Get Out There - Backpacking 101

One hundred and fifty years ago a naturalist wrote in his journal about wanting to go to the woods to live deliberately, so at the end of his life he didn't feel as if he had not lived.

Well that is it, that pretty much sums up why we should get moving and climb up a high rocky trail with all that we need on our back, to set up camp in a secluded forest opening, to sleep under the stars and wake to the energy and hope and clarity of a mountain morning.

Because those days on the trail seem to be filled with so much more living than days in our normal routine, which they are. They contain more experiences, more that is memorable. Looking back, the days in wilderness feel like the best days of my life.

Ok then, it is decided that backpacking is a good thing, because it makes us feel so alive and healthy, both mentally and physically, and strong, and self-sufficient, but what about the logistics, the preparation for getting on the trail.

Here are the essentials, in a nutshell, of getting started backpacking:

A pack, a tent, food, a sleeping bag.

Before you think you need to run out and spend several hundred dollars on equipment, consider renting gear until you are sure backpacking is for you. You also could buy your gear gradually, and rent the things you haven't acquired yet to spread out your purchases. Many outdoor equipment stores, like REI, have a gear rental department.

Also, don't overlook what you can get at your local discount store - but be cautious when buying sleeping bags, since the least expensive ones often weigh more, which you will pay for in sweat a few miles up the trail.

Start early on your first day out, and take it easy - don't make your first day backpacking a tortuous experience. Remember this is supposed to be fun, and so relax, and don't exhaust yourself right off. Starting early gives you plenty of time to set up camp and eat before dark.

Keep your pack as light as possible. Nothing will affect your enjoyment of backpacking as much as how much weight you have on your back. Taking too much along is one of the most common beginning backpacker mistakes.

And above all, keep your sleeping bag dry. I have heard it said that a backpacker can survive almost anything if they have a dry sleeping bag to retreat to.

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