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Beginners Guide to Backpacking: Fall blog 2018
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| Sidney Cobb ('19) |
When going
on a three day hiking trip, there are many things you must take into
consideration, however, the three essential things are food, water, and
shelter. Therefore, before your trip you should plan what food you are going to
bring and how you are going to cook or prepare that food. For food, always
consider the weight of the food and also be sure to bring food that is calorie
dense and won’t spoil. I prefer bringing oatmeal with nuts for breakfast,
granola bars and trail mixes throughout the day, and for dinner a ration of sort
(as a vegetarian I found some great options on Amazon that you can order), also
tortillas are a great way to spice up a ration dinner and they weigh very
little and are easy to add to your bag!
You should also plan for how you
are going to replenish your water supplies. You will want to bring some sort of
water purification system (whether it be chemical like through drops or tablets
or a filtration system). It is also often a good idea to get an idea of the
water sources in the area you are hiking and tentatively plan out some good
places to refill, especially if you are in an area where water is more scarce.
Also, when looking for water you should always prefer moving water and only use
still water when absolutely necessary. As someone who drinks a lot of water, I
also like to make sure I keep a pretty good amount of water with me (a bladder
in my pack and one to two water bottles in the side pockets, depending on the
conditions, i.e. if it’s really hot I
will definitely bring two). You also want to be conscious that you are
pre-hydrating before your hike (each day make sure to drink water before you
start) and continuing to hydrate throughout the day.
Lastly, for your shelter you should
usually have the basics—a tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. For these items, think about the night
temperatures. Tents and sleeping bags have temperature ratings that show what
temperature they are made for. I always like to add 10 degrees to that rating
because I’m cold natured (so if it’s a 20 degree bag I personally wouldn’t use
it if the temperature was 30 degrees or lower). This is a personal preference
just remember those ratings aren’t for comfort but survival! You also want to
think about the climate and terrain you are hiking in. Clothes are a form of
shelter too! Make sure you have the right clothes for the projected weather,
both day and night and appropriate rain gear for you and your pack. In warm
weather, rain isn’t as dangerous but remember rain and cold do not mix well for
your health and safety so you want to stay as dry as possible!
With all of these things you want
to make sure you keep the weight as little as possible and pack lightly as not
to weigh yourself down too much! Usually 10-20% of your body weight in order to
make sure you are not putting too much strain on your back and also that your
hike will be enjoyable. Remember, everything you pack in you must pack out so
keep that in mind when preparing your pack.
These are
the things you need to have a successful trip, but often things don’t go as
planned. Someone may get hurt, you may get lost, or have any other
unpredictable scenario, therefore you should plan ahead for safety. First, you
should carry a small first aid kit in your bag. Cuts and such happen all the
time when backpacking so it’s good to have the appropriate tools. You should
also know how to signal if you are lost or in trouble. The magic number is
three. Therefore, three fires or three whistles indicate that you need help. I
recommend having a whistle attached to your backpack strap in case you fall or
another accident happens where you are unable to dig through your pack to find
your whistle. You can also easily make a whistle from an acorn shell as we
learned in class. A good way, however, to prevent accidents and getting lost is
to be well prepared—plan out your hike well and use a map, compass, or GPS to
help you (I plan on investing in a backpacking GPS very soon!). Also, it is
always helpful to be familiar with edible and other plants in the area in case
you are in a bind. It is also good to be able to recognize plants to avoid such
as poisonous ivy. For safety, you should also be very aware when setting up
camp. If it’s raining, try to stay away from areas too near creeks or rivers.
Also, always looks for dead trees or “widow-makers” before setting up camp.
They can easily fall on you in your sleep!
Lastly,
throughout your hike you should always be conscious of the environment and your
impact. Not only do you want to enjoy the trails, but you want people to
continue to enjoy them for years to come. As mentioned before, the most
important rule is the pack out principle. Never leave any trash in the
environment! Be sure to carry it all with you. Next, when picking a camping
spot you should look for places where people have camped before. It is usually
easy to spot places that are more cleared from underbrush, more stamped down
grass, or the tell-tale fire pits. Going along with that, you should also make
sure you know and understand the rules of the area you are hiking in. Many
national parks have rules about no fires for fear of forest fires, therefore
you should be sure to heed those rules and recommendations.
Although
there are many, many more tips and tricks to help with your backpacking trip,
these main points should help you have a safe and enjoyable trip that has a low
impact on the environment!
Sidney Cobb, of Frankfort, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville, where she studies political science and history.