MASTER CLASS

Backpacking 101

Backpacking really isn’t that complicated. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Bad
weather. A heavy pack. Blisters. Bears. Hazards big and small can sabotage
any trip. Avoid common mistakes with these 100 tips and tricks for planning,
hiking, and camping, and make your first—or next—trek problem-free.
By Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
Illustrations by Peter Sucheski

Sarah Ebright, operations
manager and guide for St. Elias
Alpine Guides in Alaska
[Expert Panel]
Marco Johnson, senior faculty Patrice and Justin La Vigne,
with the National Outdoor gear testers and recent thru-
Leadership School, based in hikers of New Zealand’s 1,864-
Wyoming mile Te Araroa
Katie Yakubowski, instructor
and guide for the Appalachian
Mountain Club in Maine
 BEFORE THE TRIP
MASTER CLASS
Backpacking 101
MAKE A FIRESTARTER
EASY Dryer lint and candle wax in
a cardboard egg carton compart-
ment (poke a bit of lint out of the
wax for a wick). EASIER Cotton
balls coated in petroleum jelly
EASIEST A fat birthday candle
FLY WITH GEAR
Check your pack in a duffel, along
with sharp stuff like ice axes and
crampons, and your (clean) stove.
Carry on boots, electronics, lithium
batteries, and anything fragile.
Leave behind stove fuel and bear
spray—buy when you arrive.
[ Gear Basics ]
FIX A LEAKY TENT SEAM
Clean the area around the leak
and use the right sealant—either
for polyurethane-coated fabrics
or silicone-treated fabrics (Seam
Grip or Silnet; $7.50 each; gear-
aid.com). In a well-ventilated
area, apply a thin coating to the
inside of the seam and let cure
overnight. Plan B: Duct tape.
Waterproof
your map. Pack
it in a quart-size
zip-top bag.
Score last-minute permits
Feeling spontaneous? Just a procrastinator?
Either way, you’re in luck: A percentage of permits
are reserved for walk-ins at every national park.
Show up early. Some parks issue day-of per-
mits, but others, like Grand Canyon and Glacier,
offer them a day in advance. Line up at the back-
country office an hour or two before it opens.
Be flexible. Keep an open mind, chat up rang-
ers, and prepare to explore the park’s lesser-known
areas. You might not get a coveted itinerary, but
you’ll likely benefit from insider knowledge.
Target the right office. Yosemite gives permit
priority to the backcountry office closest to a par-
ticular trailhead. Ranger stations in more remote
areas will have shorter lines.
Load your
backpack
A well-organized pack is worth
being smug about. With these
tips from Kris Litchfield, pack
fitter with Colorado’s Neptune
Mountaineering, you’ll enjoy
better balance—and know exactly
where to find your spoon.
Top it off with essential
layers—like a puffy—
you expect to need
during the day.
Cram extra layers
around the bulky gear.
Then use the tent (if dry)
to fill the empty spaces.
Side pockets are ideal
for fuel canisters,
water bottles, or tent
poles and stakes.
Stow your sleeping bag
at the very bottom to
support the heavy stuff.
[ Guide Secrets ]
PACK THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF FOOD
Hikers, especially beginners, worry
so much about packing enough to
eat that they often overdo it. Lay
out separate rations—all meals and
snacks—for each day to visualize
what you’ll actually eat. On NOLS
expeditions, guides plan for about
1.5 pounds of food (uncooked) and
roughly 3,000 calories per person per
day. Add extra if your trip is strenuous
or in cold weather.
“YOU DON’T WANT TOO MUCH FOOD, BUT BRING
EXTRA SNACKS (LIKE DRIED APPLE OR MANGO)
IN CASE YOU’RE OUT LONGER THAN YOU
PLANNED.” –Katie Yakubowski
Store the day’s lunch
and small items, like
hat and gloves, maps,
first-aid kit, and
headlamp in the toplid.
Heavy gear, like a
full water bladder,
bear canister, or
cookset, goes in
the middle, close
to your back, for
the best stability.
