Adventure

Essential Backpacking Tips For Absolute Beginners: Backpacking is no more a Challenge

&NewLine;<p>Johnny took his first backpacking trip&period; He was an amateur hiker&period; In this particular hike&comma; he had travelled a long way&comma; hiking over mountains and through some of the roughest terrain known to man&period; It was a grueling task&comma; one that required stamina&comma; patience&comma; and endurance&period; After all that way&comma; all that work&comma; and all that effort&comma; surely our hero Johnny deserves a good&comma; long rest&period; A good night’s sleep&comma; safe from the dangers of wildlife is just what the doctor ordered&period; The place was pitch black&comma; the night young and quiet&period; All he needed was the comfort of the big&comma; comfy tent………………………… which was missing&excl; Apparently&comma; amidst all the excitement&comma; he had forgotten to pack it in&period; Basically&comma; it was going to be a long night&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Moral of the story&quest; Don’t be like Johnny&period; Backpacking and&sol;or <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;outdoorspider&period;com&sol;tips-for-camping-with-toddlers&sol;">camping<&sol;a> requires thorough preparation&comma; physical capabilities and adequate equipment to do so successfully&comma; and without harm&period; Failing to do so could at best lead to minor inconvenience&comma; at worst………&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Let’s not go there&period; Instead&comma; let’s talk about how you&comma; our beginner backpacker&comma; can avoid doing as Johnny&comma; and go have a great experience on your first&comma; or early&comma; backpacking experience&period; We have previously published a post focusing <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;tips-advice-plannings-for-your-first-trip&sol;">Tips of your first trip&period;<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2018&sol;11&sol;1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-1010"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"wp-block-heading">Preparations For Backpacking Trip<&sol;h3>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>First and foremost&comma; you have to take various preparations before the hike itself&period; There are several things to consider when preparing&comma; including navigation&comma; travel time&comma; distance and security&period; Here is a list of things that will be absolutely necessary&period; Also&comma; depending on whether you are <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;canopytentadvisor&period;com&sol;beach-shelter-should-you-go-for-beach-umbrella-beach-canopy-beach-tent-or-pop-up-tent&sol;">going to a beach or a hike<&sol;a>&comma; camping or a backpack&comma; stuff will change&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading"><strong>MAP and GUIDEBOOK<&sol;strong><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2018&sol;11&sol;3&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-1012"&sol;><figcaption>Tourist backpack and sleeping pad on a background of mountains&comma; Georgia &lpar;Svaneti&rpar;<&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>This one is a no-brainer&period; The map is the best way to navigate across the hike&period; It will show you the way&comma; help you plan your route and indicate the direction of the nearest town if something bad happens&period; In today’s world&comma; many people use smartphone map apps&comma; which could be a more portable&comma; water-proof option over bulkier&comma; paper maps&period;<br>The guidebook will give information that will help alongside the map in deciding how to plan the travel&comma; such as easier ways to go&comma; shortcuts that may be harder to pass through versus longer&comma; easier routes&comma; and so on&period; It will also give details on campsites that are popular&comma; frequented backpacking routes and rules specific to a particular trail&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading"><strong>GEAR<&sol;strong><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>There are two basic questions to answer when deciding what to take&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<ol class&equals;"wp-block-list"><li>Do I absolutely&comma; positively&comma; most definitely need it&quest;<&sol;li><li>If I don’t need it&comma; will it make my journey any easier&quest;<&sol;li><&sol;ol>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><br>If either of the answers or both&comma; is a no&comma; then you don’t have to take