Backpacking 101
Backpacking is a great way to escape the 9-to-5 grind, explore new places and stay in shape. But for those without much experience, planning your trip and ensuring you have the proper gear can be daunting.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help guide you on your journey.
It’s also an affordable hobby, said Las Crucen Bruce Gafner, a backpacker for 40 years and an adviser for the local Venturing Crew, a local Boy Scouts of America co-ed adventure group geared toward 14- to 20-year-olds.
“Once you’ve got your hiking boots, backpack and your sleeping bag, then the only real expense is your food,” Gafner said. That, and driving to your backpacking destination, he added.
Gafner said he enjoys backpacking because he likes the challenge of living minimally.
“You solve problems on how to get by with less comforts and less tools than you would normally have back in civilization,” he said. “It’s comforting — the solitude and wilderness experience.”
To get started, every backpacker needs to pack what is known as “The 10 Essentials,” Gafner said.
Lists of The 10 Essentials vary slightly, but according to the American Hiking Society, 10 things you should bring on every hiking/backpacking trip include:
- Appropriate footwear: Sturdy hiking boots are ideal for longer hikes.
- Map and compass/GPS: While GPS units can be useful, carry a map and compass as a backup.
- Extra water and a way to purify it: Consuming too little water will make you susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness. Gafner said there are several ways to purify water: use of chemicals, such as an iodine or chlorine- based tablet, the traditional method of boiling water or using water filters or purifiers.
- Extra food: This prepares you for unexpected circumstances, such as getting lost, injured or spending extra time by a stream.
- Rain gear and extra clothing: Dressing in layers allows you to adjust to changing weather and activity levels. Avoid cotton (it keeps moisture close to your skin) and always bring a hat.
- Safety items: These include fire, light and a whistle. A fire can help keep you warm and serve as a signal for help if you get lost. A whistle is an effective way to call for help (use three short bursts), if you get lost. A flashlight/headlamp will help you see your map and where you’re walking, if out later than expected.
- First aid kit: Prepackaged first-aid kits for hikers are available at stores.
- Knife or multi-purpose tool: These can be used for a variety of things, such as cutting strips of cloth into bandages, removing splinters and making other repairs.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Daypack/backpack: Get something you can carry comfortably and don’t forget the rain cover; some packs come with one built-in. Keep the other essentials in the pack so you’re always ready to hit the trail safely.
Other variations of The 10 Essentials also include emergency shelter, according to rei.com.
Anthony McGlone, assistant outdoor program coordinator at New Mexico State University, said one of the most common mistakes beginners make is not knowing how to properly use their equipment.
“In today’s backpacking and retail world, there are people who will buy a very expensive pack and they don’t know how to use half the things on it, or it doesn’t fit them properly,” said McGlone, who teaches a backpacking course at NMSU.
McGlone said it’s important that people try on a backpack before purchasing it and get a professional at a sports/outdoors store to help them get the right fit.
“Once you have your equipment, go in the backyard and try it out,” he said.
If you buy a new tent, pitch it in your backyard on a nice sunny day, so when you have to pitch it in the wilderness at night, you won’t have a problem with it, McGlone said.
Many beginners also don’t know how to pack a backpack for long hikes, McGlone said.
“We want to keep large, bulky items low in the pack and heavy, dense items against the shoulder blades and the spine,” he said. “We want to keep the weight high, so it’s not pulling you down every step.”
Bob Feagans, founding organizer of the New Mexico Backpackers Meetup Group, based in Albuquerque, said another common mistake people make is packing too much.
To keep your pack light, Feagans suggests bringing things that can serve multiple purposes.
“If you bring a fleece jacket in addition to your rain jacket, then putting your rain jacket over your fleece jacket allows you to stay warmer and you don’t have to bring a heavy jacket,” Feagans said. “Most of the time, at least in the summer, that’s probably all you’re going to need.”
Gafner said, unless you are quite fit, he recommends keeping your pack to 1/4 of your body weight, and no more than 1/3 of your body weight.
Feagans said the type of shoes you wear while backpacking can make or break your trip.
“Your boots are the most important thing because if they don’t fit right, you’re going to have a terrible time,” he said. “I always recommend, if people can, go into an outdoors store and try the boots on, and the people there should be knowledgeable enough to be able to help you.”
While many people hike in trail shoes (a sturdier version of tennis shoes) ankle-high hiking boots provide the added support needed for backpacking, Feagans said.
“When you’re carrying a pack on your back, that’s a lot different than carrying a day pack,” he said. “It’s not that difficult to twist your ankle.”
Feagans said it’s typical for hiking boots to be a half size or full size larger than your normal shoe size to “accommodate extra thick socks and allow your toes plenty of room, so they don’t hit the front of the boot.”
Feagans recommends talking to people who already backpack, such as members of the New Mexico Backpackers Meetup Group, to get advice on the type of gear they might need. It's also a good idea to borrow gear, if you’re just starting out.
“Go out and see if you enjoy (backpacking), and at that point, then you can start accumulating your own gear,” he said.
One option for borrowing gear is the NMSU Outdoor Center, which provides rental equipment for hiking and camping, as well as resources, such as maps, guides and books to help you prepare and plan for your trip.
While backpacking can take you many places, exploring the trails and terrain of New Mexico is an easy way to get experience without traveling too far from home.
Feagans said the Pecos Wilderness area, in the Santa Fe National Forest, is a premier hiking area in New Mexico, with several trails to choose from.
San Pedro Parks Wilderness area, also part of the Santa Fe National Forest, is another popular backpacking area.
“For beginners, one of the best places is San Pedro Parks Wilderness,” Feagans said. “It’s just virtually flat.”
Trails in San Pedro Parks Wilderness receiving the heaviest use are the Vacas Trail to San Pedro Park (10.69 miles) and the Palomas Trail (3.63 miles), which joins the Vacas Trail, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Other New Mexico backpacking areas can be found in the Lincoln, Gila or Carson national forests.
McGlone, who has been backpacking for 20 years, said whether you are an experienced backpacker or newbie, there’s always something new to discover.
“It’s such an experiential thing; you can learn something every time you go backpacking,” he said. “And then there’s all the community and camaraderie that goes along with it. If you have a bad backpacking trip, chances are you’ve made friends for life. It gives you something to talk about later.”
Backpacking also introduces you to new places, Feagans said.
“I love being able to go to places that are relatively remote,” he said. “…If you didn’t backpack, you might not be able to get to those places.”
Another important part of backpacking is respecting the trails and wilderness areas you pass through. For information about how to abide by the Leave No Trace standards, visit lnt.org/learn/7-principles.
For information about the NMSU Outdoor Center and rental packages and equipment, visit recsports.nmsu.edu/services/outdoor-center-2.
Alexia Severson may be reached at 575-541-5462, aseverson@lcsun-news.com or @AlexiaMSeverson on Twitter.