Stash lip balm,
snacks, camera,
and other small,
I-need-this-now
items in the
hipbelt pocket.
[ Thru-hiker Hack ] Keep Pack fruits The best
cheese and veg- thing since
EXTEND THE LIFE bricks (hard gies whole sliced bread?
OF TRAIL FOOD cheeses last
longest) in
and slice
before
Tortillas.
Choose white flour
their original packaging, cut- cooking. Choose puncture- varieties (sturdier than
ting or grating (or biting from proof produce and pick small whole wheat) and store
the block; we won’t judge) as ones so you can finish them them flat at the bottom of
needed. Pack in a zip-top bag in a single meal. Cut off stems your food bag or canister to
after opening. before packing. avoid tearing or folding.
[Trial, Not Error]
DIVVY UP GROUP GEAR
Don’t be a hero; no one should carry
GET OUT THE DOOR FASTER
Restock essentials like stove fuel,
TEST THE WATERS
more than 30 percent of his or her dehydrated food, and first-aid sup-
body weight. Give the tent body and plies after each trip and store them
I
stakes to one person and fly and together so all you need to do is
WANTED TO immerse myself in the Great poles to another. Cookware, food, stuff your sleeping bag, grab, and
Outdoors. But as I huddled under a space and fuel are also easy to distribute to go. Use labeled bins to keep your
blanket and watched rain stream down the give each hiker an appropriate load. gear organized.
inner walls of my tent, I thought not literally.
I had just wrapped up a semester abroad in
Argentina and decided to decompress with a hike.
I settled on a three-day trip up 9,461-foot Cerro Acclimate better
Champaquí, the tallest mountain in the country’s Acute mountain sickness can ruin a trip fast. “FOR HIGH
central province of Córdoba. Know the symptoms—dizziness, nausea, ALTITUDES
One problem: I didn’t have a tent. After some [ABOVE
fatigue—and how to prevent them.
searching, I found a bright-orange, two-person, 10,000 FEET],
Spend a day or two adjusting before you start
discount shelter in a big-box store. Score! I packed I RECOMMEND
my bag and jumped on a bus for the 12-hour ride to (like a layover in Denver or a night at a 7,000-foot PEOPLE CONTACT
the trailhead. trailhead before tackling a Colorado Fourteener). A DOCTOR PRE-
When I set out along the path, the sun was shin- TRIP AND GET A
ing and I felt energized by the fresh air and dis- On the trail, aim to gain no more than 2,000 PRESCRIPTION
tance from the bustling city. After a few miles, I feet per day (net), and always try to sleep lower FOR DIAMOX—IT
reached a ranch where most hikers lodged, but I than the day’s highest point. HELPS REDUCE
still felt strong and kept going.
A thick mist settled over the mountains, and,
Snack and hydrate often (your pee should be
SYMPTOMS.”
–Sarah Ebright
in the low visibility, I soon wan- pale); it helps your body ramp up the red blood
dered off the main track. I tried cell production it needs to adjust to reduced
to retrace my steps, but the driz- DO A GEAR SHAKEDOWN oxygen levels.
zle grew into a downpour. Time Pitch your tent.
Light your new
to make camp.
stove. Use your
Pitching my tent for the
Prep the
water filter. If pos-
first time, I noticed my shelter sible, go on a trial BEAT THE CROWDS
sported a foot-wide mesh vent at
the peak. Rummaging through
run in fair weather.
perfect spice kit OFF-THE-MAP
Plan A Skip marquee national parks
the stuffsack, I found a scrap Dupe your friends into thinking and wilderness areas for BLM land or
of nylon about the size a bandana. It took me a you’re a good cook with these lesser-known national forests.
moment to realize I was holding the rainfly. flavors. Plan B If you have the navigation
Meanwhile, the weather had turned into a side- Garlic or onion powder Upgrade chops, go off-trail where permitted.
ways thunderstorm that bent my tent’s pencil- rice and veggies or instant OFF-SEASON
thin poles like wet spaghetti. A steady trickle of mashed potatoes. Go when others don’t. Check
water seeped in; soon, my quilt and clothes were irma.nps.gov/stats to find recreation
Oregano or Italian seasoning
soaked. visits by month for any national park.
