Backpacking Tips (page 2)
Just where is it, anyway? Not only will you need to know how to get there (with specifics, many good ones are off obscure back roads), you need to know where you can leave your car for a few days. Many trailheads have parking areas, but make sure to read the signs, as the parking area may serve more than one trail. Keep in mind that in areas which have bears (such as in the California Sierra Nevada range) you cannot leave anything in your car which can smell like food. This includes deodorant, toothpaste, car fresheners, and old fast food containers. Bears have an incredible sense of smell, and they can and will break you’re your car if they think there is something edible inside. Anything like that that is not being brought with you should be left at home or will have to be thrown away when you get there if you want to avoid returning to broken windows. Some trailheads have bear lockers where you can stash stuff, but don’t count on it. It may help to find specifics of the amenities of the trailhead; some even have restrooms and potable water.
What are the rules of the trail? You will most likely need to contact a ranger station in the area for this. Most backcountry trails require wilderness permits, and while sometimes you can reserve them in advance by mail, over the phone, or online, in many cases you will have to personally visit the ranger station on your way to the trailhead. These usually don’t cost anything, but availability varies. Backpacking without a permit will get you immediately kicked off the trail as well as fined, and I know from personal experience that there are rangers out on the trail looking for just that. Also, if you are planning on having campfires, you need to check the rules on that as well. Some places do not allow campfires, or prohibit them during the drier time of the year or above certain elevations. Most places require burn permits for anything larger than a camp stove. And if you are camping near those pesky bears again, you will need to have a bear canister to keep your food in overnight. If you do not have one yourself (most of us don’t, they are a bit on the pricey side), you may be able to rent one at the ranger station. Check on this ahead of time.
Of course, you also need to consider your personal skill level while planning your trip. Even if you are physically active, this is often a different sort of exercise than most people are used to: it requires sustained endurance over a long period. Even if you are already an avid hiker, remember that hiking with a pack is an entirely different experience than a day hike with only a sack lunch and a bottle of water. If backpacking is new to you, I recommend training for at least month or so before. Throw about twenty pounds of weights into a bookbag and hike a few miles a couple times a week. Or even walk around your neighborhood. Every little bit helps.
Your skill level and physical fitness should be considered when picking your trail. For a relatively healthy person, about five to ten miles a day on moderate terrain is feasible. You can put in many more miles on flat terrain than on steep climbs. Remember that a particular trail has considerable variation, so don’t count on hiking the exact same number of miles every day of your trip. Of course, if you are one of those fitness nuts or someone who already has many backpacking trips under you belt, you will be able to handle longer distances and more difficult terrain than the average person. On the other hand, if you are a couch potato who is rarely physically active, you will want to pick a mild trail, and count on doing only a few miles a day.
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