Fall is in the air meaning it is the perfect weather for backpacking!
Never been but want to try a new adventure? Check out these tips! This list has been compiled from real life trial and error. My husband and I learned things the hard way when we started out as backpacking newbies, so hopefully, these help you make your first trip a success!
1. RESEARCH YOUR TRAIL. After living in the Asheville for 2 years and now Johnson City, TN for almost 1 Albert and I have FINALLY learned our lesson here. Knowing exactly where water sources are, where camp sites are, elevation gain, reading reviews from other hikers/ backpackers, and literally any other info you can gather on your trail will make all the difference in your experience. Use more than one source to find your info, too, since all of the reviews could be different. We use All Trails Pro which isn't free but it is totally worth the $30/ year since you can access the map when you don't have cell service. This app is also VITAL when searching for water sources and campsites or even making sure you are going the right direction. This could even be potentially life saving if previous backpackers documented where the bears like to hang out on the trail!
2. CHECK THE RADAR and not just the forecast. Albert and I have gotten rained on more times than we can count because we didn't check the radar and just checked the hourly forecast. Getting wet on a backpacking trip isn't just uncomfortable, it can really impact your sleep if the temperatures drop at night. On the other hand, backpacking in the rain can be fun if you are prepared with the right clothing and equipment. More on that below!
3. DON'T ATTEMPT A 2-NIGHTER until you are certain you are ready. Getting the hang of backpacking and more importantly, ensuring your safety, isn't something that you just know how to do your first couple of trips. It will take several single night trips for you to learn exactly how to use all of the equipment, how to ration your food accurately, how to plan for breaks and for elevation gain, and even to get used to carrying a 15-25lb pack depending on how you pack! Albert and I invested in a ton of equipment and products up front before we even tried them out, only to realize we needed to further invest in other brands or items altogether. We have also ran out of food before the end of a trip, as well as water since we didn't plan well enough to locate all of the water sources. And, if you are bringing dogs, water sources are SO important.
4. CLOTHING is so so important and you don't have to have the most expensive brands to do this the right way. Brands like Arc'teryx and Mountain Hardware are expensive for a reason- because they actually are the best. So, if you are able to splurge, you won't regret it. If you are on a budget, the REI brand makes quality stuff and even though it isn't super cheap it is still affordable. Patagonia is a middle of the road brand when it comes to price and can be found more easily since Dicks and Academy carry this brand. I could write a novel on clothing for backpacking, and will write a full blog post on this later, but for now I will give a few bullet points for you beginners out there:
wear layers - you can always remove clothing but cannot add more if you don't have it
even if it is cool/ cold outside, you will sweat so ALWAYS wear a water wicking base layer
bring a dry pair of pants, a shirt, socks, and underwear to sleep in. you will be surprised at how sweaty all of your bottom layers get while hiking and if you want to sleep this is necessary
bring camp shoes like slides or flip flops in case your hiking shoes get wet. you also will want to be able to slide something easy on for those middle of the night pee trips
bring something for your head to sleep in if temps will be under 60 at night
shoes - some people prefer hiking boots, however, I prefer a good trail running shoe. Albert and I both wear Altras and love them
if you are planning a trip in the rain MAKE SURE you have at least a hard outer shell (waterproof jacket and pants). Soft shell is also recommended.
5. SLEEPING comfortably is probably the most important thing to me on a backpacking trip. Some people could not care less about their sleep situation, but I truly love my sleep. ESPECIALLY, if I am doing a 2-nighter or the hike out the next morning is a long one. The number one thing you HAVE to have is a good sleeping pad. There are a ton of brands out there and things can get confusing and info can be misleading, but make sure whichever one you decide on is a self inflating one. This means you need to choose one of the pads that has a valve that you basically do CPR on to inflate. Number 2 on the sleeping list would be a good sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are temperature rated and choosing the wrong one could totally ruin your hopes and dreams for sleep after a day long hike. If you are backpacking in the fall or winter make sure you invest in a sleeping bag that is rated for cold temps! And conversely, if you are backpacking in the summer or late spring, use one for warm temps.
6. PACKING LIGHT is key. This is one of those things I mentioned earlier that can't really be learned until you've got a few trips under your belt. Your first couple of trips you will really think you cannot possibly go without that 5th pair of underwear, that extra food just in case, or the coupe beers to enjoy on top of that mountain (okay, this one is necessary). In addition to realizing you can go without some things is realizing that ultra lightweight equipment exists and is ULTRA expensive. So, before you go and spend a thousand dollars on the ultra light stuff, get a few trips under your belt and make sure this is a hobby you want to continue and not a short-lived one. I will write another blog post on exactly what and how Albert and I pack, but for now, here are a few tips:
water is heavy, so it is important to plan your hike around water sources to refill one or two bottles instead of filling 3 or 4 and packing them around
sleeping bags are also heavy and will likely be one of the heaviest things you put in your pack along with your sleeping pad and your tent. light weight tents, sleeping bags, and pads exist for an affordable price
don't severely overpack food - plan out your portions and pack accordingly
bring only one change of clothes to sleep in and re-wear the same clothes from the previous day for the next days hike after they have dried out
if you insist on bringing toiletries (like I do) buy the mini travel size bottles
divide the tent parts up between people so not one person is carrying the entire tent
7. SAFETY is so important and do not take this lightly- especially if you are hiking in areas with crazy wildlife aka BEARS. Our first few backpacking trips we did not take seriously as far as safety. The only thing we did was find a store that rented bear canisters for $5 a night, which was good, but not the only thing needed. See below:
bear canisters are required on alot of hikes and can be rented. these things are for storing your food and trash at night away from your tent so bears can't get a whiff of what you've been eating and they are bear- proof meaning the bears supposedly cant break into them
bear spray is 100% necessary and this is from experience. we ran up on a black bear on our last 2-nighter is Pisgah National Forest and I felt my soul leave my body. black bears apparently don't like noise either, however, we met a guy on the trail who said that the bears are so used to people that the noise doesn't scare them away anymore. Great.
make sure you being water tablets. even if it is fresh, flowing spring water, it can still contain bacteria to make you sick. I don't even trust a water bottle with a filter - I will always use tablets
have a first aid kit just in case. It is likely that someone will get a cut or a scrape and having some Neosporin and a band aid comes in handy
bring moleskin or blister pads
don't embark on a moderate or difficult rated trail unless you are physically in shape to do so
8. HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE WILDERNESS GOD GAVE US TO EXPLORE!
Written by Trinity Jones, Owner of Jones Travel Co.
September 23, 2022