Add to pasta or soups.
In the middle of the night, the wind worked the
bandana-fly loose, and I opened my eyes to rain Curry powder Lend flavor to any
pouring directly in. I spent most of the night with starch. Estimate hiking time
my shell on, crouched under my mylar emergency Chili powder or cayenne Turn Leave bravado out of the
blanket like a kid afraid of the dark. up the heat on quinoa or beans. calculation. A fit person
When dawn finally broke, I was already shoul-
dering my pack and hoofing it back to the ranch
Cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger
Perk up coffee, hot chocolate,
carrying a pack will average 2
mph on-trail and 1 mph off-trail.
and its lodge. If another storm came through, I
promised myself I’d watch it through a window.
oatmeal, and pancakes. Add an additional hour if your
day involves a lot of climbing
 –Adam Roy Salt & pepper Season just about
anything. (ditto for shutterbugs).
 ON THE TRAIL
MASTER CLASS
Backpacking 101
[ Guide Secrets ]
1
HIKE STRONGER AT ALTITUDE
Use pressure breathing on the move (it
sounds hokey, but it works): Take a deep
belly breath, then exhale forcefully, like
you’re blowing out a candle. This purges
carbon dioxide and floods muscles with
oxygen, boosting efficiency.
HIKE SMART ON SCREE
2
Feel like you’re walking on ball bearings?
Tighten all pack straps to secure your
load for better balance. Kick steps into
the rocks to make a platform for your
boot when hiking uphill; when descend-
ing, plunge step by leading with your
heel, toes up, in a controlled slide (like
you would on snow).
3 “STAND AS UPRIGHT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BEST
STABILITY—DON’T LEAN UPHILL OR DOWNHILL.”
 –Marco Johnson
Tape a sprained ankle
The doctor’s in. And guess what? It’s you.
PUT ON A HEAVY PACK 1) Position the foot at a 90-degree
Day one weight is no joke. 1) angle with the leg.
Extend one leg in front of you
and bend your knee (envision
2) Wrap tape around the calf,
a lazy man’s lunge). 2) Use the
about 2 inches above the ankle.
haul loop to lift the pack to your 3) Loop three U-shaped stirrups
knee. 3) Put one arm through around the heel and up both sides
the shoulder strap and swing the of the ankle. Wrap another stretch
pack around to your back. of tape around the calf to stabilize
the stirrups.
4) Starting from the uninjured
[ Thru-hiker Hack ] side, wrap tape down the ankle,
PREVENT BONKING under the arch, and across the top
of the foot. Repeat twice.
Eat at least 1,000 calories at each
meal and snack every hour on long 5) Make figure eights by taping
days. And keep an emergency down the side of the ankle, across
Snickers on hand—easy-to-digest the top of the foot, across the
sugars give you a quick reboot, and Achilles heel and the other side
the fat and protein in peanuts pro- of the ankle, and back to the arch.
vide slow-burn energy for later.
Repeat twice.
Make your pack feel better
Sore shoulders You only want your shoul-
ders to take about 30 percent of the weight
(more than that and you’ll feel pinching or
cramping). To get there, loosen the shoulder
straps until you feel the weight settle on your
hips; keep the load-lifters taut but not too tight.
Numb fingers Excessive pressure on your
shoulders can hinder blood flow to your hands,
leading to the tingles. Again, loosen your shoul-
der straps, then tighten your sternum strap to
reduce the backward pulling.
Achy lower back Make sure your hipbelt is
snug and riding properly: The middle of the belt
should be even with your iliac crest (the boniest
part of your hips).
Smell OK on a long trip
EASY Take a dip in a creek. Scrub with
a pack towel (skip the soap). EASIER
Rinse your shirt; lay it in the sun to dry.
EASIEST Baby wipes (pack them out).
1
2
3 eral times, packing down
4
5 the slope, feet downhill,
SAVE YOUR KNEES
Hiking with poles reduces com-
pression on the knees by up to 25
percent on descents, and poles
cut down on muscle strain and
the risk of ankle injury. On flat
ground, adjust height so your
elbows are bent at a 90-degree
angle. Shorten poles on uphills
and lengthen on the downs.
