Backpacking Vacations

Hiking and backpacking can be fun vacations if you plan for them. No other vacation will allow you to see the beauty of nature and enjoy the thrill of accomplishment that a backpacking vacation will. If you are well-prepared, the memories of fun will last a lifetime. Make sure you know what you are getting into before you strike out. Be well-versed in where you are headed, what the plan is once you get there, and be aware of any dangers that may come up along the way.

Chart a Course

You should decide where you want to go and what you want to do once you get there. Your hiking abilities should be taken under consideration when planning your trip. If you are not a well-experienced hiker, then it might be best to stick closer to home and plan a simpler hike. If you are more experienced, you may wish to spread your wings a bit and travel farther and spend more time out on the trail.

Take a Friend, Take the Family

You should know what the hike will involve and whom you will be taking. Is this a family vacation or a weekend to get away with your friends? The members of your party will be influential in choosing the best destination. You do not want to be carrying your children on a strenuous hike that will last five days, just as you have no need to seek out a family-friendly trail if the family is not coming along. Plan your trip around who will be coming with you and know how they can contribute to the overall hike.

Take What You Need, Not What You Don’t

Pack your gear so that it will best serve you on the trip. Measure out exact quantities of all your supplies and pack them as tightly as you can. Make a list of all the equipment you will need and double-check that you have it all. Will you be going through extreme conditions? Make sure your pack reflects that. Also, do a test run with all your equipment so that you know how to use it and how best it will serve you.