Backpacking

Backpacking is usually a fairly safe outdoor activity. But it’s still important that even experienced hikers follow backpacking safety best practices.  Don’t underestimate how fast a few bad decisions and some poor planning can put you in an “uncomfortable” situation. That’s why it’s important to follow these 9 tips for staying safe while on the trail.  Do that and you’ll really enjoy your next hiking trip, instead of letting it turn into your personal reenactment of Man vs. Wild.  9 Tips for Staying Safe While Backpacking 1. Have a Checklist … Read more

Think you’ve got the outdoor skills to survive your first backpacking trip just because you’ve seen every episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls? Think again.  Sure, you don’t need to know how to skin a snake with a stick or make elephant dung casserole, but you do need a few basic backpacker survival skills that’ll help you stay alive and find help in case of an emergency.  So let’s have a look at some outdoor skills every hiker needs to have. Fortunately, they don’t involve eating bugs or other … Read more

So you’ve planned out your first overnight hiking trip. You’ve got all your essential backpacking gear. Now it’s time to pack your backpack for hiking.  But does it really matter how you pack your gear as long as it all fits in your backpack? Yes, yes, and yes!  Just stuffing your backpack full of gear all willy-nilly will lead to a top-heavy pack that makes it next to impossible to lift a foot without falling over backward. Not to mention the extreme sense of panic you’ll feel when you need … Read more

“Hard work should be rewarded by good food.” – Ken Follett Backpacking is hard work. After a day of trapesing up and down a mountainside carrying what seems like a mountain of gear, you’ll be thankful you planned some simple backpacking recipe ideas.  The last thing you need is to set up camp and sit down to a mediocre meal of funny-tasting protein bars and trail mix that’s just basically peanuts, raisins, and a single tiny piece of chocolate at the bottom of the bag.  Wouldn’t it be better to … Read more

Friends don’t let friends go hiking with just trail mix. Sure, you could survive an overnight hiking trip with an assortment of peanuts, raisins, and tiny pieces of chocolate. But I want to share with you a backpacking kitchen guide that’ll take your camp kitchen to the next level.  After reading my guide (and downloading the FREE backpacking trip checklist) you’ll be able to go from “roughing it” with nuts and granola bars to actually enjoying some warm, tasty meals after a hard day on the trail – without having … Read more

Are you an RV camping expert who’s looking for a little extra adventure? Or maybe you just finished a movie marathon of Into Thin Air, Into the Wild, and A Walk in the Woods, and now you’re feeling inspired to conquer your first overnight hiking trip Whatever your reasons for wanting to embark on your first backpacking trip, choosing the right place for your first overnight hike is just as important as making sure you’ve packed all the necessary gear.  The right place can help ensure your first backpacking trip … Read more

In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is freedom. And in water… there is bacteria.  While on the trail we can’t survive just on wine and beer. That’s why we need to figure out how to filter and purify water while backpacking.  Sure you can try to carry all the water you need, but water gets real heavy, real fast. A gallon of water weighs a little over eight pounds and you’ll need almost a gallon of water a day while backpacking. That means if you’re going on a … Read more

So, you’ve got RV camping down. Tent camping at a campground is easy-peasy for you. Now it’s time to expand your horizons, hit the trails, and conquer your first backpacking trip!  It can be a little nerve-wracking the first time you venture away from the security of your over-packed minivan. But all campers and outdoor lovers should at some point in their lives go on a genuine, overnight hiking trip. Nothing quite compares to exploring the outdoors with just you and your trusty backpack.  In some aspects, backpacking is similar … Read more