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Your first backpacking trip can be an exiting time – but it can also be very challenging. Backpacking and hiking have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people throughout history. It’s a past time that can be enjoyed by all people, young and old alike, with any variety of skill level or experience. It’s an inexpensive hobby and a great way to disconnect from the busyness of life! Here are a few pointers to help you get started if you are new to backpacking and hiking.

Getting Started

1. Nature is untamed and wild. Blasting winds, extreme heat, unexpected storms or weather patterns, falling rocks and trees, as well as wild animals are all part of the experience of the wilderness and should not be underestimated. Be a good outdoor citizen and be prepared! While there are plenty of unfortunate things that may happen while hiking your favorite mountain, there would be no beauty to experience with out them. Focus on the positive aspects, such as beautiful sunsets, amazing wildlife, cooling breezes, and be prepared for whatever nature may throw at you. Many outdoor stores, book stores, and libraries carry specific guides and information about your hiking area. The ever present possibility of danger provides excitement to the outdoor experience.
2. Think and behave respectfully. The back country should be preserved as a place to escape the fast paced nature of everyday life.  As Alan Alda wrote “The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.” Hiking and backpacking can be enjoyed by all when we respect the land and respect those that are travelling through the wilderness. Leave an electronics that may diminish another person’s experience at home and be mindful when talking with friends or setting up your campsite.
3. Encourage kids to have fun and respect the land. Some children may find it entertaining to stir up trouble while hiking or backpacking. Disturbing rocks, trees, or other natural features should be discouraged. Nature is a fragile place once disturbed; it can take years or decades for some wild lands to return to their original state. Picking flowers or carrying rocks may seem harmless, but it’s best to leave nature as you found it. Pictures are, however, free and a wonderful way to take your memories home with you.
4. Leave it as you found it. There are many great sayings to make this point: “Take only pictures. Leave only footprints”, “Pack in, Pack out”, etc. While hiking and backpacking, there is nobody to come in after you and clean up your mess. Each hiker has to take responsibility  for cleaning up after themselves. Be sure to leave every lake side, river bed, hiking trail, and campsite in better shape than when you found it. If you see litter on the trail, wrap it up and bring it with you so that future hikers will have just as an enriching experience as you have.
5. Wilderness is not a carnival. While hiking, you won’t find handrails on trail sides, no water fountains at campsites, no toilets, no convenience stores, no trash cans or recycling bins, no helpful guides directing you to your next adventure. You can only rely on yourself and your skills, energy level, and knowledge about your situation. If you get hurt, there will be nobody to help you immediately and it could be several hours before getting professional medical attention. Be aware of your surroundings, your situation, and your comfort level at all times.

Backpacking Guidelines

1. Hike on established trails and paths. When possible, choose to walk on rock, snow, ice, or hard packed dirt rather than fresh soil or plant life.
2. Camp in established campsites and tent sites. Although many wilderness areas have strict guidelines which should be well understood and followed, try to use an existing campsite when possible if you aren’t in a large volume camping area.
3. Dispose of human waste far from water sources and trails. It’s best to travel 50 feet or more from any water or hiking trail. Always dig a hole at least 8 inches in the ground and bury your impromptu latrine when finished.
4. Avoid camp fires. Many hiking and camping stores sell inexpensive multi-fuel stoves or more sophisticated propane or alcohol stoves. While it’s true that camp fires look great and add to your experience, over harvesting wood for your fire and leaving unburned ash can really harm the area. Camp stoves are also less likely to grow out of control and destroy the trees and plant life.
5. Don’t feed the wildlife. Animals have evolved complex hunting and eating skills that are easily disrupted if you provide a quick and easy way to acquire food. Feeding animals can also make them less afraid of humans, which can be a real threat to the animal as well as future hikers. It’s best to avoid animals as much as possible. Just take a picture and focus on your hike instead.

Planning a Backpacking Trip

1. Find a hiking partner or small group. Avoid going solo for your first long hike into the great outdoors. Find a local hiking or backpacking group that already has some experienced members. It’s important to find people that will be okay with the slower pace that comes with every new backpacker, such as yourself. There are many aspects of climbing like distance, difficulty, elevation gain, etc. which must be carefully considered and agreed upon by the group.
2. Think ahead. Research different locations in your area and select a trip suitable for your skills, knowledge and experience. Many bookstores, libraries, and outdoor camping stores have great resources, guidebooks, pamphlets, maps, and other detailed information to choose the best place to get started. It’s also a great idea to check out online communities for advice or current information if you still have questions that haven’t been answered.
3. Pick your hiking destination. There are many online sites that have great hikes along well established backpacking trails. Be sure to have multiple trail options and exit strategies, just in case you aren’t feeling comfortable.
4. Collect your gear. It’s best to borrow or rent gear rather than buy it. There are great online checklists available for quick reference to figure out what you need. You’ll need to adjust these lists to your particular situation and comfort level.
5. Get prepared. You’ll need to be sure you are in good enough shape to get started. Take smaller day hikes no longer than 2-3 hours to make sure your gear and supplies are comfortable and suit your needs. Be sure to consult your physician and bring any medications necessary.

