Backpacking Basics & Tips

Basics

This first section covers the basics of backpacking. There are keys elements you’ll need to consider in order to have a safe and successful backpacking trip. In our experience, those include: planning, distance/elevation, weather, permits/restrictions, gear, food, water, and leaving no trace.

Planning:

Seems basic right?  You’d be surprised how many folks you run into on the trail that don’t plan.  Get a map, know where you’re going and let somebody know what your itinerary is (preferably someone who is responsible).  If you get stuck in a bad situation, this could mean life or death. 

Distance/Elevation:

How many miles are you planning to hike?  How much elevation gain?  At what elevation will you be hiking?  How much experience do you have hiking that distance, with that much elevation gain and at that elevation?  If you don’t have much experience, build up your strength and confidence at lower levels first.  The last thing you want to do is get hurt trying to do more than you’re capable of.  Another thing to think about is planning your route - know where you’ll camp and if you’ll do a loop or setup basecamp w/planned day hikes and down time.

Weather: 

Always double check the weather (temperature, wind, rain, snow) before you go and make sure you have equipment that is appropriate for that weather.  In other words, don’t use a poncho for a snowstorm.  Also, be mindful that the climate will be different (definitely colder) at higher elevations and check to see what the evening temperature will be.

Permits/Restrictions: 

Call the local ranger station to see what restrictions are in place before you go (bear canisters, no fires, carry out toilet paper, etc).  Make sure you have all of the appropriate permits for overnight camping and parking.

Gear:

This is always a tricky one.  You can end up carrying too much weight if you bring gear for every possible situation or you could end up ill-prepared if you don’t bring enough gear.  Think about it this way – how long will it take you to get back to your car in the poorest of conditions when you don’t have the proper gear?  If it’s not that far, then you really don’t have THAT much to worry about.  However, if you’re in the middle of nowhere, it’ll take you two days to hike back, you don’t have the right clothing to keep dry/warm and there's a snow storm on its way - you could be sh** out of luck.  Always bring a first aid kit, two types of fire starters (lighter, waterproof matches, flint), headlamp, food, water, insulation, mini-shovel and toilet paper.  For a list of gear we recommend, where to find the best gear reviews, and the best places to shop, visit our gear page. The type of sleeping bag and tent you’ll want will depend on a variety of factors. We’ve put some advice together for you on how to choose the right sleeping bag and tent HERE.

Food:

When I backpack, I normally eat a small freeze dried breakfast in the morning, trail snacks during the day and a freeze dried dinner in the evening.  That said, I’m a 180lbs, 6’1” man.  Folks smaller than me can get away with eating much less.  Technically I could split the freeze dried dinners with someone else as the servings are typically for 2 people, but I also do some pretty long day hikes when I backpack.  When you pack your food into a bear canister, remember that you also have to leave some space for anything else that has a scent.  This includes most toiletries like your toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.

Water: 

How much water will you need to drink, cook and wash?  This will depend on how long and difficult your hikes will be.  Once you figure that out, you'll have to decide how much water you'll need along the trails you're hiking before you reach a water source to fill up again. Remember to use a good water filter if you’re going to drink water from a river, stream, or lake.

Leave No Trace: 

Leave the wilderness the way you saw it, untouched and pristine.  Always pack out whatever you pack in and never leave anything behind. Better yet, pick up trash and bring it with you on your way back. We want future generations to enjoy the same places we love.

Tips

This second section includes some tips and tricks on backpacking. Most of the tips relate to carrying less weight, staying warm, and keeping your gadgets charged. One of the best ways to make your backpacking trip more enjoyable is reducing the amount of weight you’ll need to carry from your pack. This means finding multiple purposes for the items you’ll bring rather than carrying more than you need to. If you think of any other tips that folks might enjoy, be sure to email us at Mike@ExploreMoreNature.com and we may just add your tip and name to this section.

  • Bring a few small oranges to eat and save the peels - you can make some great tea with the peels by simply adding boiling water.

  • If you need some extra warmth at night, pour nearly boiling water into your Nalgene bottle and keep it close to you while you sleep. To avoid a cold wake up call in the morning, wrap the bottle in a bandana or put the bottle in a sock.

  • Need a lantern? Wrap your headlamp around your Nalgene bottle (filled with water) twice and face the lamp toward the bottle.

  • For any non-freeze dried food, be sure it's in lightweight, non-bulky packaging. If not, move the item to a ziploc bag.

  • Save weight and space by only bringing travel size toiletries.

  • Want to bring a camping pillow but don't have the space or want to carry the extra weight? If you're already bringing a down jacket, bring a small pillowcase that you can stuff your jacket into and use as a pillow.

  • If it will be cold at night, be sure to place the batteries for your electronics (this includes usb portable power banks/battery packs) and your phone in the bottom of your sleeping bag to keep warm. Otherwise, the cold air will actually drain your batteries and/or they won't work as well the next day.