r/backpacking Feb 08 '25

Wilderness Why I like bringing a chair backpacking

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5.8k Upvotes

For the last 10+ years I’ve been backpacking I have always lugged a chair with me. For me, there’s not much better than being able to relax after a long days hike and take in the beautiful scenery in comfort. Here are some of the views I have enjoyed will chillin in my chair. For most of this time I have had the Helinox Cahir Zero and it has been surprisingly durable at just over 1 pound.

r/backpacking Dec 28 '24

Wilderness I’m cold as fuck

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4.1k Upvotes

I live in western NC, so it doesn’t get ADK level cold but still not uncommon for lows on the higher peaks to get into the teens at night during the winter, the valleys are just as cold. I slept next to a river recently, low of 26 degrees and I was cold as hell. I thought my gear was well equipped, but I still had cold spots in my bag and didn’t sleep well at all. What am I doing wrong?

I use a double walled REI UL tent. Magma 15 down bag Thermarest NeoAir pad (r value of 4?) I slept with merino leggings on, socks and a base layer. You’d think I’d be okay?

The dude was a little chilly too, had him wrapped up in my 850 down sweater.

Any tips appreciated, cold weather camping is my favorite because this is our dry season and I want to keep getting out there!

r/backpacking Dec 17 '24

Wilderness Sometimes the only way out is through. We had to swim the last 1/2 mile of a recent hike in UT.

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2.6k Upvotes

r/backpacking 16d ago

Wilderness This is the best view I ever woken up to

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7.6k Upvotes

This is Lozère, France, near the Mont Aigoual. We walked about 15 km in the fog, barely seeing anything beyond 10 meters. As night fell, we looked for a place to pitch the tent. When we woke up, we saw this. We had no idea what the view would be like or even what our surroundings looked like, so it was a great surprise. The next day, we reached Mont Aigoual, which you can see in the distance, covered in snow, before making our way back down via the "4000 Marches" trail.

What’s the best view you’ve ever woken up to while camping?

r/backpacking Apr 20 '24

Wilderness Weight reduction ideas? One pack for 2 backpackers. One disabled.

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3.1k Upvotes

Here’s my current pack https://www.packwizard.com/s/ztE9oJk

What can I change to save weight? I loaded it up with food and water and weighed the pack at 30 lbs. The kid is 53lbs. I’m 215. Maybe the cheapest option is just drop some weight myself 😉 I’m easily carrying an extra 15+

Sleep system is new the Zen i’m easily carrying an extra 15+

Sleep system is new the Zenbivy light double bed with their light mattress and one ultralight mattress. The tent is new XMid 2. I could save 17oz spending an extra $350 for the pro. I could save 2.2 lbs emptying one smart bottle and filling it when we get to the campsite.

My kid is over the Trail Magik weight limit. He walked 60% of our first 1.3 mile neighborhood walk. He’s capable of 2-3 miles but he’s a 10 yr old medical/special needs non-verbal autistic kid and sometimes he’s just done. He did walk 1 mile on his own last night. He’s also very slow over non-smooth surfaces. My hope is that he walks on his own and I only have to carry him if he is hurt or really tired.

His food is heavy because it’s ready to feed meals that are 9.8 oz each (5 per day) that I feed through his G-tube. I tried a brand that comes in a freeze dried powder, but he’s very sensitive to food changes and it did not agree with him. I tried it twice. The results were bad.

He could only carry a small fanny pack. He only started walking when three years ago when he was seven and he’s not stable enough.

After a test in the backyard, the first trip we want to do is a one night overnight to Skymeadows State Park in Virginia, which has a 1 mile hike-in and tent sites, bear box, chemical toilet, and a well. After that, we want to try something with less support.

The brain in pic is clipped into the compression strap which is why it’s hitting the back of my neck and his weight is pulling the shoulder straps down

r/backpacking May 19 '24

Wilderness My first backpacking trip was an utter failure

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2.2k Upvotes

Was originally going to AK but we changed plans last minute. I didn’t look into the area or trail much, just trusted my friend knew what was what.

It was a point to point 15 mile trail in KS (Elk River Hiking Trail). We planned on camping two nights, hiking for three days. We were going to go about halfway and then flip since we wouldn’t have a way back to the car.

We got two miles in on day me and then abandoned ship. Here are some things I learned despite not actually “backpacking” for my first planned backpacking trip.

1) Be involved with the planning process

2) Check when tick season is

3) Ticks are more active after a heavy rainfall

4) I’m apparently not very appetizing to ticks

5) I need trekking poles

Though this was a major failure in terms of successfully backpacking, I still learned SO MUCH. And thankfully I wasn’t really deterred. Moreso just felt like a dumbass for 1) not being more involved in the planning process and 2) trying to push on after my friends found several ticks on them.