REMOVE A TICK
Don’t mess with folk remedies; as soon
as you notice the tick, grasp it by its head
with tweezers and slowly pull it upward
from your skin. It should release cleanly.
Disinfect the bite site and watch for a rash,
fever, chills, and body aches. Symptoms?
Get to a doc and tell her you were bitten.
Beat the bugs
DEET + ball cap + headnet + raingear + loose-fitting pants
“BUGS LIKE DARK COLORS AND ARE ATTRACTED TO
SMELLS, SO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HYGIENE.”
–Katie Yakubowski
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Cross an unexpected
snowfield. Winter
sometimes overstays
its welcome in the
high mountains.
First, assess the runout.
Rocks or cliff below?
Don’t cross.
Look for snow soft
enough to kick steps into:
Swing your foot and dig
the toe or side of your
boot into the snow sev-
a level platform. If it’s too
hard or icy to kick steps,
don’t cross.
If you do fall and start
sliding, self-arrest: Twist
your body so you’re facing
and dig your toes and
elbows into the snow with
all your strength.
Stay dry in rain
under your shell (unless it’s below freezing). Open pit
zips and mesh-backed pockets. Moderate your pace.
your rainpants (unless using crampons) so drips don’t
seep into your socks; tuck baselayer sleeves under
shell cuffs to keep water from wicking up your arms.
cap for better peripheral vision.
DRAIN A BLISTER
Trust us—it’s better than let-
ting it pop on its own in your
sweaty sock. Clean with an
B
alcohol wipe, puncture with
a sterilized knife or pin,
apply antibiotic ointment,
and bandage.
SURVIVE A LIGHTNING STORM
Know where to go. Descend from
peaks, passes, tundra, and open ter-
rain. Stands of uniform trees offer
the best cover. Second best: The low
point in a gully or ravine. Avoid single
trees, open water,and rock overhangs,
where your body gives electricity a
shortcut to bridge the gap.
Assume the position. Crouch on
your toes on a sleeping pad or pack,
feet together, to minimize exposure to
electricity traveling along the ground.
Groups should spread out so one
strike won’t zap everyone.
Stay put. Your pool lifeguard isn’t
just messing with you—wait 30 min-
utes after thunder or lightning before
emerging from cover.
Use bear spray
If a bear charges, wait until
it’s 30 feet away. Aim the spray
at its head
and discharge “AT NIGHT, I KEEP
in a series of MY BOOTS IN THE
short blasts to VESTIBULE AND
create a cloud STICK THE SPRAY
between you INSIDE ONE. THAT
and the bear. WAY, IT’S HANDY.”
–Sarah Ebright
Avoid overheating. Wear just your baselayer
Protect your extremities. Wear gaiters under
Preserve visibility. Cinch your hood over a ball
[ Trial, Not Error ]
DRESS THE PART
Y THE TIME I got invited on my first
winter camping trip, I’d learned two things
about backpacking: The secret to stay-
ing warm is layering, and a minimalist approach
suited my minimalist budget.
I was in college in North Carolina, and I’d
planned an overnight to the top of 6,684-foot
Mt. Mitchell with two friends, Michelle and
Alexander. I enthusiastically put my thrifty out-
fitting strategy to work.
Four-season sleeping bag? I’ll borrow a liner.
Gaiters? I’ll wear my rainpants. Cold-weather
clothes? Five baselayers and four pairs of leg-
gings should do it. As I packed my bag, I was feeling
pretty resourceful.
It was still dark when we arrived at the trailhead
that morning. Icicles longer than I was tall dripped
from a lip of rock. I broke one off and wielded it like
a sword. You can’t intimidate me, winter.
