Backpacking isn’t for the faint of heart – instead of pulling into your designated 20′ x 40′ campsite and unloading your camping equipment from the car, you’ll have to be prepared to camp in uncertain situations, carrying everything you need on your back. Therefore, preparing for a backpacking camping trip involves a little more preparation than traditional campground camping. Read on for more tips on getting ready for a backpacking camping trip.

Invest in a good backpacking frame

Of all the places to scrimp and save, your backpacking frame isn’t it! Think about it – every day of your trip, you’ll be counting on your backpacking frame to hold all the gear you’ve brought with you. Therefore, it’s important to visit a specialty camping store with a knowledgeable staff that can help identify the best choice for you. The ideal backpacking frame should be made of light, sturdy materials, and should be fit to your individual body type. A 5′ tall woman will need a different frame than a 6′ tall man, and choosing the wrong size frame for your body could result in serious injury on your backpacking trip.

Pack small and light

Obviously, a backpacking camping trip isn’t the time to bring along your three room pop-up tent or your heavy down-filled sleeping bag. Instead, invest in light weight equipment that’s specially designed to be carried in a backpack. Typically, these items will be made of durable materials and will be designed to fold up into smaller spaces. In addition, look for collapsible mess kits and cooking equipment that will easily fit into one of the pouches in your backpack. Take a good long look at everything you intend to bring and ask yourself if it’s really necessary, or if it’s a luxury you could live without.

Plan your route

If this is your first backpacking trip, consider trekking to a local state or national park that you’ve visited before. The familiar territory will help you to feel more comfortable about venturing off with nothing but the items on your back. Better yet, plan your first backpacking trip with a more experienced friend or guide, or take a class to help you prepare for your journey. Some adult education programs or specialty camping shops offer these classes to help introduce you to the sport.

Even if you’re a more experienced backpacker, it’s still a good idea to plan your route ahead of time, instead of wandering off on the trails on your own. Having a planned route will help you avoid any dangerous geographic features you aren’t prepared for – like rivers or ravines – and will help rescuers find you, should you become lost. On that note, it might be a good idea to invest in a portable GPS device that will help rescuers locate you, especially if you’re an experienced backpacker taking more challenging routes.

Practice makes perfect

Once you’ve assembled all your gear, practice unpacking and repacking it all several times before you head out on your trip. Your first night on the trails isn’t the best time to discover that it isn’t so easy to fit your tent back into the tiny bag it came in! Plus, it’s important to get used to the feel of the backpack on your shoulders before you embark on your trip. Try walking around the block a few times with your backpack on and loaded to be sure it’s adjusted properly to your body.

Did you know that your body can lose 30 percent of its heat through your head?

And that is just an average.

Some people say that about half a person’s body heat can be lost through their head.

See, your mother did know what she was talking about when she told you to wear a hat so you didn’t get cold.

You should now take a minute to go apologize to her for giving her such a hard time when you were a kid because you didn’t want “hat head.”

Now you know that wearing a hat when it’s cold out, whether you are camping or not, is important. And, when camping, keep that hat on when you’re sleeping. You’ll stay much warmer.

For more helpful information on how to dress in cold weather, read this article from SierraTradingPost.com

In my area of the United States hunting is a very popular fall activity with many hunters camping out while on their hunting trips.

That means there is the danger of ticks clamping on to a person’s body. And since ticks are known carriers of Lyme Disease it is best to take steps to avoid them.

One tip usually given to avoid ticks is to stay on marked trails and avoid tramping around in brush (a tip given in the short video below). That’s not so easy to do when someone is hunting, especially if they are tracking a wounded animal. And how many times have we seen something off the trail while hiking that we have wanted to get a closer look at?

So make sure that “tick checks” are an end of the day activity anytime you or your family is outside in wooded areas.