A friend asked me how a person could get started in backpacking. It's a great question, and given my recent reflections on the way I started, I think it's a good time to share my thoughts on the subject.
Why Do You Want to Start Backpacking?
People have different reasons for wanting to backpack. For me, I like the physical challenge, I like seeing remote beautiful locations, I like to experience the quiet and solitude, I enjoy learning the craft, using and investigating different gear options, and planning trips. You may or may not identify with one or more of those facets of backpacking. You may have different priorities in the experience of backpacking. That's fine, but those considerations should help shape your journey into backpacking. For example, if the physical part of backpacking is not a high priority for you, you won't need to prepare yourself for 20+ mile days on the trail. You might look to do trails along lakeshores or rivers that may have fewer climbs. Some people really enjoy backpacking to socialize with other people. If that's you, you might want to either find a group of like-minded people or start one yourself. If the camping part of backpacking is the thing you like best, then you probably want to find shorter trails with scenic campsites.
 |
| Oh, pretty. These are the kinds of scenes you are shown in magazines and Instagram feeds. |
It's Going to Suck Sometimes
That photo above... you may find picturesque moments like that, but if you get involved in backpacking, especially if you decide you want to do longer multi-day trips, you're going to have times where it's genuinely not a fun experience in that moment, and you will likely start questioning your life decisions. That's part of it. Your sleeping pad might fail. Your toes might get blistered and battered. You might have a day where you have to slog through rain and mud. You will smell bad. There is a saying among backpackers, "embrace the suck".
Even if you only do weekend trips where you patiently wait for the perfect weather forecast and you go to the shortest trails to the beautiful campsites, eventually there will be a freak weather event or some injury because you slipped and fell and it's not going to be fun. Backpacking is an outdoor activity and nature doesn't care if you're comfortable or enjoying your time as you pass through the wilderness. But the difficult trips are also some of the most memorable trips. Embrace those experiences as part of the adventure.
%20Backpack%20in%20the%20Rain_%20Conquer%20Fear,%20Embrace%20the%20Suck%20-%20YouTube.png) |
| Setting up a tarp in wind and rain isn't fun. |
Ease Your Way Into Backpacking
I'm going to break this down into a few categories, but this concept is one I think makes sense, not only when you are getting started, but for any new skill you are trying to learn that you intend to use in the backcountry. Speaking of backcountry, this would be a good time to that term as well as another I intend to use in contrast to it.
Backcountry (as I am using it) is true wilderness, that cannot be access easily via paved roads and motor vehicles. To access backcountry areas, you need to hike in (or bike, or ride a horse or other pack animal, or maybe an ATV or OHV [I'm not a huge fan of these vehicles in the backcountry]). They are remote. They may not have mobile service, and whatever you need while you are there, you need to either bring with you, or procure from the land itself. There are no toilets. There are no trash bins. What you bring in, you need to carry out.
Front country is essentially, the in between wilderness places. They can be accessed by paved roads but offer you a taste of the wilderness. Front country locations often have trash bins and either flush toilets or pit toilets. Front country campsites may or may not have mobile service. The trails are often intended for day hiking, and they are frequently loops so you can start and finish in the same location.
Front country camping and hiking is a great way to dip your toes into backpacking, to test your gear and new skills.
Gear
There is no way around getting some gear, but you don't need to break your bank before getting started. One mistake a lot of people make, is trying to buy everything they will possibly need to go on an epic backpacking trip, when they don't know what they would need to have for a basic car camping trip. In case you aren't familiar with this term, by car camping, I just mean that you load all your gear in your car, drive to your campsite, and camp within easy walking distance from your car without having to load your equipment into a backpack and carry it through the forest. Because gear is the only facet of backpacking where there is actual profit to be made, you will find a never-ending stream of recommendations for the newest and best piece of gear and/or gadget to have and use on the trail. This can get expensive quickly. Start with the basics and keep them simple. I have also heard there are some places you can rent gear from. I haven't done this myself, but if you have a tight budget, this might be a good option to investigate.
