What is backpacking?
You started hiking with easy day hikes and maybe even
progressed to longer hikes which required you to extend yourself a bit more.
Maybe it’s time to immerse yourself fully in nature where you get to challenge
yourself more physically and disconnect completely from your way of doing
things. A time to be awed
by beautiful sunrises and sunsets, to experience views and places that take
your breath literally and figuratively; places reached only on foot. The
biggest difference between backpacking and day hikes is that you carry your
bedroom, kitchen, and sometimes, your house (tent) on your back.
I started backpacking several years ago, covering some
serious mileage in the process, and being enchanted by views that confirm God’s
greatness. I think I’ve now earned my retirement! It has been such an enjoyable
journey with some of my best memories having been created around the campfire.
Damn, the feeling of nostalgia as I write this! Not to say I’m done with
multiday hikes. I’m just done carrying all the heavy stuff on my back! I’m
being gentle with all my joints, so they continue carrying me for more years.
I’ll still write about slackpacking, my now preferred way of doing multiday
hikes.
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On your first backpacking trip
The basics are similar to your first hike, such as choosing
a trail carefully, checking the weather, making sure you have the right gear,
food and cooking utensils and safety. I hope to assist you so your first
backpacking trip is not overwhelming as you will be organised and confident.
And I would advise you to go for an overnight trail that is not too hectic,
especially if there are no huts, meaning you must carry your house on your
back. This will help you to get used to setting up a tent (a small one please!)
before and after a hike and undoing it in the morning before a hike. This while
you must cook your own meals. I’d also advise you to start with a weekend hike
where you will be hiking for two days only and please, do this with a more
experienced hiker. Trying backpacking with another inexperienced hiker may be
disastrous. And on your own is a total NO NO! Some trails have guides –
at a cost. As mentioned before here, you’ll
fare much better if you can practice setting up your tent at home. And remember
the rule on hiking shoes.
My advice would be also to take your backpack on a day trail, packed as if you
were going on a weekend hike. This will help you check how comfortable you are
carrying a big backpack.
Where to go backpacking?
As indicated above, it is always best to start with a
weekend trail, and preferably one that’s a bit easy, to ease yourself into the backpacking
life and to get used to carrying stuff on your back before attempting rough
trails. Starting with a difficult trail may put you off backpacking while an
easy trail will give you a chance to enjoy more time at the campsite or
enjoying pools, if there are any on the trail. This does not mean there are no
rough day trails as some day trails will have you climbing rocks and boulders
and crossing rivers.
Where you don’t have an option of nearby trails, do thorough
research of the trail you’ve chosen. I cannot overemphasise the importance of
research. And this because I’ve been bitten once too many times for not doing
my research. I once went straight from my couch to Drakensberg, and to say the
trail was not easy would be an understatement. Everything in me was completely
shocked, just because I had hiked another part of the berg and thought I knew
what to expect!
While all trails can be hiked regardless of the season, some
trails are better suited to some seasons, at least according to me. Check this out for hiking in different seasons in South Africa. Hopefully this will help with choosing
your weekend trail.
Transport
It is given that you will need transport to drive to the trail. My advice here is, as you find out about the trail, check out how the road is. Most trails are accessible via gravel road, so be mindful of the car you’ll be using although most of the time, you won’t have to travel a long distance on gravel. Also, most multiday trails in South Africa are circular, meaning you end where you started. I believe this will be the case with your first backpacking trail, meaning you won’t have to worry about your car as it will be waiting for you at the start/end. Where the trail is not circular, meaning you start somewhere and end elsewhere, find out what the transportation options are. Some establishments may offer free transportation while others may require you to book your transportation in advance, and for a fee.
What gear do you need?
I have already covered gear and maybe I should
emphasise the importance of packing light. I still struggle with that (read
struggled, as I’m done backpacking😄) but the best thing you can do for yourself
is to take only what you need. The biggest mistake most of us did when we
started backpacking was packing 35 items for a weekend hike, just in case. I
was to learn later that I can complete a three-day hike with one set of clothes,
this after a guide made us unpack everything we had so we take only what we needed. While
packing light, just make sure you have all the essentials lest you’re put off backpacking
because you left your sleeping bag, mattress or food. There are hiking checklists to guide you but they are just that, a guide. Whatever you do, make sure you have these:
v
Tent
v
Self-inflating mattress/sleep pad
v
Sleeping bag
v
Inflatable pillow
v
Stove, pots, plates and cutlery, plus food
v
Head torch and spotlight (optional)
Don’t stress about buying everything as there’s always an
option of renting what you don’t have. Yes, friends can lend you some items,
but having had one too many bad experiences with that, I’d rather you rent what you
don’t have and spare your friendships. The internet is your friend here
regarding what is available for rent and the prices. You can also checkout online
markets for preloved goods as you may find something there.
Food
When I started backpacking, noodles, tuna, smash and many
other not so tasty foodstuffs were the norm. Today the choice is wider, with many
shops offering food that either need warming or just adding boiling water to
have a delicious meal in minutes. And with the many electronic devices at our
disposal, dehydrating your favourite meal shouldn’t be difficult. All you need
to do is play around with different food stuffs. Just make sure whatever you do
will be clean and safe for consumption. The last thing you need is food poisoning
during a hike. If DIY is not your thing, checkout readymade hiking meals or outdoor food online
and you’ll me amazed at the options. You will also need some snacks for
during the day. And this does not refer to a whole bag of cookies or a big tub of
nuts. Get small ziploc plastic bags and pack your snacks in rations (something
salty and something sweet). The most important thing here again is water. You must
always stay hydrated. Check whether there is drinkable water on the trail and
if not, arrange for your own water supply and purifiers.
For your first night, you can enjoy a braai, and leftovers
can either be your breakfast or lunch.
Packing your backpack
There’s an art to this and during my backpacking days, some
mornings were better than others. However, you need not worry too much as yours
will be a weekend hike, so only two days of worrying about your backpack. The
trick is to try to fit everything inside the bag, spreading them evenly to
balance it. Remember that it’s got to be a perfect size for your structure,
specifically your torso, with straps adjusted appropriately. Your tent should
be able to fit on the side, held by some straps. You generally start with bulkier items and those not needed
until you reach camp, heavy items in the middle and the lightest at the top
while those you are likely to need during the day can be stashed in outer
pockets. While you can hang other things outside, avoid that as much as
possible to maintain the balance.
Let your first backpacking experience be the first of many adventures. One step at a time!
Td
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