Trip-Adventure

Backpacking is hiking which includes at least one overnight stay in thebackcountry. (For backpacking travel, see our section on backpack travel)

Backpackers usually carry a pack on their back containing all of the essentials they will need to camp, sleep, cook, and survive in the wilderness. While some backpackers only do overnights on weekends, other backpackers do through hikes for months at a time. Backpacking is extraordinarily popular in the United States and Canada, with their vast tracts of wilderness land. See our section ontrekking for backpacking trips outside of North America.

Backpacking went through a huge boom in the 1970′s and 80′s, causing some pretty crowded trails. Since the boom years, the number of people backpacking in the U.S. has fallen by about 20% according to recent work by the Outdoor Industry Association. This is actually good news because trails are less crowded and forest management agencies have improved permitting systems for trails in high demand.

While the idea of a big old leather boot with a vibram sole is iconic in the backpacking world, make sure that you really need it. Footwear for backpacking is far more variable than you might imagine, and unless you’re carrying 80 lbs. on your back, for a short weekend trip, chances are you would do just fine in a lightweight hiker, a low top approach shoe, or even a sandal.

Don’t expect to be completely alone, all the time in the backcountry. Chances are if you’re reading it in a guidebook, or here, a lot of people know about it. The extreme example– At the end of the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, groups of dozens of people actually live communally for months at a time. This surprises a lot of people. If you can’t deal with that, be a little creative, find your own secret spot and don’t tell anyone. There’s far more wilderness out there than you’d think, even in the lower 48.