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What To Learn Before Going Backpacking
Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a disaster - even though you brought everything you needed? Maybe you had matches, but couldn't get that fire going. You need more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience. You have to learn some things, too.
Practice fire-making. Try it in your yard, and you should try to start a fire with just one match. Try it the next time it's raining too.
Tent pitching. If you don't do it right, you won't be protected from the wind and rain. Tents should be pitched tight, and you should be able to set your tent up in a few minutes.
You should also know how to keep your body temperature warm. You can camp in your yard to see how you can keep warm by blocking the wind, wearing a hat, and eating fatty foods.
You should know how to cook over a fire. You might think it's a piece of cake, but it isn't. You have to block the wind, cover the cooking pan, and keep the fire small. Practice this and time yourself. Faster is better in a jam, and it's always possible your stove will break.
Find out which plants are edible. Knowing how to identify cattails and three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.
Walking in the wilderness should also be learned. You should learn how to pace yourself and how to move over rocky terrain so you won't tire easily and lessen the risk for injuries.
Learn about animals. Do you know the difference in the actions of a bear who is just bluff charging you and a bear who is stalking you? If a bear stalks you, then you might end up as his dinner. Hint: lots of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you, but you need to read up on this one.
Next lesson: sky watching. Do you know how to tell if a lighting storm is coming? It might be useful to know when you're on that ridge. Learn the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.
Learn basic first aid. Can you tell if a person is hypothermic? Can you treat blisters properly? Be sure you know all these.
Have some knowledge on navigation. Maps are useless if you don't know how to use them. This applies to compasses as well.
You don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. It can help to know a little more though. The things listed above will surely help, so learn them now.
Practice fire-making. Try it in your yard, and you should try to start a fire with just one match. Try it the next time it's raining too.
Tent pitching. If you don't do it right, you won't be protected from the wind and rain. Tents should be pitched tight, and you should be able to set your tent up in a few minutes.
You should also know how to keep your body temperature warm. You can camp in your yard to see how you can keep warm by blocking the wind, wearing a hat, and eating fatty foods.
You should know how to cook over a fire. You might think it's a piece of cake, but it isn't. You have to block the wind, cover the cooking pan, and keep the fire small. Practice this and time yourself. Faster is better in a jam, and it's always possible your stove will break.
Find out which plants are edible. Knowing how to identify cattails and three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.
Walking in the wilderness should also be learned. You should learn how to pace yourself and how to move over rocky terrain so you won't tire easily and lessen the risk for injuries.
Learn about animals. Do you know the difference in the actions of a bear who is just bluff charging you and a bear who is stalking you? If a bear stalks you, then you might end up as his dinner. Hint: lots of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you, but you need to read up on this one.
Next lesson: sky watching. Do you know how to tell if a lighting storm is coming? It might be useful to know when you're on that ridge. Learn the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.
Learn basic first aid. Can you tell if a person is hypothermic? Can you treat blisters properly? Be sure you know all these.
Have some knowledge on navigation. Maps are useless if you don't know how to use them. This applies to compasses as well.
You don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. It can help to know a little more though. The things listed above will surely help, so learn them now.