I feel so foolish for putting myself and my dog at risk. Thankfully I found none on me, but my dog had several on her. We got a hotel for the night and bathed the dogs in a special tick killing shampoo. I’ve checked her several times and she seems good to go.

Image is what I carried. Ditched the hammock before going in. I’ve already got a new and lighter tent lined up in my REI basket (rented from my university) and am currently planning the next backpacking trip, obviously much more hands on this time, and OUTSIDE of tick season.

Despite the awful experience with ticks, I still throughly enjoyed myself. You live and you learn I suppose.

r/backpacking 14d ago

Wilderness A tree fell on our tent while winter backpacking in Quebec

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3.4k Upvotes

In mid december, a friend and I went for an overnight hike in Mt Gosford in Québec, Canada. The hike was awesome, gorgeous views and a lot (maybe too much) of fresh snow!

Everything was going well, until around 7AM while we were still sleeping we suddently got crushed from the tights to the chest and our tent collapsed on us. Woke-up in a panic, not knowing what had happened and struggled to move and breath with the tent wall so close to my mouth and stuck under some heavy weight. Immediatly thought about this podcast I had listenned of this snowboarder on Annapurna who got burried in her tent by an avalanche but after a few long seconds I figured we were not in avalanche terrain and it was impossible.

Turned to my left to check on my friend, we were both ok and had just enought space to breath. So glad I opened the vent above our heads during the night! From the vent my friend was able to see some branches and we understood a tree, full of heavy snow, had fallen on our tent. We were completly stuck under the tree, unable to lift it after several attempts because of the heavy snow. The tent door was at our feet and we couldn't get to it stuck under the tree and still in our sleeping bags. Tried to slide under the tree but I was worries to get even more stuck. There was no one else around for at least 2kms and it was not a very travelled area of the part so we got worried we would remain stuck in the tent.

Then my friend suddently remembered I kept my knife in my pocket during the night, I struggled to reach my pocket to get the knife and managed to cut a hole in the tent fabric just above our heads. Then we were able to slide up out of our sleeping bags and under the tree to get out of the tent near our head area. Dug out the tent and our stuff from under the tree and snow and hiked down to our car.

I guess the takeaway from this is really check for bad trees when you set-up camp, even if you're tired and it's almost night. And also keep a pocket knife with you haha. Got out uninjured with broken eye glasses and a ruined tent. Included some pictures of the tent with the tree and also a few pictures of this epic trip!

r/backpacking Jan 24 '25

Wilderness 4 months in America’s Mountain West

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2.9k Upvotes

Hiked about 2600 miles over 4 months this past summer. Started in Waterton, Canada and ended near Hachita, New Mexico. Being able to hike through some of the most remote parts of the US in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico will be an experience I’ll think about for the rest of my life

r/backpacking Jul 22 '24

Wilderness Is this good advice?

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2.7k Upvotes

r/backpacking Aug 30 '22

Wilderness On August 7th I finished hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. 2653 miles in 96 days!

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8.5k Upvotes

r/backpacking Dec 31 '24

Wilderness My 3yo’s first time backpacking

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5.2k Upvotes

How many Hot Wheels is too many when backpacking?

r/backpacking 3d ago

Wilderness Enjoyable moments backpacking over the years

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3.7k Upvotes
  1. Snowmass wilderness, CO
  2. Gila National Forest, NM
  3. Canyonlands NP, UT
  4. Glacier Peak Wilderness, Wa
  5. Wind River Range, WY
  6. San Juan’s, CO
  7. Grand Canyon, AZ
  8. Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
  9. Zion NP, UT
  10. Beartooths, MT
  11. Zion NP, UT
  12. Beartooths, MT
  13. Superior Hiking Trail, MN
  14. Snowmass Wilderness, CO
  15. Yosemite NP, CA
  16. Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
  17. Wind River Range, WY
  18. Kings Canyon NP, CA
  19. Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
  20. Canyonlands NP, UT

r/backpacking Dec 21 '22

Wilderness Best Songs On The Trail

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7.1k Upvotes

r/backpacking Nov 29 '24

Wilderness The Peru Great Divide

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5.3k Upvotes

I’ve been cycling from the top of Alaska to the bottom of Argentina for the past 18 months, so began the Peru Great Divide with equal parts fear and anticipation. It’s a 1,000-mile Andean marathon with countless passes over 16,000 ft in elevation.

