What is Backcountry Camping?
Backcountry camping is a challenging outdoor experience that puts your strength, stamina, and survival skills to the test as you explore nature in its rawest form and interact with its inhabitants in their territory.
Areas Used for Backcountry Camping
The first thing you should understand about backcountry camping is its location. These aren’t just areas that don’t find there way on to maps. They are also areas that are difficult to access and are sparsely inhabited. Certainly, there is little to no access to electricity or even running water. At times, getting a signal for your mobile phone may even be impossible.
With backcountry camping, you can only rely on yourself as waiting for outside help may be impractical when trouble arises.
Gear and Equipment
Clothing must be appropriate for the weather and waterproof in case of occasional rain showers or when you have to go canoeing. If you need to go mountain climbing, make sure that you have all the essential gear and you’ve performed the necessary tests to ascertain mountain conditions. Be sure you’re wearing comfortable, durable, and suitable footwear – your feet are always the most overused part of the body and with trips like this, they’re also the most prone to injury. If something happens to them, your entire journey is automatically at risk.
While it’s tempting to bring every possible tool and supply you’ll need for the trip, remember that backcountry camping also means that you’ll be doing a lot of traveling on foot. Thus, it’s best to travel light and pack only essentials. Prioritize those items that offer multifunctional use like survival or Swiss Army knives and matches.
Skills
Before anything else, you should exercise regularly prior to your trip and improve your physical condition. Stamina should be prioritized as you will be traveling on foot for long hours and carrying your own stuff all the while.
Navigational skills should be your next focus. Learn how to read the compass and determine the time of the day or your location based on natural objects.
Survival skills are also essential. You need to learn how to build a fire, forage for food, and find sources of clean, potable water.
Temperament
Every minute of backcountry camping is a challenge and every minute, you may be asking yourself to give up. But if you are determined to see this to the end then you need to learn how to be resourceful as well as stay determined and optimistic about the outcome.
 |