Backcountry Hiking: Where to Start

Finally! You are ready to take the leap into multi day backcountry hiking. Or, maybe you have done it before with others and now you’re ready to plan your own trip. In this blog, we are going to educate you on what you need to organize for your next trip into the unknown. 

There is no doubt that thinking about planning your backcountry hiking trip can be a little overwhelming. If you have never done it before, or don’t have much experience in doing it, you probably have a lot of questions. What gear do I need? How much food should I bring? Where do I even begin? These are all great questions and will be answered in this article. But lets start off with explaining what backcountry hiking is. It’s simply trekking into the wilderness and surviving in a remote, isolated area while being self-sufficient with what’s carried in your pack. It’s the true meaning of getting off the beaten path and getting closer to nature.

So how can you get started? The first step would be to get outside and be active. Your fitness level makes all the difference on where you go and how long you go for. Trails can guide you down dirt pathways, narrow and rocky terrain, over boulders, through rivers, along cliff sides and up and down steep grade. Past injuries, weak muscles and lack of endurance can be barriers to getting into remote locations, and need to be addressed and developed before making any solid plans. We are not saying that you need to go to the gym everyday to bulk up, but we are saying that you need to be strong and capable to get in and out of the backcountry safely. 

Once you get an idea of your physical abilities, you can start to figure out realistically how much distance would you like to cover each day and how many nights you wish to spend in the wilderness. You want to be able to travel at a good pace and have the flexibility to stop and enjoy the view. At home, you may be able to walk 30km in a day but now add 20 kilograms to your back; with various incline on an extremely hot day and that distance will make a lengthy trip even longer. You don’t want to overdo it because you never know if weather, injuries or other obstructions will get in the way of your plans. So for your first few trips, we suggest choosing shorter routes until you are comfortable to build up to something farther. 

When you have an idea of what you are capable of, find an area you’re interested in exploring by searching local guidebooks, by visiting your provincial or national park websites or by getting tips from others who do this type of thing. Then seek out trails that fit your abilities and find out whether overnight camping is permitted, how many tent sites are available, if you can have an open fire, if there is a cost to visit, when and who you need to register with. In most cases, you will need to register the tent site and the number of hikers visiting the area with the governing body. They will issue you the appropriate permits and you are expected to have them on you at all times. In some primitive areas, random backcountry camping is allowed but until you have gained the experience, we suggest you stick to the maintained campsites.

When formulating dates to take your hike, we would recommend that you select a time that is months away to allow you to gain all of the necessary knowledge and equipment to embark on the journey. We would also suggest that you select a time to travel in what is typically the driest season. Hiking and camping in cold and wet weather usually takes its toll on first time backcountry hikers. Over time, you can prepare yourself for this non-ideal weather so that way it won’t affect your spirits or your comfort.

We could spend hours looking at hiking and camping equipment; there is just SO much gear that I could have. It can be overwhelming when trying to figure out what you need and what you can afford. Most likely, you would already own some of the basic gear required to be outdoors like active wear, rain gear, utensils, etc. If you wish to pursue this activity, you need to be mentally committed to purchasing all of the necessary gear essential for this journey. You can find a full backpacking checklist by visiting our homepage.

But a question that we consistently hear asked is, do I need to buy new gear? The answer is no. You can borrow equipment from friends, visit a second hand store or even go to your local outdoor outfitter to see if they offer rentals. Please note that you shouldn’t grab just ANY piece of camping equipment, because they aren’t all the same. You need to find a comfortable, lightweight hiking boot, a backpack that fits your torso and body shape correctly, a sleeping mat that is properly insulated and a mummy sleeping bag that will keep you warm against the overnight lows. So do your research online and talk to the local sales staff to educate yourself so you know what you need and how it can protect you from injury. When you have obtained your “new” equipment, make sure you test it out so you understand how it works. Also, be sure to continue your training with your new gear and slowly break it in well before you go on your trip.

Another question I hear is “How much food should we bring?” The short answer is 2,500 to 4,500 calories of food per person per day. The long answer is that it depends on your group size, length of trip, if you need a fire or stove to cook, how intense the trail is, your available equipment and outside temperature. You should normally plan to have calorie-dense and high in protein foods like trail mix, granola, various nuts, fruit, and a chocolate bar or two, for a boost. A large group on a longer trip will need some creativity when it comes to cooking and need to plan your meals in advance. Dehydrated food and prepackaged freeze-dried camping meals are a good option and can save a lot of space and weight in your bag. If you wish to go old school and pull from items in your pantry, then be sure to pack the pastas, grains and oats. They are light, need some water and have very little waste to carry afterwards. Now, you might be saying, “Whoa! Where’s the meats?” When we travel, we leave these products and anything with a strong scent behind. We don’t want to attract any unwanted attention from the locals. No we are not talking about the townsfolk but more so the animals. No matter the group size or the journey length, always hydrate and carry a little bit extra food just in case of emergency.

Now here are some quick tips regarding your upcoming trip:- If you haven’t done so already, research backcountry etiquette to ensure that you are well prepared for the experience.

- Enjoy nature responsibly and be sure to follow the "Leave No Trace" principles.

- When you have scheduled your adventure, make sure you leave all of the information for your trip with a close friend or family member who will be able to take action should you fail to return on time.

- Pack no more than 50% of the space in your bag with your personal items. The rest of the bag will be filled with the crucial supplies and food that you will need for the trip.

- If you are traveling with others, arrange to share gear to limit the amount of additional weight in your packs. Items like toothpaste, bug spray, sun block and even mugs and utensils can be shared.

- Start to compile your gear at least 2 weeks out. This way you can see if you have what you need and make sure its in working order. If not then you have time to replace it.

- You know your body best so if you have knee, hip or back problems then plan to protect yourself. Knee braces, a chiropractor visit or just simply having pain meds on hand will make a huge difference on your experience.

- No matter what you decide to do or where you go, be sure to travel with others into parts unknown. This is for your safety.

Want to know your next steps or additional tips on backcountry hiking? Stay tuned as we have many more blogs in the queue around this very topic. If you have any requests, please let us know on our social media.