Backpacking - Your First Trip Anxiety

First trip anxiety - Am I overpacking? Yes, I am. Will it reduce my stress? Absolutely. Backpacking is a hobby; it’s supposed to be fun, so anything I can do to reduce the stress; I’m going to do. So how am I going to manage the stress level? Think about….

 What is the worst that could happen?  

 I’m going to determine the ultimate, worst thing that could happen and rationally evaluate the outcome. Not enough food, Get too cold from the weather. Stove malfunction. Not in shape. I get lost on the trail. So, if that is the worst, how can I plan or anticipate those items?   First, not all are going to happen.   Remember I have two other people going with me.  

• Weather – I can review the weather beforehand and have a sense of what is going to happen. For example, is it going to rain all the time, be cold? I will bring rain gear and or warmer clothing. 

• I can wear all my clothing at camp or in the tent if need be. It just adds a little bit more weight.  

• Not in shape. We can take more breaks and make sure I’m well fueled. I can plan out my meals with a focus on protein and calories.

• I will run out of water. I will have to carry more water than I think I will need.  

• My stove malfunctions – I can borrow the stove and fuel from my hiking partners.  

•  I get lost on the trail. I have the alltrails.com app. I will have a compass. The trail does cross paved roads. I can navigate back to my car as I am always going to be only a day away.  

• I will not have enough food. I am going to two days one night. I can take an extra freeze-dried meal. That won’t add much weight, and between the other food taken and snacks, I will have no fueling issues in an emergency. 

The key is to make small improvements – everyone falls into the above traps, so I’ll drop a 3x5 card into my pack, keeping a note of what I bring, what I use, and don’t. This will help me refine my backpacking skills as I go. Improvement and enjoyment are what I am going for, not perfection.  

 I’m very passionate about sharing new ideas with people looking to better themselves, so please leave a comment below on your first backpacking trip.