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What to be Prepared for; Your First Backpacking Trip
If you didn’t get a chance to read the last blog, click on the image below to check it out:
Last time we talked about some things I wish I had known prior to my first backpacking trip. This time this will be about something similar, what to be prepared for. Parts of backpacking are unknown but important to be aware of.
You are out in the middle of nowhere
Be prepared to know that you don’t have civilization around you, in case something goes wrong it is a good idea that if you are going on longer trip, to have a tracker with you that a friend back at home can trace your location. I included a link to a helpful device below.
Fill your water whenever you get the chance
You never know when the next water source could be, so be drinking consistently throughout the hike and fill your water at any source even if you bottle is only halfway full. As I talked about on the first blog about backpacking, my first trip was in a desert, there was a river at the very beginning and then no water the rest of the time. Having to conserve water is difficult especially in a desert. Make sure to take advantage of any water you can.
Wildlife
You aren’t in the city anymore, you are in the home of wildlife now. You have to respect that it is their territory now, don’t feed them. Don’t purposefully approach them, in general just leave them alone. Bring bear cans to protect your campsite and food, I will include a link to more about bear cans below. There have been times where I am walking and there was a family of bears across the path, it is scary but we just walked by them ringing our bear bells, however they completely ignored us.
Injury
You might get hurt, whether it is spraining your ankle, twisting it, or tripping on a rock (this did happen to me and I slid down a patch of gravel and still have a scar from it.) Bring a first aid kit, when I fell we didn’t even have bandaids, luckily we were walking to a campground up in the mountains and they had a small store for backpackers so they had something for me, but it is best to be prepared.
Random Weather changes
Something about being in the mountains to note is that it could go from warm, humid and sunny, to pouring rain and thunder. Be prepared to have a cover ready for your campsite and a dry place for you rthings. Also a smart tip is to pitch your tent on a higher surface and not at the bottom of a muddy hill.
You don’t have service
Have a map handy because google maps isn’t going to work for you in the middle of nowhere. Have your hike memorized before leaving your car so you know what paths to take, and have it circled on your map to locate easily.
You will see the most beautiful sights ever
Safety concerns aside, backpacking is magical. You can go from walking through dense forest and uncover a huge open landscape, it is truly amazing to see how beautiful Earth really is when it isn’t changed by society. So bring a camera, because the sights are going to be incredible.
Hopefully these past two blogs have been helpful, have fun and be safe!
Ariana Stanton