| Contemplating of hiking through the Pacific Crest? | | | | get out on a trail and start accumulating the miles. |
| How about the Appalachian trail? Well you might want | | | | While you are training, you can learn just how good |
| to get ready. Backpacking requires a huge amount of | | | | your backpack feels on your back. This will help you |
| endurance and strength. It might seem simple to carry | | | | know if you have the right type and fit of pack. Even |
| your pack for a few steps, but when you start racking | | | | more, you need to make sure your backpack is the |
| up the miles, it gets pretty hard. Believe me, I have | | | | perfect size, you don't want to use a 90 liter pack for |
| hiked beyond 50 miles per day before, did a 44 mile | | | | 2 days, but you don't want to carry a 20 liter bag for |
| race on 3 technical peaks over 12,000 feet, and did 100 | | | | 10 days either. Packing up your items, and actually |
| miles in 4 days. I have backpacked all over the country | | | | using them will help you realize what size of backpack |
| in many conditions from 14,000 foot mountains to the | | | | you need, or what you should leave behind. |
| horse trails in my backyard. Be assured that these tips | | | | Learn to be productive while you hike. Practicing can |
| is all you'll need to be the best backpacker possible. If | | | | be time consuming. While I would never suggest |
| you follow my easy steps, you'll be able to achieve | | | | gabbing on the phone or bringing friends with you to |
| your goal no matter how big it is. So here is what you | | | | chat while you are actually in the back country, it might |
| should do: | | | | be a good idea to make training hikes a little more |
| Get your gear ready. You need to have all your | | | | productive. Making your training social can make it |
| equipment together, whether it is a 12 pound pack and | | | | enjoyable and makes your friends want to go with |
| a water bottle or a 75 pound pack for a gigantic | | | | you on an actual expedition some time in the future |
| thru-hike. I think you should always practice like you | | | | also. |
| play. Take your backpack with you on some training | | | | Record your workouts. Believe it or not, writing down |
| hikes and fill it just like you would on the big day. | | | | your workouts is an ancient practice. Even ancient |
| Be trained. Taking some mock up hikes will help you | | | | Greek Olympians wrote down their training. Being able |
| know whether or not you will need things like tissues, | | | | to see your progress and keeping track of your |
| or sun screen. A mock up will also tell you if you can | | | | accomplishments will keep you fixed on your goal. |
| leave them at home to save some weight. It will help | | | | Besides, it is always exciting to be able to see that you |
| you notice just how much an extra pound or two can | | | | have averaged 70 miles per week for the last 2 years |
| feel, but the risks aren't as elevated when you are just | | | | and boast to your friends. |
| training. | | | | Start with something small. I wouldn't recommend |
| Bring something extra. To scale up your training, fill a | | | | taking on some super epic adventure race as your |
| few extra Nalgenes and put them in your backpack. | | | | first time backpacking. That just does not make much |
| Each filled bottle is about two pounds, so you are | | | | sense and it is guaranteed to not be enjoyable. You |
| adding more weight. However, if halfway through your | | | | want your trip to feel like you can go the distance, and |
| hike, you decide the weight is too much, you can | | | | like you're having fun doing it. You do not want to feel |
| always dump it out. When I was preparing for my 44 | | | | like you're just barely surviving. It is okay to just go out |
| mile race, I used to hike with a 35 pound pack for 6-8 | | | | for a few miles in order to make sure you are |
| hours at a time, even though I knew on race day I'd | | | | beginning at your level. After that, you can increase |
| only be carrying about 9 pounds. Doing this gave me | | | | your miles. |
| the assurance and strength to go longer and feel | | | | Find your style. I love backpacking alone, but my |
| better throughout the whole race. | | | | friends can't handle it. You should know what you like, |
| Ensure you have the right backpack. The difference | | | | so it continues to be interesting. If you don't enjoy what |
| between a properly fit pack and one that is not totally | | | | you're doing, you will not keep doing it. |
| fitting becomes insurmountably paramount when you | | | | |