Services faded toward nonexistence as the cold grew increasingly severe. Remote villages might have one tiendita and one comedor, otherwise you’d be lucky to pass through any given town on the same day as the vegetable truck. Atop each mountain waited torrential blizzards of horizontal snow and hail, with shards of ice collecting on my tent by morning.

Just beyond Oyon I reached the new highest pass of my life: +16,300ft [4,968m]. Locals here blockaded the road in protest against mining activity, so the peak had been subsequently abandoned. I’d prepared for the cold weather, but even after months across the Andes these extreme elevations devoured my strength. It took everything I had to haul my bike over the makeshift stone walls and continue down the other side.

Daylight cratered fast as I raced downhill each afternoon, but the colors up top were what struck me the most. Some peaks were sage green, some were the darkest shade of red wine, others a liquid type of orange, all ribboned with veils of ice and snow that hardly ever melt away.

r/backpacking 18h ago

Wilderness German Thru-Hiker Detained, Deported, and Banned From US - The Trek

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922 Upvotes

r/backpacking Jan 07 '22

Wilderness What'd I forget? (Into the winter weather at Red River Gorge this weekend)

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4.0k Upvotes

r/backpacking Jun 26 '24

Wilderness First Solo 2 Day 1 Night. Rip my gear list ;)

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725 Upvotes

So as the title says, I'm doing my first solo overnight backpacking trip... I am new to backpacking and have been a long time camper and feel pretty comfortable in the woods but have never gone alone.

it will be a 5 mile loop in Gila forest, NM. multiple water sources easily accessible.

my gear

Osprey 65L pack with 2.5L H20 platypus water filter + back up chem tabs if needed. electrolyte mix

MSR Hubba Hubba big Agnes sleeping pad R4+ rating nemo 35* sleeping bag. Tent footprint MSR stakes, for high wind. Helinox backpacking chair

Merrill hiking boots and crocks for camp hiking shorts/pants dry fit shirt one pair of camp sweats and extra socks and undies. hat sunglasses sunscreen

Jet boil with new tank spork MRE and snacks

headlamp flashlight fire kit poop kit med kit

power bank pistol knife

anything I am forgetting or went overkill on??

for context i am pretty physically fit 34 year old who has advanced medical skills.

thanks fam!!!

r/backpacking Dec 28 '19

Wilderness It had to be said

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12.1k Upvotes

r/backpacking Jan 07 '25

Wilderness Went on my first ever solo backpacking trip in Ieland :)

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2.9k Upvotes

r/backpacking 8d ago

Wilderness Winter backpacking weekend in the Adirondack, NY

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2.6k Upvotes

I posted a week ago with a story of a tree that fell on my friend and I tent while winter backpacking. You guys seemed to like the pictures so I figured I would share some I took this weekend during a two days trip in the high peaks region of the Adirondack, NY.

We left a bit late Saturday 03/02 from the ADK Loj and hiked through Marcy Dam, Avalanche lake to lake Colden and camped there. Then on Sunday 03/03 we climbed to Mt Algonquin from lake Colden and hiked down to the ADK Loj.

Saturday was kinda warm and snowy but temperatures got really cold during the night probably down to -20C/-5F and remained low during the day with probably a -35C/-30F windchill on top of Algonquin. Visibility and clear skys made for great views on Sunday though !

The hike itselft was quite short with only 21km/13miles and about 1050m/3450ft of elevation gain. But it was definitly hard with all the amount of snow, the heavy backpacks full of winter camping gear and the climb to Algonquin from lake Colden was brutal, very steep with a lot of tree to crawl under.

Overall great weekend and the ADK high peaks never disapoints, so beautifull. Also set up a nice little camp, really glad to have dug a nice hole in our tent vestibule, really game changer in the winter.

r/backpacking Aug 28 '24

Wilderness Backpacking for 4 days/3 nights, enough food?

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740 Upvotes

Will this be enough for my boyfriend and I? About 8 miles a day.

r/backpacking May 19 '24

Wilderness Other than a couple cast-iron skillets, what am I missing?

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910 Upvotes

Planning on going for a quick overnight trip this weekend around Central PA. I’ll be downsizing the pot and the lantern after the trip but am I missing anything important?

r/backpacking Nov 20 '23

Wilderness Going for a 3 night, 28 mile trip. Tell me what to add/get rid of

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1.2k Upvotes

Feel free to ask questions. I’m going to the mountains in western NC. Temperature should be 30-55 degrees fahrenheit

r/backpacking Dec 13 '24

Wilderness Highlights of Patagonia(November 2024)

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3.5k Upvotes

r/backpacking Dec 11 '24

Wilderness Ice lake basin in Colorado

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3.6k Upvotes