Backpacking For BeginnersHere is some great information on backpacking for beginners. There are some rules to follow while you are on the trail, camping and keeping yourself safe. If you are hiking and staying overnight in a US National Park or wilderness, be sure to get a permit. Overnight permits are free and you are required to have one. Check the area that you are backpacking in to reserve a campsite and wilderness permit. Staying On The Trail Always stay on marked trails when hiking. Sometimes it is tempting to walk off of the trail, especially when your walking on switchbacks. Switchbacks allow you to see the trail ahead of you and it often seems very safe to take a short cut after you have been walking for awhile. When you get off of a marked trail, you run the risk of getting bit by a snake. Fauna and ground cover can cover up holes that you could fall into. Pay Attention To Your Surroundings Enjoy the view that your bound to see while hiking. But pay attention to your surroundings. Look for landmarks. Look behind you frequently and notice where you have come from. Stop sometimes and just listen to the noises in your surroundings. This is a tip for backpacking for beginners that is often overlooked. Picking A Campsite Pick a campsite that is away from the trail and at least 100 feet from a river or lake. Pitch your tent on a flat dirt surface. Do not cut any trees down for firewood. Use wood that you find on the ground. Build all fires inside of a fire ring and never leave the fire unattended. Put a fire out by soaking it with water if you need to leave. Campfires are not allowed at sites above 9,600 feet. Bathroom And Kitchen Needs Bury your waste at least six inches deep. Bury it away from trails and any rivers or lakes. Pack out your toilet paper or burn it in your fire. Eat or pack out all of your food. Do not leave food at your campsite. Do not wash your dishes or clothes in rivers and lakes. Pets And Bears Pets are not allowed on hiking trails. Leave them at home. Bears live in the wilderness. If you are backpacking in the Sierras or any mountains, you have a good chance of seeing a bear. And if you don't see a bear, it doesn't mean that one doesn't see you! Bears are excellent at climbing trees. I do not recommend that you put your food in a bag and string it between two trees. Put your food in bear canisters. In Yosemite National Park, Little Yosemite Vally and the High Sierra Camps have metal food lockers that are bear proof for you to use. But don't assume that everywhere you backpack to will have metal lockers. Get yourself a bear canister or two. Being prepared for a bear encounter is a tip for backpacking for beginners that is most often overlooked.< Don't Drink The Water When you are backpacking the Sierras or other mountains, you will come across streams, rivers and lakes. The best advice is don't drink from them unless you filter the water first. Animals bath and urinate in this water. Natural water sources can be home to viruses and bacteria. Nasty parasites will bring on diarrhea, cramping and vomiting. These symptoms can take awhile to show up so don't think after a small drink if you feel ok, you'll be just fine. Water filters or water treatments are easy to bring with you and use. Microfilters are light and inexpensive. Filters treat the water with chlorine or iodine. They come in pumps, tablets and drops. Stay Hydrated When you hike, you get thirsty. It is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated. Your body will lose water when you sweat and when you go to the bathroom. The more we work our body, the more water we lose. You sweat even more on a hot day. It is easy to lose two gallons of water in a day. Drink water to hydrate your body before you begin your hike. Carry water with you and drink up to one quart of water for every hour of hiking. Don't always wait until your thirsty to drink water. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Dehydration will make you tired and you will slow down. You might even feel a little sluggish. For some, it brings on a headache. When backpacking, you lose electrolytes as well as water. So feel free to hike with a sports drink. Most of them are loaded with electrolytes. But just know, water is fine and that you don't need the sports drinks to stay hydrated. Signs That You Are Dehydrated Your thirsty, dizzy, confused, dry mouth, fatigued, not urinating, headache, light headed and you have an increased heart rate. Last Bit Of Advice For Backpacking For Beginners My last bit of advice for backpacking for beginners is to prepare all you can before hand. Hike with someone if you can. Let someone know what trails you are taking and when to expect you back. Return From Backpacking For Beginners To The How To Get And Wear A Backpack Page
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