We cruised upward. My shell pants deflected
the snow, but pretty soon I was overheating. Since
my next four layers were skintight and made with
a cotton-spandex blend, ditching
the rainpants was out of the ques-
tion. Besides, I figured sweating
LAYER SMART
Choose synthetic
was better than being cold. and wool fabrics,
A mile from the top, we made
and manage layers
preemptively. Shed
camp. I got the shivers as I clothes before you
helped pitch the tent. When the start sweating,
sun winked out over the ridge, I and don a puffy or
started shuddering violently. shell as soon as you
I sat down to rummage through stop, before you get
chilled.
my bag, but after a minute, I
noticed myself staring dumbly at
my shaking hands. What was I looking for again?
I was so cold, I couldn’t think. When Alexander
asked if I was feeling OK, my answer was slurred
and incoherent.
Rightly suspecting hypothermia, Alexander fed
me Reese’s peanut butter cups and Michelle got a
fire going. I removed my rainpants and crouched
by the flames. Pretty soon, my quadruple-layer leg-
gings were billowing steam. A couple of hours and
quite a few peanut butter cups later, I was cured of
my hypothermia and—at least as it related to back-
packing—my cheapskate tendencies.
 –Corey Buhay
 IN CAMP
START A FIRE TIE A 1 3

Check local regulations first. Good to go? Build a teepee of BOWLINE KNOT
MASTER CLASS finger-width sticks around a triangular frame, then light a It’s self-tightening,
Backpacking 101 and it creates a
small pile of tinder within. Blow lightly to keep oxygen flowing, stable loop at the
and add thicker sticks when the little guys ignite. (For a com- end of a rope, per- 2 4
fect for tying bear
plete guide to fire, check out backpacker.com/fire-guide). bags and lowering
packs. It’s also a
good way to impress
“SCOUT OUT A SPOT,
Do your business PRE-DIG A HOLE, [ Guide Secrets ]
Sleep warmer
“I’VE HAD TO COVER
your friends.

Find a spot (bonus points if it’s

[ Gear Basics ]
FIX A TENT POLE
They don’t snap often, but when
they do—whooee, that can ruin
a trip. To get through the night,
find the tube-shaped splint that
probably came with your tent
(you packed it, right?), slide it
over the break, and duct-tape it
scenic; you’ll be spending some time
AND COLLECT
ROCKS FOR TP SET UP YOUR KITCHEN Cold Stoke your own fire by having
MY WHOLE
SLEEPING BAG IN PACK A TENT SLEEP UNDER THE STARS
there) at least 200 feet from water, BEFORE DARK.” Find a flat spot 200 feet from AN EMERGENCY Roll it or stuff it— Avoid low spots where
–Justin La Vigne a high-calorie bedtime snack and doing
trails, and camp. Dig a hole in the soil your tent and clear away any dry BLANKET TO STAY it doesn’t matter. condensation collects. And
at least 6 inches deep and 4 inches grass or leaves. Place cookware,
jumping jacks or sit-ups. Colder Layer WARM. IT REALLY But always let it pitch your shelter just in case;
wide. (Snow? Find the ground first.) Do your thing, fill in dishes, and utensils to one side up. Then fill a water bottle with boiling HELPS KEEP THE hang to dry when you’ll be glad it’s there if the
the hole, and cover it with branches or rocks. Pack out TP
and ingredients to the other, all water, wrap it in an insulating layer, HEAT IN.” you get home. weather turns or you get cold .
(double-bagged) or use natural stuff. –Katie
within arm’s reach. The idea is to and snuggle with it. Or spoon your Yakubowski
We asked: What’s the best natural TP? stay put once you start cooking, hiking partner. [ Thru-hiker Hack ]
You said:
STICKS to reduce the risk of knocking
SMOOTH 2% over the stove or kicking dirt into MAKE 5-MINUTE PIZZA
ROCKS your dinner. Lay pieces of overlapping pepperoni to cover the bottom
13% [Trial, Not Error] of a nonstick frying pan. Top with shredded cheese and
rehydrated veggies. Cook until cheese melts, then flip
SNOW [ Thru-hiker Hack ] MIND YOUR NEIGHBORS Get more cooking tips
and recipes at back- the whole thing and brown a few minutes. Place on top of

like mad. No splint? Duct-tape a
tent stake to the break, behind
the most likely stress point.
