A beginner’s guide to backcountry camping, according to backpackers

Following a comprehensive guide to backcountry camping is one of the safest ways for a beginner to get from sitting on their couch to backpacking through the wilderness. Otherwise, you risk venturing into the wild without a plan or the right outdoor gear, which could spoil your trip — or worse.

To ensure your first backpacking experience is safe and enjoyable, we talked to experts to find out everything you need to know and bring when going backcountry camping.

What is backcountry camping?

Backcountry campsites are kept more natural and only have room for a very small number of campers. They lack public facilities like restrooms and showers, but those willing to do the work to reach them are rewarded with sweet solitude. And that “work” doesn’t always have to require hours of hiking. There are many backcountry campsites that are just a five- to 15-minute walk from the car. But if you like the sound of a trek through the woods, there are countless trails and sites to explore if you’re willing to leave you car behind and strap everything you need onto your back.

“Backpacking allows you to cover significantly more ground than day-hiking, so I highly recommend backpacking to anyone who wants to see more beautiful sights,” says Ashleigh McClary, a Gearhead at Backcountry. However, it does take more planning than traditional car camping, as you’ll need to figure out where you’re going and what to bring. “You should try to make sure to have a balance of everything you need and nothing extra that you don’t need,” McClary says. “New backpackers often bring too much on their trips and get weighed down with heavy gear.”

Continue reading the full article written By Matt Haines, Kai Burkhardt and Maxwell Shukuya here.

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Contributors
Matt Haines, Kai Burkhardt and Maxwell Shukuya

Matt Haines – Former Contributor, CNN Underscored

Kai Burkhardt – Editor, Outdoors, Sustainable Living & Pets, CNN Underscored.

Kai Burkhardt joined CNN Underscored in 2019 as an intern and has grown into his role as editor to help readers find the best products under the outdoors, sustainability and pet verticals. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Burkhardt spends his time testing and editing stories about all sorts of products, from bidets and rooftop tents to pet hair cleaners and hiking boots.

Kai earned a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from New York University in 2019 and moved back to Colorado in 2022. When he isn’t finding the latest and greatest products, Burkhardt enjoys slowly trail running, rock climbing and watching his two dogs, Miso and Dashi, compete in dog sports.

Maxwell Shukuya – Associate Writer, Updates, CNN Underscored.

Maxwell Shukuya is an associate writer at CNN Underscored, where he contributes to updates and writes the occasional piece for the site’s many verticals.

As a journalist, Shukuya got his start in Sacramento, first as an intern at the NPR affiliate Capital Public Radio, then as a writer for the arts and culture magazine Submerge. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a bachelor’s in literature. His love of languages and the humanities led him to Germany, where he completed a master’s at the University of Cologne.

Today, he lives in Los Angeles, where you can find him rock climbing, hiking and enjoying the city’s eclectic restaurant and music scenes.

दस्ते से

हमारे समुदाय के साथ कैम्प फायर वार्तालाप, स्क्वाड सदस्यों और राजदूतों से लेकर ब्रांड पार्टनर्स और सॉयर टीम तक।

मीडिया मेंशन

I’m also a fan of the venerable Sawyer Squeeze. Just collect water and drink!

Trey French
लेखक

मीडिया मेंशन

Sawyer’s picaridin lotion lasts a long time, stores well in survival kits and cars, and doesn’t have the laundry-list poison control label like DEET sprays.

Sean Gold
Founder & Lead Writer

मीडिया मेंशन

I’m not a fan of bugs, so Sawyer Picaridin spray is always in my pack.

Isis Briones
Writer and Editor