Tents
There are alternative options, but in my opinion, a tent is the simplest and most fool-proof way to start. The first tent I bought was a four-person tent that I could use with our young kids for car camping. Figure out the maximum number of people you will ever need to have in your tent on a given night, add one to that number, and that is the tent capacity you will need. I suggest adding one to that number because tent manufacturers typically make their tents with only enough floor space for the exact number of people, they specify with no additional room between them. This is a personal preference, but I prefer to have a bit of additional space inside the tent for gear and just personal space. So, if I am going with one family member or friend, I'm going to look for a three-person tent. Even for a solo trip, I opt for a two-person tent rather than a one-person tent.
If you have never done any camping before, don't spend hundreds of dollars on a tent. You can get a decent tent that will work for car camping for around $100 or less. Start with car camping in a local state park to figure out if you like it. If you don't like camping in a tent in a state park, you're probably not going to like it better in the backcountry.
If you have done a bit of camping in the past and you enjoyed it, you may be okay with investing a little more in a tent that will last longer and be more versatile. If that is you, I suggest the REI Coop brand tents as a good in-between tent option. These tents can be used for backpacking, they aren't the lightest, but they are also not the heaviest, and they are quality tents from a reputable company.
One final note about tents. No matter what you opt for, practice setting it up at home before you go on a trip. Practice setting it up at home, before you go on a trip. Practice setting up your tent at home before you go on a trip. It's important to practice setting up your tent before you are out on a trip. You might do it more than once. It's that important. When you get to a campsite, it might be dark, you might be tired, it might be cold, you might be hungry. Those are not the ideal conditions for solving the puzzle of how to set up a new tent.
Sleeping System
Your sleeping system is important. If you're going to sink money somewhere, this is probably the best place to invest. I would start with a good sleeping pad. If you go to an outfitter store, like REI or a local outfitter (we have Ozark Outdoor Supply in Little Rock, Arkansas), they will allow you to actually lie down on a sleeping pad to see how it feels. You will also need to consider the temperatures you will potentially be camping in. People talk about three season camping, usually meaning spring, summer, and fall. In Arkansas, summer isn't the time I want to be camping. It's just too hot, humid, and there are too many bugs for me. Three-season camping for me in Arkansas is spring, fall, and winter. Winters here are typically mild, compared to where I grew up in Wisconsin.
Most sleeping pads have ratings based on their insulating power, and the industry standard is "R-value" just like the insulation in a home. R-value of 3 or less would be low, and probably for summer camping only. An R-value of around 4-5 is considered shoulder seasons (spring and fall) and some milder winter camping.
Renting and/or borrowing a sleeping pad is a good idea to figure out what you like or don't like before you dump money into an expensive pad, but if you can't do that, buy from an outfitter where you can at least lie on a couple different pads in the store and ask people who are knowledgeable.
The other important sleep system item is a bag or quilt. I won't go into detail here about backpacking quilts, but here is a link to a previous article I have written about them, and why I believe they are the better option. That article also contains information about the specific quilt and sleeping pad I have used. Quilts and sleeping bags are rated according to temperature, but you need to be careful. Some bags advertise a comfort rating while other bags advertise their survival rating. If a bag is rated to 30° F and that rating is a survival rating, you will live to see the morning, but you will likely be cold and you will probably not sleep well in the night if the temperature dips down to 30 for the overnight low.
 |
| The underside of a quilt |
Here again, you may be able to borrow or rent. If it's summer and the overnight low temperatures are not going to be very cold, you might be able to get away with a blanket from home. I have gone in the summer months when low temps are in the mid 60s or 70s with just a bedsheet from home. A down filled backpacking quilt can cost as much as $400-500. If you decide you like camping and backpacking, this is a worthwhile investment.
If you are car camping to try out camping for the first time, bring a pillow (or two) from home. Make yourself as comfortable as possible on your first night camping. If you like the experience, and you begin thinking about an actual backpacking trip, I recommend investing in a backpacking pillow. There are too many different kinds, and I have tried half a dozen.