Bouldering is a great sport enjoyed by thousands of people in the United States and all around the world. It’s a simple sport, but can be both physically and mentally challenging. Many athletes use bouldering as a method of training for longer, more technical full rope climbs, and some consider bouldering a sport by itself. Perhaps the best thing about bouldering is that it’s very easy to get started. While there are many spots around the world that are ideal climbing destinations, it’s possible to find locations in your area that offer one or two decent scrambling spots.

Bouldering Gear

Unlike most outdoor adventure sports, bouldering does not require thousands of dollars worth of gear and equipment. The essentials are rock shoes, chalk, and crash pad. If you are only considering indoor climbing at a local rock gym, then you will be able to rent these items for less than $10 at most gyms. Some rock gyms even let you take the equipment to local outdoor climbing spots, if there are any close by.

Rock shoes

When purchasing your first pair of rock shoes, think about your primary goals and considerations. There are many different types and specialized versions of rock shoes, but you should look for a pair that is comfortable and all purpose. Avoid shoes that are created for specific techniques and climbing conditions until you are more familiar with the basics. Many shoes are available for under $80 and most rock gyms will let you try out a pair before making the purchase, just to be sure that it’s a good fit for your foot and climbing style.

Chalk and Chalk Bag

Bouldering is a difficult sport and relies on grip strength and overall body strength. If your hands are wet with sweat or water, your grip strength is weakened and you could slip off the bouldering holds very quickly. Chalk prevents your hands from getting too wet and helps keep your grip as dry and as strong as possible.

Chalk bags are just fabric bags that are used to hold the chalk material. Some bags have loops, drawstrings, or elastic to help keep the bag closed or allow you to fasten it to your belt. Most bags are under $15 and offer similar features and functionality, so just pick one that fits your style.

Crash Pads

Crash pads are the most expensive piece of gear that you will need to consider for bouldering. Most new pads are over $100, but you may be able to save some cash by looking online on eBay or Craigslist. If you climb indoors, you will most likely not need a bring your crash pad but they are really required for any type of outdoor climbing. Pick a climbing pad that will be big enough for you to fall comfortably and lower the risk of twisting an ankle (or worse) when falling from a large boulder.

Bouldering Problems

Bouldering is a great way to meet new people. It’s a very relaxed sport and there’s lots of time trying to figure out the best way to approach a bouldering “problem” or climbing route. Since the routes are typically pre-defined, it’s important to understand the problem before getting started. While some problems are straightforward and permit any type of hand or foot holds, some routes will forbid certain movements or holds. Climbing with other people can allow you to work through a particularly tough problem or route section.

Bouldering Movements

Bouldering movements are both challenging and rewarding. You can start off with easy bouldering problems and work your way up to more challenging ones as you become more familiar with the techniques involved. There are three primary climbing techniques that you will encounter: Up climbing, traversing, and down climbing.

Up climbing and down climbing are straightforward, but offer varying levels of difficulty depending on the grade of the climb. Some problems will have features like overhangs, cracks or difficult stretching moves. Be sure to understand the details for each problem like what holds are acceptable and if you are permitted to use the rock face to keep your balance. Down climbing is simply a reverse of up climbing. This practice can help improve your strength and endurance. After you’ve finished abouldering problem, immediately retrace your steps back to the starting position. You can also try some bouldering problems in reverse if the start and end points are in a convenient location.

Traversing will help improve your foot work and body movement. Traversing routes move your body across the rock face, as opposed to up, down, or diagonally like traditional bouldering problems. Be sure to understand the traversal problem before beginning and to plan out your movements when possible. Some rock gyms provide extra long traversal problems to challenge even the most experienced climbers.

Bouldering Safely

Bouldering is certainly a tough sport and you must use caution when climbing, especially when doing so outdoors or in high locations. Use crash pads to cushion your fall and consider wearing a helmet if you are nervous about hitting your head. If you feel comfortable about your safety while climbing, then you are more likely to push yourself to new limits.

Spotting is another way to boulder safely. If you are able to climb with other people, have one or more of your fellow climbers “spot” you while climbing to break your fall.

Just because winter has come and the snow has been falling does not mean that the cycling season is over. All one needs is a bit of knowledge and practice to have an extremely rewarding experience while bike riding. It may seem difficult at first to move yourself through the winter slush, sleet, snow, ice, rain, and freezing cold temperatures. Many people commute to work every day on their bikes around the year, and snow covered regions in the winter are no exception. Just a few of the benefits are no traffic, no car to break down or battery to drain, no gas charges, and the peace and solitude of rolling through hills and streets during an early February morning! In addition to the external benefits, winter biking also provides many internal benefits as well. Any aerobic activity is going to get your heart pumping, your blood flowing and help you to burn calories. Winter riding can really help make these benefits a reality for you.
It is easy to get started with winter riding and you can take it as slow a pace as you feel comfortable with. There’s no reason to rush in and get worn out, frustrated, or hurt in the process.