Deal with a snoring
partner. Earplugs or
separate tents. Too late?
Sleep next to a river for
natural white noise.
Choose a campsite
Flat, tent-size platform
Durable surface
High ground (cold air collects in valley bot-
toms, and small rises drain well in case of rain)
LEARN FROM THE PROS
Whether you’re just starting
out or want to perfect your tech-
nique, it pays to learn from the
experts. We partnered with the
Colorado Outward Bound School
to create an online course packed
with essential tips, including:
Gear selection, Trip planning,
Packing , Navigation, Cooking,
Camping , First aid, and more
Details and registration:
backpacker.com/backpacking101
25% WASH DISHES
THE EASY WAY
EASY Boil water in your pot, scrub
your spork with pine needles or sand,
then fling the bilge in a wide arc,
LEAVES 200 feet from water sources. (LNT
60% overachiever? Mmm, grey­water—
drink up.) EASIER Rehydrate in a
disposable bag, then eat out of it.
At least 200 feet from water and trails
Sheltered from wind
No standing dead trees around
Instagrammable tent-door views (optional)
T
packer.com/cooking a warmed individual pita (or tortilla). Eat with two hands.
HEY WAITED FOR the cover of
darkness.
It was a nasty night at Los Cuernos Make next-level s’mores
There’s more to life than simple graham crackers and Hershey’s. Mix and match
camp in Chile’s Torres del Paine Circuit—cold,
from the following ingredients to level up your campfire dessert game.
lashing rain and wind bent the tent walls to my
face. Surely the mice won’t be out on a night like
this, I thought as I drifted off. My food will be just base chocolate extras
fine in the vestibule. • honey, cinnamon, or • dark chocolate • plain or flavored
In the morning, I awoke to the carnage. chocolate graham • white chocolate marshmallows
crackers
While I had tossed and turned inches away, the • Reese’s peanut butter • peanut butter & jelly
marauders had chewed a hole in my pack’s toplid • shortbread cookies cups • fresh banana slices
and nosed into the main compartment. Nuts had • Girl Scout Thin Mints • mint chocolate • dulce de leche
been nibbled. A pasta packet • waffle cookies
• Nutella • toasted coconut flakes
had been shredded. And the • chocolate-chip cookies
PROTECT YOUR FOOD • fun-size Snickers (cut • cinnamon
final indignity: They’d ripped • Peanut Butter Pop in half lengthwise for
When hanging into my Snickers. My very last • potato chips
Tarts (don’t knock it easier melting)
is not an option
and bears are not Snickers. before you try it)
a threat, use a That morning over break-
rodent-resistant fast in the shelter, I learned
bag, such as the I’d actually been lucky. That
stainless steel
Outsak ($33 to $37;
hole could’ve been in my tent.
Or worse: A friend camp-
Pitch a tent in any weather
simpleoutdoor-
ing nearby had woken to wet Rainy Keep the tent body as dry as possible by throwing the fly over
store.com).
rodent feet stamping across it before pitching. If it’s a freestanding tent, set up in a sheltered area
her face. Of the dozen campers (under a tarp, in thick trees), then move it to your campsite.
at the table, pretty much everyone was visited
Windy Orient the tent so the narrowest and/or lowest end faces into the
by mice in the wee hours—everyone who hadn’t
secured his or her food, that is. wind. Stake down the corners first to keep the tent from blowing away
I make sure to safeguard my food properly while you add the poles; pile your packs inside to weigh it down while you
now—it’s better for my gear and the wildlife—no fine-tune the pitch. Use all guylines for stability.
matter how tired I am or how hard the wind is
Snowy Stamp out a platform with skis or snowshoes, then let it sinter
blowing.
And hey, mice? You’ll never want that Snickers
(30 minutes, or until hard) before pitching your tent. Make deadmen
more than I do. You’ve been warned. anchors by tying guylines to skis, poles, sticks, or snow-filled stuffsacks,
 –Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan then burying. Pro tip: Tie a slip-knot around a rock and bury it. Now you
can pull the cord without digging out the rock.