Cook Kit
A cook kit is one of the gear categories where you can get relatively good gear that you can use in the front country or backcountry without breaking your bank account. If you will be camping with other people in the front country, you may want to get some larger cookware pots. You can cook canned food like soups or mac and cheese on a campfire and you don't even need a stove.
I keep things as simple as possible when I'm camping. Freeze-dried meals that can be reconstituted in the bag, just by pouring boiling water in the bag and allowing them to rehydrate. Some people really enjoy cooking at camp. If that's you, you may want to invest in gear that facilitates that more easily, but the "keep it simple" mantra makes sense to me for a beginner. Here is a link to information about the super simple, light weight, and affordable cook kit I use.
Backpack
Don't buy a backpack to start. If you bought a cheap tent to start and you take it out for some nights at a state park, you decide you like camping, then maybe you could invest in a backpack. Your first backpack will need to hold whatever tent you have, plus your sleep system, plus food, a change of clothes, and incidentals. Rent or borrow if you can. Outfitters are your friends here as well, and they will allow you to bring in your tent and sleep system to make sure the pack you want will fit them. They will also help you size and adjust your backpack.
I have kind of taken for granted that if you are interested in backpacking, you have already been doing some day hikes. If you haven't been out day hiking, that's the place to begin before even considering going backpacking. You may hate hiking. Day hikes are often done on loop trails. Many state parks have simple rating systems to indicate whether a given trail is easy or strenuous and they almost always have a distance and/or time estimate.
Transitioning from Front Country to the Backcountry
As I have suggested, starting in the front country, like a state park or other location where you can car camp, and where you probably have access to toilets. In my view, one of the next steps would be a trail where you can hike from one point, but to a front country type location at another point, carrying your gear in a backpack. Keep your distance reasonable. If you have done some day hikes, maybe a bit longer than your typical day hikes, but don't overdo it. This will give you the experience of hiking with your gear on your back, while not complicating things by adding in the complexity of finding a campsite in the backcountry or figuring out how to use the bathroom when there is no toilet. Front country trail to front country campsites can be a bit more challenging to find. Here in Arkansas, the LOViT trail and some places on the Buffalo River trail come to mind. If you can't find a location like that near you, you can fake it by finding a loop trail at a state park, throwing on your backpack, hiking the loop, then setting up camp at a campsite in the state park where you started.
Once you are ready to make the transition to real a real backcountry trip, you will need to do two things that are difficult or impossible to do before you go.
Pooping and Peeing in the Backcountry
The peeing part is decidedly easier for guys. For women, there are now devices that (I'm told) make it a bit easier for them as well. I did some research into these for my wife. I found this lady's channel informative. Mrs. Gavagai is still not super confident using the one I got her, but we still bring it along on our trips just in case. Many women swear by their funnel/device and say they also use them for situations where they have toilets but where the seat is messy and gross.
But we all have butts and we all poop. Pooping in the woods is quite a bit different than pooping on a toilet. There are different methods, but the basic thing you need to do, no matter what your preferred method of assuming the position might be, is to dig a 6-inch cathole where you will bury your poop. Here is another caveat. Some backcountry locations require that you pack out your toilet paper. Some require that you pack out your poo too. Figure out what is or is not allowed for the place(s) you are visiting and abide by the regulations. If the rules are stricter, there is a reason they are more strict. If you don't like the regulations, don't go to that place.
There is nowhere in the national forests in Arkansas, as far as I'm aware, that requires you to pack out your poop or your toilet paper. If you use wipes, you need to pack those out. Even if they say they are bio-degradable or flushable, pack out all wipes. They have chemicals and scents, and they don't belong in the ground in the backcountry.
 |
| BoglerCo Trowel |
The photo above is the trowel I use. I have used it for a year, and I recommend it. It's super light, doesn't cut into my hand when I'm digging, and fits in my poop kit bag. Also in my poop kit, toilet paper in a ziplock bag, an extra ziplock bag for storing used wipes, and a package of unused wipes. I have a small container with soap powder that I use at camp, but that is not contained in my poop kit.
