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Beginning Backpacking - Information for Your First Trip

So you are interested in beginning backpacking, if are like me when I started, you are probably a little overwhelmed by all the gear choices and range of costs. For example, you can find backpacks that cost from $69 to $500, tents in excess of $600 and many other miscellaneous odds and ends that all seem expensive. On top of that, where should you go, how far should you hike and how many days should you spend on the trail?

What I would like to do is provide general ideas with getting started while not going broke and planning trips that build your comfort level, confidence and your abilities.




Chosing Your First Hike

Most national forests and state parks have a good selection of trails for beginners that are 12 miles or less. These make great starter trails. Remember to pick trails that are loops so that you end up back at your car. If you hike a linear trail you will need to back track or have ride prearranged back to your vehicle. Hiking with a partner allows taking two cars for linear trails, leaving one at each end. Keep in mind the terrain when selecting a trail. A six mile trail with many steep ascents and descents will be more difficult than a flat trail with more miles.

On your first trips I would also choose a trail that is well blazed and established so that you are not focused on finding your way. Even well established trails are often hard to follow because of unofficial side trails, but the side trails usually have a well warn path that at least lets you know you are on a trail and makes backtracking easy. For this reason, no matter how simple you think a hike is, always take a map, preferably topographical.




How Far and How Fast - Knowing Your Pace

For your first trip, plan a hike that is a reasonable distance overnight hike. Small trips allow you to learn about your gear and your abilities. Use the smaller trips to learn your comfortable pace, which you will use to plan your longer trips. Record when you start and finish the hike and the distance traveled. Use this to calculate you average pace on hikes then use that average pace for future hikes. For example; if you find out your average pace is 1.5 miles per hour and on you next trip you want to travel 12 miles in a day you will know that you should plan at a minimum 8 hours for the hike. Knowing this time and adding time for a lunch gives you a good estimate of when you will need to be on the trail to reach your destination at a given time. Again, always take into account the differences in terrain between trails and your hiking time estimates.

Smaller trips will also help you determine what your physical limits are before trying a trip longer in miles and days. You may learn that you can only comfortably for hike 4 hours or 8 hours before find your camp site. Remember, once your at camp there is still more to do, pitching tents, airing out sweaty clothing, gathering water, cooking and cleaning up. Learn your limits so that your trips are enjoyable. Backpacking should not be about who can do the most miles in the shortest time although many seem to think this way.




Brief Comment About Safety

1) It is always best to hike with a partner. If something should happen in the backcountry this allows for someone to either assist or go for help.

2) Do not expect your cell phone to have a signal in many places you will be hiking.

3) Let someone know where you plan to hike and when to expect you back. If you fail to show at least someone knows where to send search and rescue crews.

4) Take a first aid kit.




Inexpensive Gear and Beginning Backpacking

Here are ideas for obtaining gear prior to you first trip and not spending a fortune:

1) Find local clubs and organizations. They may have gear to loan or members may sell used gear.

2) Ebay and discount online stores.

3) Local outfitters may rent gear, not only is this a good way to get started but it gives you a chance to try it before you buy it.

4) Believe it or not, good backpacking gear has model years. Often the old model year gear goes on sale during the winter, which offers great buying opportunities.

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