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April 28, 2017

Backcountry Camping: What you need to know before you head out

Posted on April 28, 2017  •  4 minutes  • 692 words
Table of contents

If you’re new to backcountry camping, welcome. Hiking and camping in the backcountry is an experience like no other, and it’s one that you don’t want to miss. Before you grab your gear and load up your pack, there are a few things you need to know.

Get fit

Camping in the backcountry is not like driving to a campsite and setting up next to your car. You need to be able to hike five-10 miles per day with a full pack. If you’re not conditioned for strenuous hiking, or you’re not in good health, reevaluate whether you’re fit enough to make the trek into the backcountry. Consider a solid couple months of pre-backcountry training regiment. It’ll help you out in the long run both for your health, and for your journey ahead. backcountry camping

Research and schedule your trip

camping cooking

What to bring

You need a comprehensive camping checklist to cover all the details of your trip.

Clothing

Bring layers appropriate to the season you’re in, bring extra socks and underwear, and make sure you have rain gear. Don’t skimp on good hiking boots. Your feet are a precious asset. Nothing’s worse than leaving your critical clothes behind and suffering due to carelessness.

Food

Consider how long you’ll be out and plan healthy, nourishing meals. Having a specific plan will be essential so that you know how much food to bring and what cookware you’ll need.

Tools

  1. First aid kit
  2. Headlamp
  3. Lighter/matches
  4. Map + compass + GPS
  5. Pocket knife
  6. Duct tape/repair kit
  7. Shelter
  8. Tent + bedding
  9. Sanitary
  10. Toiletries, unscented soap
  11. Kitchen
  12. Kitchen utensils
  13. Cookware
  14. Dining ware
  15. Stove + Fuel
  16. Water/ sanitizing solution
  17. Check out my post on essential camping gear

backcountry camping

Packing

See that your backpack accommodates your needs. Do a test pack before your trip to make sure you’re in good shape. Also, do a couple of test hikes with a full pack so that you’re not surprised by how heavy your pack is once you hit the trail.

Safety

There are hazards to hiking and camping, so take a first aid course and make sure you’re your kit is up to date. Bring a personal locator GPS beacon for remote or challenging terrain. Practice setting up your tent in your backyard so that you’re well versed in how to care for your tent. Know a few survival skills. It’s essential that you know how to build a fire, how to dress a wound and how to store your food to keep scavengers at bay. Now that you’re familiar with the basics of backcountry camping, chances are you’ve starting thinking of a shopping list. There are a lot of things to remember. To stock up on some of the essential gear you need, visit a quality outdoor retailer like Carhartt to get the durable goods you need to combat the elements. When you’re setup with high quality gear you have a lot less to worry about and can focus on enjoying your journey into nature. If you’re looking for some of the most popular multi-day hikes in Canada , check out my post.

Do you have any tips for other backcountry campers you’d like to share? Comment below!

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