I squat. Some people hold onto a tree to help them balance. Some people find a log and hang their butt off the back end. You can try different methods. You should get 200 feet away from camp, 200 feet from water sources, and 200 feet from a trail. When you are finished, bury your poop and toilet paper so they are completely covered. No one wants to see white toilet paper "flowers" sticking out from the ground.
Finding a Campsite
Finding a campsite in the backcountry can be challenging. It was one of the things I found frustrating when I was getting started, 20 years ago. If you haven't read it, this article is about my very first backpacking attempt. That trip didn't go as planned because I started from the wrong location, thinking it was the trailhead. On subsequent trips, I did better at finding my trailheads and staying on the trail, but I struggled to find campsites, so my trips that were intended to be overnight trips, frequently turned into day hikes where I was carrying all the gear I would need for an overnight trip.
Part of the issue for me has been the fact that trail guides and Leave No Trace guidelines all say you should find a campsite at least 200 feet from the trail and 200 feet from water sources. But as you hike the trails, there are campsites with established fire rings, essentially right off the trail. The guidelines also tell you not to go tromping around the forest and to stay on the trail. How are you supposed to find a campsite off the trail, but stay on the trail??
 |
| Me 20 years ago on a Hemmed in Hollow backpacking trip that turned into a day hike because I couldn't find a campsite. Granny Henderson's homestead cabin. |
If you see an established campsite, you can use that campsite. If it has a fire ring, you can use the fire ring. If you camp there, make sure to use the bathroom 200 feet away from the water source, from the trail, and from the campsite. The benefit of using established campsites like that is that they are already impact areas, so you are not crushing delicate plant life in the forest, and they are typically flat-ish and clear already. Using those sites does not increase human impact in wilderness areas. If they are closer to the water source or to the trail than is ideal, it's still okay to use them.
True dispersed camping is allowed in some areas, but not everywhere. By dispersed camping, I am talking about camping in a wild area with no established campsite. If you are tent camping (as opposed to hammocking), you will need somewhere relatively flat, not rocky, that is also clear of woody shrubs and undergrowth. Finding a campsite for dispersed camping is more challenging. To start off, it is easier and lower impact to make use of established campsites. Apps like FarOut, trail guides, and other resources can also help you to find those established campsites.
If you choose to camp in a site that is not established, don't build a fire. Cook using a camp stove. If you need to build a fire, you need to create a fire ring, but you should also dismantle it, make sure it is completely extinguished before you leave camp, and do your best to cover and conceal the traces of a fire ring. It should look as undisturbed when you leave as when you arrived.
Water Considerations
When choosing a place to camp, your proximity to water is another consideration, whether you are camping at an established campsite or dispersed camping. There are pros and cons, both to being close to water and camping away from water, or dry camping. Being close to water has a convenience factor, in that you don't have to worry about running out of water. You can cook with as much water as you want and drink as much as you want because you can always walk over to the creek, lake, or pond and filter some more.
There are a couple of downsides to camping near a water source. First, they tend to be lower elevation sites relative to the surrounding areas. Rivers and creeks run through valleys. Cooler air settles in these locations overnight. Even if it doesn't reach freezing temperatures at the higher elevations, it might in the valley. In addition to greater potential for reaching freezing temperatures (which means you may need to sleep with your water filter in a ziplock back inside your sleeping system), it may mean condensation forming on the inside of your tent. If condensation forms inside your tent, your quilt or sleeping bag might get wet, and if that happens, whatever part is wet will lose a portion of its insulating powers. This is not usually a life-or-death issue, but if your toes bump against the walls of the tent and your quilt gets wet at the feet end, you might have cold feet in the night.
