{"id":1646,"date":"2014-10-11T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2014-10-11T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=1646"},"modified":"2018-11-11T21:53:00","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T05:53:00","slug":"car-camping-backpacking-first-overnight-backcountry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/car-camping-backpacking-first-overnight-backcountry","title":{"rendered":"From Car Camping to Backpacking: Your First Overnight in the Backcountry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cooler? Check. Air mattress? Check. Massive six-person tent? Check. You\u2019ve got this car camping thing down. Maybe it\u2019s time to explore the next frontier: backpacking.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll eat, sleep and live in wilderness that was inaccessible before, and the glow of accomplishment you\u2019ll feel after spending a night in the deep woods will burn for days.<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

Selecting a Destination<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a perfect world, you\u2019d already have outdoorsy friends that have offered to take you on your first overnight. If this isn\u2019t the case, ask your experienced neighbor, coworker, family member or friend for recommendations on where to go based on the season and your ability.<\/p>\n

Record-breaking through-hiker Heather Anderson<\/a> (known as Anish on the trail) recently chatted with me about the importance of not biting off more than you can chew.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlan according to your abilities,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cMost people average about 2 mph on fairly level terrain. Don’t pick an itinerary that’s too aggressive.\u201d Anderson suggests checking with your local hiking groups, your outdoor store (e.g., REI<\/a>) or local agencies such as the National Park Service.<\/p>\n

A two-day, one night trip where you cover 5-10 miles of trail each day is a great starting point. Obviously, bring a friend for your first big hike. For an overnight or weekend trip, a 50-liter pack will suffice. As a rule, your pack weight shouldn’t exceed 30 percent of your body weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don’t need a huge pack for most trips,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cBuy a pack that’s big enough for your essential items. If there’s empty space in your pack, you will fill it. For reference, I can carry six days with a bear can in a 3,200 cu\/in (52 liter) pack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Your Backpack and Rations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since you\u2019ll be carrying your shelter and food on your back, choosing a comfortable pack is key. The weight of the pack should rest on your hips, so get fitted for a pack with the appropriate torso length. If you\u2019re not ready to buy, you can rent a pack\u00a0at select REI stores.<\/p>\n

Dehydrated food is lighter than regular food, so pick up some ready-to-go meals to heat up on the stove.<\/p>\n

As for water, it\u2019s unlikely that you\u2019ll be able to carry all you need for the entire trip. Therefore, make sure that there is a water source near your destination when you\u2019re planning your route. To be safe, set out with at least two liters of water, and bring the necessary equipment\u2014purification pump or tablets\u2014to clean the water at its source. It\u2019s a good idea to start your hike hydrated. So, drink a liter of water before you set off.<\/p>\n

Essential Gear for Making Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Go light! You don\u2019t need anything bigger than a 2- or 3-person tent which you can break down and share between two packs. When selecting a campsite, look for relatively dry, flat ground away from wobbly, dying trees.<\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019re a diehard, a three-season down sleeping bag will suit you just fine. Down is lighter and more packable than synthetics. Adding a sleeping pad will keep you warmer and more comfortable.<\/p>\n

Depending on the season, you might not be able to build a fire at camp. So, you\u2019ll need a stove to heat up your water for your meals.<\/p>\n

Finally, bring a headlamp or flashlight and extra batteries. A small first aid pack with bandages and moleskin for blisters can also come in handy. Take a look at The Ten Essentials<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dress for Success<\/strong><\/p>\n

Layer up for comfort and warmth. Leave the cotton t-shirts at home; stick to moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics. Your back will get sweaty fast. Stash a rain jacket and maybe a down puffy in your pack.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, your most important gear is your hiking boots. You\u2019ll want broken-in, waterproof, mid-cut boots. Comfort trumps all. Most likely, the boots you\u2019ve been wearing for day hikes will work just fine for a short trip.<\/p>\n

Understand Outdoor Ethics <\/strong><\/p>\n

The non-profit organization Leave No Trace lists seven principles<\/a> that will help you enjoy the outdoors responsibly: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors. Leave the wilderness just as pristine as you found it.<\/p>\n

So, next time you camp, step beyond the parking lot and explore a new world in the wild!<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Adam Walker.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cooler? Check. Air mattress? Check. Massive six-person tent? Check. You\u2019ve got this car camping thing down. Maybe it\u2019s time to explore the next frontier: backpacking. You\u2019ll eat, sleep and live in wilderness that was inaccessible before, and the glow of accomplishment you\u2019ll feel after spending a night in the deep woods will burn for days. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,387],"tags":[15,8,327,66],"internal-tag":[1672,1673],"class_list":["post-1646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","category-hike","tag-backpacking","tag-hike","tag-jennifer-davis-flynn","tag-tips","internal-tag-pre-redirect-camp","internal-tag-pre-redirect-hike"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/camp\/car-camping-backpacking-first-overnight-backcountry","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"From Car Camping to Backpacking: Your First Overnight in the Backcountry","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/car-camping-backpacking-first-overnight-backcountry","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/car-camping-backpacking-first-overnight-backcountry"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/image-e1447868642314.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/image-e1447868642314.jpg?fit=1500%2C1125"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["backpacking","hike","jennifer davis-flynn","tips"],"dateCreated":"2014-10-11T17:00:13Z","datePublished":"2014-10-11T17:00:13Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T05:53:00Z"},"rendered":"