Skip to main content

Beginners Guide To Backpacking


Do you remember your first backpacking or camping trip? Do you remember all the things that you packed that you wished you would have not put in your pack or car? It was the first over night backpacking trip up to Hurricane Ridge located on the Olympic Peninsula. Our destination, 1.07 miles to PJ Lake. The trail that I was hiking had over a 700ft elevation change from the trailhead to the lake. 

As my friend and I began to make our way down to the camp site things seemed to be going pretty good. Personally, I was feeling pretty good. I had my pack and I was ready. However, this was the first time in a long time that I had done a backpacking trip. So, of course I brought everything but the kitchen sink. 

Item list:

  • 30L Backpack
  • 3L of Water
  • Clothes (pants, shorts, shirts, socks)
  • Three man tent
  • 3 meals (MRE style)
  • Snacks (trail mix and cliff bars)
  • Jacket
  • Air mattress
  • Sleeping bag
  • flashlight and headlamp
  • Cooking items (plate, spoon, fork, knife)

None of the items in my pack was light weight. I am sure you see where this is going. I had more than I should have had for an overnight trip. The bulk of the weight was the water and the tent. This really didn't leave much room for anything else. Of course whatever you bring in, is what must come out.

The next day, my friend and I enjoyed being by the lake and just taking in the scenery. But in the back of my mind I knew that I was going to have to make the trek back up the over 700ft elevation change to where the car was parked at the trailhead. As we started the climb, I was feeling good. I had fueled up and started toward the car. Then it hit me. Every part of my body started screaming at me due to the weight of the pack. All I wanted to do was get down off the mountain and in my bed. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to make it. Well, I did. I am here to tell the story and share with you my first experience as a backpacker. You might be asking yourself, "what would you say to a beginner backpacker?" Here is my answer, pack light and only what you need. 

Here is a list of things that one might need for an overnight trip:

  • Backpack
  • Water
  • Sleeping bag
  • Hammock OR a single person tent
  • Air mattress
  • Jet-boil for boiling water and a spoon
  • 1 pair of pants/shorts
  • 1 shirt
  • 2 pairs of socks
  • Jacket OR sweatshirt for the cool morning and evening
  • flashlight or headlamp
  • 3 MRE style meals (use the pouches for eating out of)
There is my list. Is there anything that you would switch out or maybe even add to the list? Leave a comment. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Empowerment and Transformation: The Dynamic Work of the Holy Spirit

Photo by  Khalil Yamoun  on  Unsplash In the tranquil meeting place where earth kisses the sky, twilight paints the horizon in ethereal hues, and the waters glisten under the fading light, we encounter a scene pregnant with profound significance—a moment ripe with the promise of transformation and empowerment. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, with the gentle rhythm of waves caressing the shore, stands a solitary figure—a poignant symbol of humanity teetering on the brink of divine encounter. As we behold this tableau, we are stirred to contemplate the dynamic workings of the Holy Spirit—a force of empowerment and transformation that breathes vitality into the soul and ignites hearts with divine purpose. Join us as we plunge into the depths of this sacred journey, delving into the transformative power of grace and the limitless potential unleashed through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Empowering Presence At the heart of this divine encounter lies the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Sacred Quiet: When Silence Speaks

It’s been a while. The pause wasn’t planned, but necessary. Life has a way of ushering us into valleys we never asked to walk through. Over the past few months, my family and I have been navigating one such valley, marked by the sudden passing of someone we dearly loved. It’s the kind of grief that presses pause on everything else. Writing, ministry, even the most basic routines—suddenly all felt heavier, quieter, slower. And in that sacred quiet, I’ve learned something: sometimes, silence is a teacher. Grief has a voice. It speaks in sighs, memories, and unfinished sentences. It also speaks in silence. I used to resist that silence, afraid that stillness might lead to stagnation. But I’ve come to believe silence isn’t the absence of God—it’s often the space where we most clearly hear Him whisper. A Season of Reprieve In our fast-paced world, taking a step back feels counter-cultural. But I’ve come to see that it’s deeply biblical. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places—not just to rest...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Signs of A Healthy Team And Church

Signs. Signs are everywhere. Each sign that we see tells us something different whether on the road, in a restaurant, or even on a trail. Signs, according to the dictionary is “a gesture or action used to convey information or instructions.” Signs give direction and instruct individuals as to what they are looking at or even where they are going. As individuals who are attending and visiting churches, they are looking for the signs; signs of a healthy leadership team and church or body of believers. In this post I will share with you five signs of a healthy team and church. Sign 1: Each member loves Jesus Loving Jesus is more than just words. It is a life style that involves every part of who we are. Loving Jesus is being totally devoted to Him. In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your minds, and will all your strength.” To love God is to fully and completely love Him and all the commandments that is regarded to our v...
Post a Comment
Read more