it with you&period; Even though it is understandable if you want to bring certain familiar items from home&comma; carrying as little as possible will make it easier to travel&comma; organize and pack&sol;unpack&period; Basically&comma; anything that does not help with traveling&comma; food&comma; organizing&comma; or disposing of waste can be left back home&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading"><strong>FOOD<&sol;strong><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Arguably the most important on the list&comma; taking the right type of food is essential in having an easy travel&period; Obviously&comma; it is impossible to cook extravagant&comma; fulfilling meals on a campfire&period; It is also impossible to carry very many items to cook &lpar;and cook with&excl;&rpar; on your travels&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The best approach to food is having ones that are simple and easily cooked and cleaned&period; The easiest choice is having meals that need boiling water&comma; such as instant noodles&period; All you do is add boiling water to it&comma; and soon enough you have edible noodles&period; If that isn’t good enough&comma; most one-pot meals such as ramen noodles or angel hair pasta is a good alternative&comma; since they require very little work to be put in&period; Lastly&comma; if you are willing to put<br>in the work and time&comma; take food that can be easily cooked over a campfire&period; Marinated chicken can be grilled over a fire&comma; and so can vegetables like tinned mushrooms&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading"><strong>SKILLS<&sol;strong><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Finally&comma; you will need to learn some basic skills before you set out&period; Whether you plan on going alone or with somebody&comma; you need to learn how to pitch a tent&period; Nehru Institute of Mountaineering offers an <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;review-adventure-course-at-nehru-institute-of-mountaineering&sol;">Adventure&nbsp&semi;Course<&sol;a> which will teach you basics for you adventure trip&period; While this may seem simple&comma; trust us when we say&comma; PRACTICE&excl; Practice&comma; so that you can do it fast&period; This will save plenty of time for doing other things and also save you from potential embarrassment&excl;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Another handy skill to have is knowing how to light a campfire from items found in nature&period; We are sure most people have seen it done on Nat Geo or Discovery&comma; but it is hardly as easy as they make it seem&period; This is why it is important to learn this as well&period; Most people will likely carry a lighter&comma; but in the event that it goes missing&comma; this skill will help loads&period; Better safe than sorry&excl;<br>One last skill that needs a shout-out is&comma; well&comma; one that most people would not want to shout out&period; Dealing with nature’s call in the middle of nowhere&comma; what a terrific thought&excl; Sadly&comma; you must learn how to answer it while in nature’s territory&comma; without a single toilet in sight&period;<br>Never thought you would miss those seats now&comma; did you&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;hampta-pass-trek-review-create-your-trek-story-at-hampta-pass&sol;">Check Out&colon;&nbsp&semi;Create Your Trek Story at Hampta Pass<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading"><strong>EXECUTION<&sol;strong><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Now that you are set&comma; let’s look at some practical advice when you are on the road itself&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2018&sol;11&sol;2&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-1011"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>STAY ON ESTABLISHED CAMPSITES<&sol;strong><br>Any good camper will tell you that established campsites have the advantage of being easy to locate&comma; and containing certain amenities such as bear-proof storage&comma; which makes it easier to keep food&period; There are also certain places where setting up camp is more convenient&comma; and where fresh water is within reach&period;<br>They are also more likely to have other people setting up camp nearby&period; Having people nearby&comma; especially campers with more hands-on experience&comma; will help you learn and get assistance from them&period; It also provides mental comfort&comma; having other people to socialize with&period; It also helps keep away wild animals&comma; because they tend to steer clear of areas where more people are located&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>You can also read <strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;campgrasp&period;com&sol;beginners-guide-to-backpacking&sol;">Beginners Guide to Backpacking<&sol;a><&sol;strong>&comma; for other aspects of fresher backpacking&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>DELAY TRIP DURING BAD WEATHER<&sol;strong><br>During the wetter seasons&comma; it is best not to go camping&period; Rain not only adds more pressure on an already difficult experience&comma; but it also takes out the fun&period; Make sure you schedule your trip in a manner where the weather is dry during the entire trip&period; If rain is forecasted&comma; it wouldn’t hurt delaying by a week&period; Why get wet in the middle of nowhere&comma; while going long distances and carrying a heavyweight&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>WEAR LIGHT CLOTHES DURING BACKPACKING TRIPS<&sol;strong><br>Having lighter clothing helps to move faster&period; Wear something comfortable&comma; helps absorb sweat and also protects from the wear and tear of nature&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF<&sol;strong><br>Always clean up whatever mess you make on the go&period; It is the right thing to do &lpar;you know it&excl;&rpar; but it also makes it your campsite less prone to being discovered by wild animals&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Take our word for it&period; Be prepared&comma; be smart&comma; and be careful&period; The fun and excitement will come as long as you stay safe and sound&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine; &NewLine; &NewLine; <&excl;--begin code --> &NewLine; &NewLine; &NewLine; <div class&equals;"pp-multiple-authors-boxes-wrapper pp-multiple-authors-wrapper pp-multiple-authors-layout-boxed multiple-authors-target-the-content box-post-id-2851 box-instance-id-1 ppma&lowbar;boxes&lowbar;2851" &NewLine; data-post&lowbar;id&equals;"2851" &NewLine; data-instance&lowbar;id&equals;"1" &NewLine; data-additional&lowbar;class&equals;"pp-multiple-authors-layout-boxed&period;multiple-authors-target-the-content" &NewLine; data-original&lowbar;class&equals;"pp-multiple-authors-boxes-wrapper pp-multiple-authors-wrapper box-post-id-2851 box-instance-id-1"> &NewLine; <h2 class&equals;"widget-title box-header-title">Author<&sol;h2> &NewLine; <span class&equals;"ppma-layout-prefix"><&sol;span> &NewLine; <div class&equals;"ppma-author-category-wrap"> &NewLine; <span class&equals;"ppma-category-group ppma-category-group-1 category-index-0"> &NewLine; <ul class&equals;"pp-multiple-authors-boxes-ul author-ul-0"> &NewLine; &NewLine; <li class&equals;"pp-multiple-authors-boxes-li author&lowbar;index&lowbar;0 author&lowbar;cap-morgan-antoinette has-avatar"> &NewLine; <div class&equals;"pp-author-boxes-avatar"> &NewLine; <div class&equals;"avatar-image"> &NewLine; <img alt&equals;'Morgan Antoinette' src&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;wp-content&sol;litespeed&sol;avatar&sol;d7c076ce7e3a5a4c8393b12e70266f45&period;jpg&quest;ver&equals;1754412506' srcset&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;wp-content&sol;litespeed&sol;avatar&sol;cdd90752e2043461a42491009d214d31&period;jpg&quest;ver&equals;1754412506 2x' class&equals;'avatar avatar-80 photo avatar-default' height&equals;'80' width&equals;'80' &sol;> <&sol;div> &NewLine; <&sol;div> &NewLine; &NewLine; <div class&equals;"pp-author-boxes-avatar-details"> &NewLine; <div class&equals;"pp-author-boxes-name multiple-authors-name"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;author&sol;cap-morgan-antoinette&sol;" rel&equals;"author" title&equals;"Morgan Antoinette" class&equals;"author url fn">Morgan Antoinette<&sol;a><&sol;div> <p class&equals;"pp-author-boxes-description multiple-authors-description author-description-0"> &NewLine; <&sol;p> &NewLine; &NewLine; <span class&equals;"pp-author-boxes-meta multiple-authors-links"> &NewLine; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;theghumakkads&period;in&sol;author&sol;cap-morgan-antoinette&sol;" title&equals;"View all posts"> &NewLine; <span>View all posts<&sol;span> &NewLine; <&sol;a> &NewLine; <&sol;span> &NewLine; &NewLine; <&sol;div> &NewLine; <&sol;li> &NewLine; <&sol;ul> &NewLine; <&sol;span> &NewLine; <&sol;div> &NewLine; <span class&equals;"ppma-layout-suffix"><&sol;span> &NewLine; <&sol;div> &NewLine; <&excl;--end code --> &NewLine; &NewLine; &NewLine; &NewLine;

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