The Beginning of Backpacking
How I started
I’ve never carried a weighted pack on my back, heck the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried was a weighted vest back in my CrossFit days. Most of the time I didn’t even take water with me when hiking, but yeah I would take a pack with me if I knew there was any chance I would possibly get cold, because necessities.
Fortunately I was a very active person and did go hiking, but never had I gone into the backcountry roads. I didn’t know what it meant to find BLM land, I didn’t know what it meant to disconnet. All I knew was nearby hikes around me that would maybe get me to break a sweat. I didn’t know what it meant to possibly get lost on a trail.
There’s a difference between hiking for a workout and hiking to get lost but FOUND
My first backpacking trip was just that, a trip. I should preface this by saying I had never so much as car camped before in my life, I had never even stayed in a campground, never even been inside a tent. But I had been in a sleeping bag, but this was when I was a kid and we used them to slide down the staircase.
Naturally I was dating a guy and he told me we are going backpacking. I mean I tried every which way to get out of it, but my friends told me you’re going to love this place you enjoy hiking. All I had to do is bring some clothes to wear and he had everything else I needed.
Obviously I was losing my mind thinking about going out into the wilderness to sleep in a tent in the middle of no where, with this guy. Apparently I really wanted to try this out, well not really because I thought I would absolutely hate every second of it.
Long story short, the views, my goodness those views. Alpine lakes and granite rock instantly stole my soul..
Starter Gear
Now from a person who had never camped before this was all the items I felt necessary to go on a trip with. Maybe I’m also a minimalist and didn’t want to carry a bunch of other items.
Prepping for my trip
Once getting back from my first trip ever I felt completely alive, something I hadn’t felt in so very long. There was a peace that came over me, and I wanted it to live on forever.
From that moment I knew I needed to go backpacking and camping again. I had no idea how to set up the tent or the first thing about backpacking. Quickly I realized if I got the gear I’m halfway there. While on my first trip sure I slept in a tent and carried my own sleeping bag, but I didn’t pack the packs or help in putting the tent together.
First thing up was to see what Google had for me…
…started researching great beginning backpacking tents. We all know that once you go into Google it’s like a black hole of overwhelming information, with that I’m hopeful this will provide you insight of starter gear to dip your toes into the water.
My first tent which I love to this day, was the REI Half Dome 2 person it was the easiest thing to set up and take down. I could almost do it blindfolded now.
I ordered my tent and as soon as I got it, took it out of the box and started looking at it, obviously skipping any instructions which may have been involved. I should let you all know that I’m the type who has to try everything and skip instructions, however it is nice to have hem for when I can’t figure it out on my own. Naturally in my living room I started to pitch my tent, within 5 minutes I had it up. Let me tell you thank you REI, this tent was a god send. Spacious and easy to put up, also felt very sturdy. Not only was it vital I knew how to pitch the tent but it was just as important to know how to take it down.
Once I put my tent up and took it down I felt confident in doing it outside on my own. My suggestion would be to to practice setting up and taking down your tent 3 times. Because let me tell you that I got outside with the pressure of knowing I HAD to get this tent set up for a place to sleep and I struggled quite a bit more than when I was in my living room
What to pack
Obviously food is a must, and what the heck do you eat out there in the wilderness, well let me tell you the beauty of a jet boil, you can make yourself some fine dining with that little wondrous thing.
You might find this ridiculous but my favorite backpacking food is bread and peanut butter. It’s so simple, you an find the sandwich thins and they won’t take up much space at all, and the individual peanut butter packs are likely going to be your best friend.
If you are worried you will need more food get yourself some mountain house foods, and you will be eating great out in the backcountry.
For breakfast I always have coffee honestly I’ve tried a lot of instant coffee and this is the only one that hasn’t left me with a pounding headache.
If I’m heading out for sunrise I skip breakfast and just down some coffee. I like to make my own oatmeal in individual bags because it saves space, but you can also buy the prepackaged individual cups. The nice thing about the cups is you don’t have to pack any additional bowls, but you have to carry your trash out. Bottom line it’s always a give and take.
I’ve also seen people take prepacked macaroni boxes out backpacking. Really there’s so many options and I’m sure I will continue to change up my food.
Don’t you need to take clothes for everyday?
you learn that every photo will be in the same outfit!
Now the part I think most people overdo on: Clothes. However many clothes you think you need cut that in half. To this day I still take to many clothes, but this is mainly jackets, because I run extremely cold and once I’m cold I honestly can’t get warm.
The clothes you should take are the ones you hike in with. I like to go on a backpacking trip with a pair of hiking pants that have multiple pockets and well they don’t hold smell like a pair of Lululemon pants will. While less is always more I throw in a pair of spandex shorts incase I decide to jump in a lake or it’s warm and I want to hike out in shorts. I take one sports bra in with me, unless I’m going for multiple days, then I take 2 incase I swim in one.
Now lets talk about the more important part, how did I decide to go camping hiking alone.
Download all trails, the paid version, you want access to maps when you don’t have service. ALWAYS have your trail downloaded before getting to the trailhead! There’s something about having the gps and seeing your location on the map it gives me the piece of mind I need to go hike in some remote places alone.
Small side note, yes I should learn how to use a compass and map incase something happens, but to get yourself out on the trails is much more important if you ask. me.
Now you know the basics necessary to get yourself out on the trail. These basic items that I’ve researched and used myself will give you the confidence to get started. I won’t recommend anything on here that I would not use myself.
