What If You Were a Beginner Backpacker?

Last weekend, several experienced backpackers from my club gathered together to discuss the agenda for the upcoming backpacking workshop in the spring. We fill up the one-day workshop with lecture-type sessions and hands-on practices. Lecture-type sessions cover topics which include gear introduction, map and navigation, personal hygiene, “leave no trace,” and cooking & nutrition. Hands-on sessions let participants have a chance to practice setting up a tent, lighting up a stove, treating water, and hanging a bear bag.

Our target participants are beginner backpackers, so we assume that they know nothing or little about backpacking and they’ve never taken part in any backpacking trip before. I really hope that this workshop will prepare them well so that they have a very good first impression of backpacking and will continue coming back to the trails. Therefore, I’ve put a lot of thought on how I could have done better to make my first few trips more pleasant so that they will not have to repeat my mistakes:

1. Progress gradually

Backpacking requires physical strength: the fitter you are, the more enjoyable the trip will be. It’s nice to push yourself a little bit harder, but it’s even nicer to know where your limit is. If you have doubts, participate in an easier trip.

Before I participated in my first backpacking trip, I had been working out very regularly: basically running for at least 30 minute every other day and swimming laps occasionally. And then I jumped in carrying my backcountry home for 10 miles a day. I tried my very best to minimize my pack weight, for example, instead of carrying a stove and cooking ware, I made four peanut butter sandwiches as my weekend food supply (Look! I even left jelly at home to achieve the spirit of minimalism.) However, the gap between load and no-load was noticeable.

The second trip was a huge upgrade: It was a 4-day trip, which had longer distance per day and more drastic elevation change to cover. The group had four people and I was forced to be the sweeper. The first day, I finished my last 2 miles alone, crying in the dark.

The third trip was a weekend trip covering the whole Devil’s Path. The trail was a bit icy and we had to climb four peaks the first day. Another participant took my pack the last half mile going to the camp site, and I dropped out the second day.

Looking back, those memorable trips do not look difficult or miserable anymore. I am confident that I will finish them smoothly given my current ability, but back then, before I signed up, I didn’t have any idea whether I was capable doing them or not. I was lucky that I only ended up with some tears and blisters and I had nice leaders and teammates who kept my spirit up. However, given that I was always exhausted before we hit the camp site, things might have been worse if any accident had happened.

Before you sign up for a trip, evaluate yourself honestly. Discuss any concern thoroughly with your leader. If you have doubts, go for an easier trip.

2. Buy a pair of good boots

I can’t emphasize more on how important selecting a good pair of boots is. Everyday you walk 6-10 hours on dirt, rocks, roots and you ascend, descend, and cross rivers on foot. Boots are your best friends. You can borrow or rent every other item on the gear list, but you have to have your own boots.

I had more than enough experience on dealing with blisters and to tell the truth it was quite unpleasant. Blisters are trip killers, and they can be prevented by a good combination of socks and boots.

For the workshop, boots/socks selection and blister prevention is one of the topics I am responsible for. Once I finish the lecture notes, I’ll put them up here too.

3. Keep things dry

Dry clothes help you to regulate your body temperature; dry socks keep you away from blisters; and a dry sleeping bag gives you a good night sleep. Try your best to keep things dry: use a pack cover, prepare rain gear, and waterproof the stuff sacks of your sleeping bag and additional clothes.

I still remember the pouring rain the first time I backpacked. My pack cover was a heavy-duty trash bag and the rain seemed heavier. I hadn’t invested in lightweight rain gear and my ski shells overheated me. I tried my best to set up the tent but the floor was still damp.

Everything was wet, except for my sleeping bag. I hope I can describe how much I appreciated it: a dry sleeping bag made my trip. Ever since then, I have never forgotten to over-protect my sleeping bag and I’ve never left my rain gear behind.

4. Treat yourself nicely

Once you are on a trip, don’t blame yourself for any mistakes you have made. It is fine to think “I wish I could have done something,” and it certainly will help you grow from your experience, but please do it after you finish the trip.

Of the second trip and the third trip I mentioned above, I was the slowest. I kept thinking that I was a burden of the group and I pushed myself very hard to catch the pace of other people. Forcing me to chase other people messed up my own pace, and I ended up more tired than I should have been. The leader of my second trip noticed what I was doing and starting from the second day, he kept reminding me to “hike my own hike” and he promised me that he would always be behind my back. That “hike my own hike” principle made the remaining trip much easier.

At the camp site of my third trip, I expressed my thoughts to my teammates that I felt that I was a burden of the group. Another participant said to me, “You are tough, you didn’t complain at all.” Other teammates encouraged me and requested me to keep backpacking.

Mental strength is as important as physical strength in the backcountry. After all, being with nature and understanding teammates is fun, why do we punish ourselves for something we cannot change at that moment?

Different people have different first-time backpacking tales to tell. If you were a beginner backpacker, what is that you wish you had known better?

Ps. Coming soon, the Chinese version!