LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Jacqueline Knox
TIME TO HIT s ’ r e THE TRAIL n n Begi n
n o i t i d E
Everything you need to know before you gear up and set off on your very first backpacking adventure.
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or me, it is a comforting feeling. There is nothing around you but nature, while the smell of adventure wafts from every direction. On my very first backpacking trip, I was introduced to something that would become one of my greatest passions and escapes. I felt adventurous and free, as if I could go anywhere and survive with only the belongings strapped to my back. To be fully honest, I was very intimidated at first. I was 16 years old at the time, and even though I ran track, I didn’t think I was strong enough to do it. But surrounded by other teenagers, I knew I at least had to try. Our guides helped us through everything: what to pack, what food to bring, how to cook over a WhisperLite stove, where your pack should sit on your hips, the works. By the time I came out of that trip, I had walked over 60 miles carrying a roughly 50-pound pack through the Alaskan wilderness. I felt tough. I felt accomplished. I also felt very dirty. That trip showed me how strong I am, mentally and physically. It was a way of telling myself that I could wake up and do it again tomorrow, even though the day had completely exhausted me. But I didn’t do it alone. I know that without someone else there telling me how to take each next step, I would have been lost and
SEPTEMBER 2021
probably would have never found the love I now have for backpacking. I don’t want anyone else not to try backpacking because of that fear of not being prepared or not having the right tools. So, in this beginner’s guide, I’m going to walk through all of the steps for preparing for a trip into the wilderness — a trip that could change your life, the same way seven days in Alaska changed mine.
The Destination
First, you need to choose your destination. It is going to be easier on you when it comes to figuring
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