April 5, 2021

By Hannah Rheaume

Hannah is a Colorado-based adventurer. You’ll likely find her in some of the state’s most beautiful locations with a camera in hand. She’s the host of the podcast Women & the Wilderness, a yoga teacher, conscious creator and outdoor adventure photographer. You can follow her on Instagram @hannahrheaume.

Like so many others, Hannah began spending time in wild spaces when the outside world became a little too loud. What was once an escape quickly became her new normal. Below, Hannah shares some of the tips that have helped her to feel at ease when backpacking.

It’s crazy to think I just started backpacking in the summer of 2020. Like so many others, I really retreated into the wilderness when it seemed like I couldn’t go anywhere else — and it served me well! I can tell you, if you already like the outdoors, backpacking will have you loving it. There is something to be said for carrying everything you need right on your back as you walk through some of the most pristine wild spaces in the world.

Through a lot of trial and error (mostly error), I figured out what gear worked, what didn’t, what was absolutely essential, and what I could live without and things that would have been helpful to know about ahead of time. Here is my beginner’s guide to backpacking.

1. Start with an easy, heavily trafficked trail.

This provides a certain peace of mind that is 100% necessary when just starting out backpacking. When I first began, I found comfort in knowing that I would see other hikers on the trail and likely in camp at night. There is always the reality of getting lost, hurt or overexerting yourself — especially as a beginner. Hiking along a well-known, heavily trafficked, easy trail means you’ll likely see other hikers. I’ve also found that heavily trafficked trails are usually well-marked.

And remember, you will have new limits with a 30-pound backpack on. What is usually easy to you might be ranked more moderate or even hard with your pack on. Before your trip, think about doing an easy trail near your house with your pack on to get a feel for what it’s actually like to carry. And if you’re into physical training, try to be active before you backpack and do some strength and endurance training.

2. Let family know your intended plan.

This one is important. I always like to give my family and a knowledgeable trail friend (who won’t be on the trail with me) all of the details of my intended plan. If it is a multiday trip, I will provide my entire itinerary, including where I plan to camp at night. This is a precaution I find comfort in because in the event I do get lost, there are people who know what my plan was and where I might be. In addition, I use my inReach® Mini* to keep in touch with my family and let them know when I’ve made it to camp at night by sending one of the pre-written texts. The live tracking feature even allows them to check in to see where I am if they don’t hear from me at regular intervals — or if they’re just looking for a little peace of mind.

3. Practice with your gear before hitting the trail.

This means getting familiar with pitching your tent, packing and unpacking your pack, using your cook system and water filter, hanging your food, starting a fire (when permitted) and anything else you might use on trail. Whether you’re backpacking alone or with a friend, it’s important that you are self-sufficient — especially on the off chance that you become separated from your hiking buddy.

When packing your backpack, a good rule of thumb is to have your most essential items at the top of your pack or in a separate pocket that is easy to access. Some things that I keep easily accessible are my electrolytes, water filter, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, bug spray, lip balm, snacks and toilet paper.

Understanding the functionality of your gear — from your pack to your clothes to your boots and everything in between — is key to your success on the trail, so be sure to test it all out ahead of time. There is nothing worse than a pack that doesn’t fit or shoes that are too small and ultimately cause blisters.

4. Know the regulations of the land you intend to explore.

There are a lot of regulations when it comes to the land we camp on. There are certain places you can and can’t camp, permit requirements, trails you can have your dog on and others you can’t, and land you can and can’t have fires on. Again, some of this depends on the season. If you’re not visiting a national or state park (where there is information readily available online), a quick Google search of your intended destination for rules and regulations will have you set in no time. As a rule of thumb, always follow the seven Leave No Trace principles.

5. Layers, layers, layers!

In my opinion, what you wear on the trail can make or break your experience altogether. While you will want to keep your pack weight as low as possible, you’ll also want…