I receive a lot of questions from people who hike and are considering backpacking or primitive camping, but are scared. Those fears are unfounded!
Here’s the quick Hiking Lady guide to help everyone quell those fears. No more excuses!
Common Fears About Backpacking:
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In many areas, the likelihood of running into a bear or mountain lion is extremely slim. In fact, many people who regularly camp never see any! If you are in bear country, use a bear canister and keep your food away from your tent. And you can take along bear spray. |
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Get a sleeping bag that matches the weather conditions when you’ll be backpacking. Each bag has a temperature rating (ie, 40 degrees for summer camping, 0 degrees if you’re camping in the snow!) Women tend to be colder than men, so if you get cold at night, get a women’s goose down sleeping bag (they generally have more fill in the toe box for women’s cold feet!) and are shorter in length, so we don’t have to haul along a huge pack that would fit a 6 foot man. |
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Use the handy Hiking Lady backcountry camping checklist to help you get organized for your trip. |
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There’s no need to worry! Find a secluded spot for privacy (an area with some trees and dense bushes always works well), bring along toilet paper, and enjoy the view! It will be a far nicer view than your bathroom at home. Remember to follow Leave No Trace principles, which means digging a small hole and packing out your TP. And for more fun, read the book How to Shit in the Woods! |
And most importantly, bring along a big smile, an enthusiastic spirit, and you are sure to have a great time!
Happy trails!
Great list Carol, and great articles.
But what about people who have an irrational fear of chipmunks? (Joking…)
LOL but chipmunks are soooo cute!
My brother-in-law was going to go hiking with us on the Appalachian Trail, but his wife convinced him that he might have a “Deliverance” encounter! HA!
haha that’s too bad! Hope he gets out on the AT at some point…
i am a bit worried as far as being physically fit enough, but my thinking is i’ve gotta do it anyway. still, i’m going on my first backpacking trip with three more experienced guys and am worried i won’t be able to keep up. we’re doing a four day trip in yosemite’s north rim trail and the first day is basically 4 miles all uphill, after that it’s about 11-13 miles of pretty leveled terrain from what i understand. i am really worried about that first day, especially with a pack on, and especially in warmer weather than i’d like. i went on a 6-mile hike yesterday with lots of hills that really kicked my ass, but man did i feel good about it afterward. and i might add that i have gone hiking maybe twice since january. so, basically i am looking to be in decent shape for this in about 8 days.
i have been reading about training tips, like going up stairs with a backpack on to get comfortable with it, and have been walking all over san francisco’s hills for hours trying to get my stamina up.
i was just wondering if you have any suggestions, or advice. should i just go for it and deal, because it’ll be tough no matter what, or should i not do the trip and try to go later this summer when i feel more confident? i sort of feel that i’m as confident as i’ll ever be…but i don’t want to get there and start complaining 2 miles in on the first day.
Hi Katherine!
Definitely keep it up! Do as much training as you can prior to your Yosemite trip, but be sure to rest for a few days before because you don’t want to start the trip sore from all your training sessions. The best thing you can do to prepare for a backpacking trip is to do as much long distance hiking as possible to build up your stamina. If possible try to do a hike or two at elevation in advance of your trip. A friend of mine who lives in New York City prepared for a Mt. Kilimanjaro hike by wearing a backpack and going up and down the stairs in her apartment complex.
You will have a wonderful time and be sure to eat enough, stay very well hydrated, and take short rest breaks when necessary.
Happy trails!
I’m still scared… I’m totally scared of bears
Bears, lions, rattlesnakes, sunburn, blisters – crikey!
Just go to the gym. Or have lots of sex.
LOL! At the gym you don’t get to enjoy nature!
I’m a big proponent of one-nighters for first-timers. My first few were short out and backs to get the feel of it and to get a sense of how little gear you really need. I know I packed too much when starting out. Other than that, as long as you don’t go backpacking in really popular places, you’ll see hardly any animals at all. The biggest thing I’ve seen is a wild turkey, seriously! I hardly even see squirrels, much less bears. Our fears our irrational due to movies. I’d love to know how Katherine’s trip turned out… Hope it went well.
Hi Kat! A one nighter is definitely a good idea for beginners. I’ve never seen a wild turkey when I’ve been backpacking, but definitely seen my share of other critters (and bigger animals too!) haha But I’ve always been very safe and never had a negative or scary encounter with an animal. I definitely agree with your point about fears being irrational due to movies… hollywood makes the wilderness seem scary, but you and I know it isn’t.
thanks for reading and happy trails!
What a great site! I do a lot of hiking in Japan and found your site linked from the “Hiking in Japan” site. I was especially impressed with your extensive reviews on outdoor gear. Great job! As the Terminator said, “I’ll be back…”
Cheers,
Gary in Tokyo
Thanks, Gary! I appreciate the warm regards
Happy trails!
Great post. Really reminds us of the lighthearted nature of camping. Do you have a few favorite spots?
I ask as I’m acting as “Chief Recess Officer” for KEEN footwear and we are looking for all the best outdoor spots to add to our global maps. Your blog seems extremely well informed, and fun (which is our primary goal).
Here’s a link to the map: http://recess.keenfootwear.com/get-high/.
If anyone knows about a great trail in their area, feel free to share it with us so that other hikers can discover them too.
Thanks,
Nathaniel
Thanks, Nathaniel. Looks like you guys are doing a great job to help others discover fun, local hikes.
Happy trails!
Thanks Hiking Lady (if that really is your name…). We’re trying. Please don’t be a stranger!