When researching for a camping or backpacking trip, you may have come across The Ten Essentials. These are a series of items that together offer a complete safety net for outdoor adventures. In this post, we’ll take a look at what The Ten Essentials are, why they’re important, and how you can use them to stay safe in the backcountry. But first, a bit of history!
One of the worst situations you can find yourself in is being stranded or lost without a sense of direction in the backcountry. When backcountry camping or hiking, having a GPS is key. So why are so many hikers turning towards a wearable GPS Watch rather than just a regular GPS Tracker?
The Global Positioning System (or GPS as we call it) is a network of satellites and ground stations that coordinate with each other to pinpoint your location at any time. The accuracy of GPS increases as time goes on, with more and more satellites orbiting Earth every year. Your device transmits a signal out, which each satellite near you picks up. The signal is then reflected back to the device to provide your location. The accuracy of your GPS relies on the amount of satellites in orbit close to you simultaneously, between 4-10.
So, you’ve seen pictures like this on social media, or read a blog, or seen Into the Wild and you’re thinking “huh, I want to do that”. Great! You’ve completed the first step to making your backcountry camping dreams a reality.
The benefits of backcountry camping are numerous, with increasing numbers of people trying it out for the first time. Post-Covid, folks are clambering for more ways to enjoy their outdoor life in the fullest way they can. One question remains for city dwellers looking to step into the wild, maybe for the first time: How do I start? I’ve brought together the five pieces of advice I give to anyone interested in trying backcountry camping.
Writing a trip itinerary is a critical component of any trip preparation, and not something people should neglect doing. A trip itinerary is designed to provide both your friend and the authorities adequate information about where you are, and how to find you in case something goes wrong. When embarking on a trail, someone else who is not with you should know where you are. An accurate trip itinerary can save your life if you are put in a bad situation. In this article I will unpack and explain each element that goes into a good trip itinerary, including who to leave it with.
As a newcomer to any sport, you might be enthusiastic to get out there and enjoy your first backpacking trip. It’s easy for a new hiker to get overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, and end up making typical mistakes in preparing and doing your first few multi-day journeys. Here are 10 mistakes that new backpackers make, and how to avoid them: