Mistakes Were Made: Backpacking Failures

Embarking on my initial forays into backpacking and long-distance hiking mirrored a rollercoaster ride of awe and discomfort. While certain challenges were inevitable, others were entirely preventable with foresight. Hindsight may indeed be 20/20, but now, I can reflect and offer insights into a handful of blunders I encountered—lessons you can sidestep on your upcoming adventure.

It’s All Too Much

The photo above captures a moment from Cathedral Pass during my journey to Yosemite's Sunrise High Sierra Camp. While the vista of Tresidder Peak is breathtaking, the same cannot be said for the colossal burden of my backpack. Reflecting on that experience, I now realize I overpacked in several areas: too much food, insufficient water, an unnecessary change of clothes, and a backpack far too spacious for its contents—a Kelty RedCloud 110-liter behemoth. In hindsight, I was naive and unaware.

The pivotal lesson gleaned from this expedition was profound: "Less is often more." Here are three invaluable insights I garnered from my maiden backpacking venture.

Consider The Distance: This applies across various aspects such as the quantity of food, gear selection, and the choice of carrying equipment. Opting for a 60-liter pack strikes a balance suitable for most trips, with numerous brands offering diverse variations, each prioritizing either functionality or comfort over weight. Amidst the abundance of options, finding an ideal pack within budget is easily achievable.

When trekking in summer, a certain level of odor is expected, and clean clothes can only do so much to alleviate it. Minimizing clothing items translates to reduced weight. Instead of packing three square meals per day, I found that by the journey's end, much of what I carried remained untouched, either due to lack of appetite or dissatisfaction with the options. It's more practical to pack a single substantial meal for each evening and supplement it with an assortment of delicious, high-calorie snacks for sustenance during the hike.

Snacks offer convenience as they necessitate no preparation, can be consumed on the move, and are significantly lighter and more compact. Among my personal favorites are peanut M&M’s, individual squeeze pouches of peanut butter, and bars of dried fruit.

Consider Your Gear: During my initial outings, I simply grabbed what was available without delving into the intricacies of equipment selection. With a modest amount of research and a small investment, you can significantly improve your gear, sparing your back and legs undue strain. Consider my first budget tent, the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1, which clocks in at 4 pounds and costs $110 on Amazon. For the same price, you could opt for a two-person tent, providing extra room to stretch out, or even select a tent weighing, in some instances, a pound less.

Consider Your Goal: During my first Yosemite excursion, I packed a book, a hefty battery bank, and even a secondary smaller pack for potential summit ventures, all of which proved entirely superfluous. My focus was fixated on cramming every moment with activity rather than embracing the essence of the journey. While games and diversions are essential for weekend getaways with the family, lugging them into the backcountry only dampens the experience. Chances are, you'll find yourself too fatigued to read, burdened by unnecessary gear, or too far from civilization to warrant the extra battery. If you aim to revel in the journey as much as reaching your destination, opting for less baggage undoubtedly enhances the overall enjoyment.