A backpacking checklist is usually about the "stuff." Good equipment is nice to have, but even with the best gear you can get into trouble in the wilderness. You might have matches and the latest fire starters, but still not be able to get that fire going. It takes more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable trip. Towards that end, then, this is a list of skills you should have or learn.
Navigation is an important skill in the outdoors, it is more that just reading a compass or GPS. Contrary to what many novices think, a compass doesn't tell you where you are. For that matter, a map doesn't either, if you don't know how to use it. Practice close to home if you can't yet use both of these easily. Do the same with your GPS unit.
Staying warm is an essential skill that not only involves the correct layered clothing, but also being prepared for the area you are backpacking in and the prevailing weather. There are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers as you get warm, for example, so you don't have sweat to chill you later. Use wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a hat. Eating fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.
Pitching a tent is a skill that demands a suitable site along with basic skills and experience to raise it the right way. Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the rain will come in, or the wind will tear the seams. They require to be pitched tight, and you ought be able to act it in a few minutes. Practice in the yard.
Cooking over a fire may seem comfortable but requires the proper fire, correct outdoor cooking equipment, and basic cooking knowledge. Making soup over a small fire isn't as easy as it seems. Cover the pan, block the wind, and keep the fire small and concentrated. Time yourself when you practice. You do not have to rush normally, but speed can be significant in some situations, and it's always possible your stove will break.
Identifying edible plants will make your trip enjoyable and nutritional. Finding out to identify three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more pleasurable. Acquiring to distinguish cattails and one or two other good survival food plants can be very helpful, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.
Walking at a well-fixed pace enables you to reach your destination in a reasonable time. If you pace yourself and study how to move well over rocky terrain, you will be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle. Fasten those laces, too.
Empathizing animals is an substantial skill as a Bear or mountain lion could truly destroy your outdoor experience. Is the bear "bluff charging" or stalking you? The latter means you will be the bear's supper if you play dead. A clue: making numerous noise usually means he just would like to frighten you (a "bluff charge"), but you need to read up on this one.
Weather watching is critical as a severe storm would truly ruin your outdoor experience. Are those just clouds, or a lightning storm coming? It would be good to know when you're on a high ridge. In the rockies, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in summer. Learn about the weather patterns of an area, and the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.
Basic first aids is a crucial skill for survival in the outdoors. What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Bumbling and slurred speech are a couple of them. How do you decently treat blisters? You can use duct tape whenever you do not have moleskin. These and other fundamentals are beneficial things to recognize.
Fire making is perfectly vital for enjoyment and survival in the woods. Try to begin that fire with one match. As well try it the next time it's raining. Arrive the habit of accumulating dry tinder before the rain comes. Discover what things burn even when wet, like pine sap and birch bark .
This last one can represent among the more significant skills in an emergency. Experts can start a fire in almost any circumstances, but you don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a harmless hiking trip. For a safer, more gratifying trip, just do the best you can, and start checking the skills on this backpacking checklist.
Leather expert and Author Ethan O. Tanner explains the different types of backpacking the backpacking checklist forcamping for adventure.
