagantly expensive if you let it, but it doesn’t have to. It is important to acquire gear that does its intended job and doesn’t weigh you down so much that you can’t enjoy your trip due to the feeling that you’re carrying a small RV on your back. Qualities you will learn to appreciate as you begin to use backpacking gear are simplicity, light weight, and multipurpose. Below is a list of the essential items you will need to buy, borrow, or rent before heading out on your first trip. These items are very similar to the 10 Essentials of Hiking, but that list is designed to provide precautions and preparations for day hikes. Specifically heading out for backpacking involves a bit more depth and specificity in some areas.