There is also some potential risk for flooding if you are camped near a river or creek, especially in a flash flood event. I am a bit wary of staying near a creek or river if there is anything more than a slight chance of light rain. In 2011, 20 people were killed at Albert Pike campground because of a freak flash flood event. It's not worth the risk. Keep an eye on the forecast. It is also worth mentioning that because these areas tend to be in valleys in remote areas, mobile phone warnings from the National Weather Service are not likely to reach you.
Dry camping means you are camped away from a convenient water source. This means, whatever water you bring into camp with you, that is all the water you will have at camp. Plan ahead. When you reach the last water source before camp, it is important, not only to refill your water bottles and possibly your collection bag, but also to "camel up", which means drinking a bunch of water while you are there. You will often need to haul heavy water uphill to your campsite. That's part of the suck. Depending on the weather, the landscape, and location of your campsite, you may also be more exposed to wind at a higher elevation campsite. But condensation tends to be less, and you're not likely in danger of a flood event.
It has taken me a time or two dry camping to get comfortable with it. My first time, I definitely experienced a little water anxiety, which was silly because there was water less than half a mile from where I had camped the night before. As you gain experience, I think you get a better sense of how much water you will need, how to manage your water usage, and how to plan for refills, etc.
Food Hangs
This is a skill you can practice at home or in front country camping locations, but the tree situation at any given backcountry campsite might be dramatically different. A food hang, or bear hang is when you are finished eating at camp and you are ready to settle in for the night, the best practice is to hang your food from a tree to keep it away from bears, raccoons, mice, etc. This also helps keep those critters out of the shelters and/or tent sites on the trail. I learned by watching YouTube videos and then practicing myself. My technique and the gear I use to hang has evolved. I now use dyneema coated cord, a rock bag for throwing the line over a tree limb, and a titanium toggle for making a knot called a marlin spike.
The basic guidelines are to hang your bag at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 6 feet away from the trunk of the tree. You can do this in a variety of ways, but the simplest way is to throw your line over the limb of a tree, then hoist your bag up in the air and tie off the other end around a nearby tree. Here is a good article with details on the different methods. And this is another article from the same blog on common mistakes.
A tip I learned from the ladies (shout out to Trail Boss, Tater, and Andy) I encountered on the Ouachita trail was to search for your bear hang tree early, like soon after you get to camp, before you even eat or set up camp. You have more energy earlier in the evening, and you will most likely have better light. Get your bear line hung as soon as you find the tree so it's ready to go when you're finished eating and you have brushed your teeth (you should put your toothbrush and toothpaste in your bear bag as well as your food and any other scented anything), all you have to do is close up your bag, attach the carabiner, hoist it up, and tie it off. In the morning, you untie it, lower it down, and you're pretty much ready to go.
Where I'm at in My Backpacking Journey
I have some experience now. I don't feel quite as green, but I have a lot to learn. I have transitioned from tent camping to hammock camping, which requires a bit more know-how with regard to setup, but it also opens more possibilities for campsites because you don't need the flat clean ground that is required for tent camping. I am hoping to gain more experience with true dispersed camping. I am trying to think of any camping I have done that was truly dispersed camping, and I don't think I have done that yet, though that does appeal to me.
I don't think I will ever do a long trail like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. That does not appeal to me. There are still a lot of shorter trails and places of interest for me to hike and explore here in Arkansas, so that will keep me busy. I have detailed a shortlist of places I hope to go in the coming months and years here.
Hike Your Own Hike
This is a common saying in the backpacking community. The essence of the phrase is that as long as you are conserving nature and not leaving trash or damaging the ecosystem, there is no wrong way to get out and enjoy it. Some people just enjoy car camping. Great. Some people like to tent camp in front country locations. Some people want to spend months hiking long trails. Ease into backpacking, stay safe, and do it the way you enjoy it.
Well, I think that does it for this topic. Did I miss anything? Do you have additional questions? Let me know.
Thanks, as always, for stopping by.
Gavagai
Comments
Post a Comment