Backpacking Trails (page 2)
Occasionally, despite our best efforts, we all get just plain lost. We miss our offshoot, take one we shouldn’t have, or just cannot figure out where the trail is. If this happens, backtrack. Go back to the last place you where you know you where you were. Check your map and compass, and look again for trail markers or offshoots you may have missed. If you are going to a popular site (such as a lake or waterfall), follow the most well-defined trail. Don’t panic, we’ve taken as long as a couple hours to get back on track; eventually, you will figure it out. Or if you don’t—check out the safety section for what to do in emergencies. Most trails are marked well enough that this usually doesn’t happen, though.
Often, it’s a good idea to have a general plan of how many miles you will put in per day. Some trails have mile markers, so you will know about how far you have gone, but not all do. Or you may be planning to camp by a lake or river that is say, six miles in or so. If you are doing this, try not to pack in more miles you can handle, especially if it is rough terrain. You should have enough excess time to get to your campsite at least two hours before dusk without having to rush. Give yourself time to get plenty of breaks. Plan on stopping often to snack, have a drink of water, enjoy the view, or just to take a breather when you need one. This is especially true when you are hiking uphill. If you are tiring too quickly, slow down. If you are hiking in a group, different people will be comfortable with different paces. It’s ok to split up a bit, but make sure nobody gets left behind. At the very least, everyone should maintain shouting distance from each other, in case somebody lagging behind has a fall or twists their ankle.
Always keep an eye and ear out for water while on the trail. When possible, plan on camping for the night by a lake, river, or stream. If you are not, you may need to fill up your water while on the trail. Depending on where you are hiking, water may be plentiful or scarce. The time of year makes a difference, too, one on summer trip that was in the middle of the dry season, rivers that were on our map turned out to be only dry riverbeds. If water seems to be scarce, fill up whenever you come across it. Only drink water that is from a moving source and looks fairly clear. Do not drink any standing water, and always filter or treat your water before you drink it. You may not be able to taste those microorganisms, but they can make you very, very sick. Even if you still have a full water bottle from your last fill, take a moment to enjoy the cold, freshly filtered water. I don’t think there is anything quite so refreshing as drinking ice-cold mountain water straight from the filter. Keep in mind that you not only need drinking water, but water for cooking and cleaning once you set up camp.
Access to water is the most important factor to consider when choosing a camping site. Even a small stream, if it is moving briskly, will do fine. Although hopefully you will have a general idea ahead of time of where you will be camping, things don’t always work out the way you planned. If possible, camp in designated campsites: these are recognizable because they are very flat and look like they have been camped in before. Some may even have fire rings. In some popular destinations, you may need a reservation to camp in a specific area. Try to find out beforehand, and get your reservation as early as possible, as there is a limit to how many are issued per night. If this is not the case, and you have free reign to camp wherever, avoid camping in spots that look pristine, because you will trample all over the scenery. Likewise, if an area is closed to camping (this is done periodically if an area has been heavily used), respect the rules. Always camp at least 200 feet away from the trail and any water sources. Try to find something that is sheltered by trees, as these can help block wind, and provide shade during the day, which is important if this is going to be your base camp. If there are other hikers camping in the area, try not to camp too close. Often there are several sites in more popular areas, and it is at least polite to try to find one that is a little further away. One thing all backpackers have in common is a liking for quiet and privacy, so try not to camp in close enough proximity where you will see and hear each other.
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