Articles Tagged with: trip

You never know what you’ll run into on a backpacking trip; rain, snow, lightning, rockslides, dehydration, altitude sickness, and the aches and pains associated with hauling a 40-60 pound backpack along mountainous trails. Trekking into the wilderness should not be taken lightly because there are real dangers, but these can be mitigated with the following ten backpacking trip essentials.

1. Knowledge – Knowledge is power. Learn how to read a map and compass; make a fire in the rain or snow, with and without matches. Learn basic first aid. Take a survival course. The point is the more you know before you ever step foot on the trail the better your chances of dealing with any emergency situation that occurs.

2. Map/Compass – Getting lost is not an option. Learn to use a compass and read a map in tandem. These two items can get you out of unfamiliar territory.

3.

Lighter, matches, and a fire starter – Water proof matches and a lighter can come in handy but what happens if these don’t work. There are many sparking fire starters available at any number of outdoor stores. Get one, learn how to use it, and keep it in a safe place in your pack.

4. First aid kit – Get one from your local outdoor store that is specific for backpackers. Make sure it contains pain relievers, bandages, anti-biotic ointment, anti-septic spray or ointment and some form of allergy medicine. An Epi-pen can also be a good investment because an allergic reaction to a bug bite 20 miles in the wilderness can be deadly.

5. Foot care – Blisters can quickly bring any backpacking trip to a painful halt if you don’t have the necessary treatment options. Moleskin and a needle should both be included in your first aid kit to care for any blisters.

6. Water – Dehydration is not something you want to experience. Make sure your filter is in working order before you hit the trailhead. Even then it may break or quit working so have iodine tablets as a backup because while dehydration is not fun neither is giardia.

7. Rain gear – No matter where you are going always carry reliable rain gear. Hypothermia sets in fast if you get wet and is one of the biggest causes of wilderness deaths.

8. Shelter – Whether you use a tent, tarp, or bivy sack you need a way to get out of the elements. Learn how to use which ever shelter you do use so that you can set it up quickly.

9. Sleeping bag – Where you are going and what time of year will help determine what kind of bag you need. Down sleeping bags are the warmest for what they weigh but lose their insulating ability if they get wet. For camping in wet nasty conditions it may be best to have a synthetic bag.

10. Tailor your gear for where and when you are going – Quite simply this means take stock of where you are going, how long you will be gone, and the weather conditions you are likely to experience and customize your gear list to that.

Planning ahead will keep surprises on the trail to a minimum. You don’t want to be 10 miles down the trail and find out you forgot something that you will really need.

Backpacking trips can be fun and exciting as well as memorable and successful. While backpacking, you can chose to only go for a daytrip or overnight. You can even go for days, weeks and months at a time. It is up to you and your experience level. No matter how long you choose to go backpacking, you must remember that much planning is needed in order to stay safe as well as prepared for any event or weather that you may encounter. You need to have everything from backpacking tents and sleeping bags to food are necessary. However, with backpacking you will need to make sure that your load is light.

If you are just beginning in the hiking adventures, you will want to make sure that you do not try to do too much on your first, second or even third trip out. It is important to build some experience before even staying one night out backpacking. It is also a good idea to talk to other hikers about trails they have been on, what types of backpacking tents and gear are good to use and any experiences that they have had that can help you in having a successful trip.

Once you find out where you want to go and you have ample experience, packing your bag is highly important. This backpack will hold everything that will keep you fed, keep you dry and keep you safe. This means that you will want to write out a plan for meals so that you will have only what you need. However, add in one extra meal in case of an emergency. All food should be fairly light in weight and simple to fix. You should also have plenty of water and even pack along a few water purifying tablets. You never know what you may encounter while backpacking. Once you have you food and water, you will need backpacking tents and sleeping bags.

Backpacking tents and sleeping bags will keep you dry and warm during the possibly cool nights. Having a flashlight, bug repellant and sunscreen are also good items to take along with you. Keep in mind that while backpacking, the idea is that everything you need is strapped to your back. This means that you will want to keep a pack that is as light as possible but holds everything you need. Backpacking can be memorable and successful when you pack properly and make a plan.

If you are planning a backpacking trip to South America, you should take Backpacking Peru into consideration. Following are some places that you may want to visit on your trip.

Cuzco: In the heart of the Sacred Valley lies this former Incan city. Cuzco is a starting point for most backpackers on their way to Machu Picchu. Spend some time checking out the historical attractions with stunning architecture all over the city. Two examples of this are the Cathedral on Plaza de Armas and the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, both of which you can take tours of.

Machu Piccu and the Inca Trail: Almost every traveller is familiar with Machu Picchu. These lost Incan ruins situated on the top of a mountain, gives some insight into their way of life. Travellers can also hike the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu, the way the Inca’s used to.

This hike takes four days and can be quite exhausting, due to the elevation of the hike. If you plan to hike the Inca Trail, be sure to book well in advance, as hikes fill up fast.

Nazca lines: A different type of attraction to visit are the Nazca lines. The Nazca lines are ancient geoglyphs that were created in the desert dating back to around 500 AD. To get the best view, you can take an airplane tour to view the geoglyphs from the sky.

Lima: Most often Lima is the entry and exit point for backpackers travelling Peru. Travellers tend to overlook Lima, heading straight out to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. If you do have some time to spend in Lima, check out Plaza De Armas. The plaza is lined with many beautiful buildings, including the Presidential Palace.

Take a quick stroll to the Monasterio de San Francisco, where not only can you tour the church, but you can also visit the underground catacombs.

An adventurous trip with backpacks across Mali, 4 weeks, with public transport. Until the legendary Timbouctou!

Click on “WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY”. This is the 2nd part of our trip from Manila to Cebu via Philippine Airlines. We decided to take this trip a day before the flight, spent just overnight in Cebu, and went back to Manila where I went straight to work later that afternoon. What a way to spend money, haha! This video features: -Manila’s NAIA Terminal 2 -Boarding PAL’s A330 aircraft -Airbus A330 cabin -PAL’s cabin crew -Take off from NAIA at 4:30am -Hanging out at the galley The continuing parts …