We knew nothing about backpacking...
Dave and Dan at Philmont
Scout Ranch, New Mexico
That's right. We were backpacking beginners, but by the end of the summer, we had carried our packs over 100 miles at elevations up to 11,400 feet.
Obviously, we learned some things along the way - what do to and what not to do, what works and what doesn't. Here you'll find our favorite hiking tips, fresh from the trail, to help you plan your next trip.
Hi, I'm Dan Stevenson, and I was 16 years old when I went hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in the mountains of New Mexico. My father (David Stevenson) and I created this website to help you in planning your own adventures.
We've gathered ideas from our own experiences, as well as from other hikers, and you'll find them throughout our growing website. So, let's get started with our top tip:
THE NUMBER ONE BACKPACKING TIP
Prepare. Nothing is worse than heading out on an exciting adventure and then discovering that you are completely unprepared. The extra time you spend planning your trip will never be wasted, and it might save your life.
The good news is that preparing for a hike or trek doesn't have to be a big mystery. We'll point you to some awesome information and trail-tested tips that will make your outdoor adventure run more smoothly.
So, sit back and enjoy exploring our collection of articles and tips before you head out exploring that mountain trail. And be sure to check back often and tell our readers your favorite tips when you get a chance.
Here's a quick overview of tips you'll find here:
Backpacking Books We Like Here are reviews of the few backpacking books that we really like, plus other backpacking tips.
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Backpacking Tips and Stories From Our Readers Read backpacking tips and stories from other backpackers and post your favorite backpacking tips.
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Hi Tec Hiking Boots for Backpacking Hi Tec Hiking Boots are reasonably priced and surprisingly rugged. Here's my own personal experience with the Hi-Tec brand of boot.
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How to Pack a Backpack for Hiking and Backpacking Learn how to pack a backpack for short or long hiking and backpacking trips. Tips for internal and external frame packs.
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How to Prevent Heel Blisters and Foot Blisters While Backpacking and Hiking Learn how to prevent heel blisters and foot blisters while hiking and backpacking.
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Trail Mix Recipe Snack Alternatives for Backpacking and Hiking Instead of traditional trail mix, why not try an alternative trail mix recipe for a high-energy snack on your next backpacking or hiking trip?
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Trail Mix Recipes for Backpacking and Hiking What are the best trail mix recipes for a backpacking or hiking trip? Ideas for finding your favorite homemade trail mix.
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Search Backpacking Tips Search the entire collection on backpacking tips on our site, including equipment, hydration, safety, food, and many more categories of hiking and backpacking ideas.
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Questions About Backpacking - Forum for How To, Where, What About? - Personalized Answers Ask your questions about backpacking in our safe question and answer forum. Find out how to, where to, what's best - get a personal answer to any backpacking question you have.
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Backpacking Around the World - Planning Overseas Adventure Tours How to plan a backpacking around the world trip. Where to find the best information about overseas adventure tours.
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Where to Buy Hiking Gear and Backpacking Supplies Online Find out the best store to buy hiking gear and backpacking supplies online, based on our personal experience.
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Backpacking Sites We Recommend Here are some backpacking sites we recommend for hiking and camping information and supplies.
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