Getting Started with Winter Bicycling

You can ease into winter riding and build confidence by following these simple tips:

1. If possible, combine your commute with public transportation. Many bus and train services will allow passengers to store bikes during travel. Check with your local public transportation authority for details.
2. Try it part way – drive half way to work and bike the rest. You can start off even easier, by driving several blocks from your final destination, and then biking for the remainder of your trip.
3. Start slow. You may be more enthused about traveling on your bike if you take it easy and just start with one or two days per week. You can gradually add more days as you get more comfortable.
4. Take a practice run. Try the commute on a non-working day; perhaps a Saturday or Sunday or a day off from work. This will allow you to plan accordingly and give your self plenty of time to get to work and be prepared for the live run.

There are some special consideration when winter biking:

1. Remember to dress warm and eat and drink plenty.
2. Keep your bike in top shape. Be sure that your tires are inflated properly and cables are in tact. Fixing a flat in the summer is no fun, but it’s much worse in the cold!
3. Be aware. Many drivers are not used to seeing bikers in the winter months and may not be looking out for you. This is especially important during times when there are slippery road conditions. If you are ever in doubt, play it safe and drive to work.

Winter Cycling Clothing

Your choice of clothing is perhaps the most important decision to make for winter biking. While it may seem counter intuitive, it’s important to NOT overdress. You may think that you’ll be so freezing cold that you pile on the clothes. Remember: you will still sweat very much due to the body heat you are producing during your bike ride. There will be times that you must stop or slowdown during your ride. Chilly temperatures and gusting winds will make you COLDER during this time and can lead to serious medical complications like dehydration and hypothermia. You should be slightly cold when you get started if you are dressed properly. As your body warms up from the ride, you will start to feel more comfortable.

Base and Middle Layer

1. The base layer should keep you dry.
2. Choose materials made of wool or synthetic wicking fibers like polyester or nylon. Avoid cotton.
3. A fleece sweater can provide additional insulation if necessary. It’s best to keep this in a backpack until it’s needed.

Outerwear

1. Choose a soft shell jacket with plenty of room for ventilation and comfort.
2. Find something that works for your region and weather patterns. In dryer locations, waterproof materials are not required.
3. Look for a jacket with plenty of pockets and zippers to provide ventilation as needed.

Head and Hand Coverings

1. Most of your body heat will escape from your head. Use a wool cap or helmet liner for most days and bring a scarf or ski mask just in case.
2. Use a hat with visor or glasses in wet weather. Waterproof gloves are great, but be sure they have plenty of grip in the fingers and on the palms.
3. Check out other winter products at your outdoor sporting goods store. Sometimes snowboarding gloves are perfect for biking, if you have enough mobility to reach the brakes and shifting lever.

Footwear

1. Clip-less shoes will most likely not provide enough insulation during winter biking trips. Considering purchasing a pair of over-sized shoes for winter biking.
2. If you don’t have clip-less shoes and pedals, use a pair of lightweight hiking boots with thick socks to keep your feet warm.
3. Ankle length gaiters can help keep slush and snow out of your shoes while riding. It’s important to avoid cotton socks for your feet. Cotton will not retain any heat when wet and takes a very long time to dry.

Winter Cycling Gear

Your choice in cycling gear is very important during winter riding trips. You should consult with your local bike shop for tips that are relevant for your particular region.

Your Bicycle

1. Keep your gears, derailleur,  brakes, tires, and pedals free of debris. Sub-freezing temperatures can be especially tricking with snow, slush, and ice. Be sure to check frequently at red lights and when you arrive at your destination.
2. Take good care of your bike during down times. A good wash each weekend can help your bike working in top condition.
3. In cold temperatures, avoid riding a bike with integrated suspension systems. The pistons are filled with fluid that will not be as responsive to bumps and ditches during cold rides. If your suspension is feeling unresponsive or sluggish, stop riding and consult a professional repair person when possible.

Bike Tires

1. Deflate your tires to a lower pressure than normal during winter bike rides. The reduced pressure will improve traction with the slippery road.
2. Winter means slush or rain in many areas of the country, so be sure your tires offer a good grip on wet surfaces—that’s the most important thing. It’s also a good idea to run them at a lower pressure then you would in the summer. Just like with a car tire, reduced pressure makes a bike tire squish out a little bit and gain better traction. In the summer, I run my road tires at around 120 psi, but in the winter I drop it down to between 90 and 100 psi.
3. Mountain bike tires can help cut through slush and ice, but can also increase friction during your ride; thereby making travel more difficult.
4. Many winter riders prefer skinny road tires, but you’ll need to find something that works for you.
5. Some companies make tires with nobs or studs for both road tires and mountain bike tires, which can be useful in especially harsh conditions.

Bike Lighting

1. Bike lights are an essential piece of equipment in the winter, due to shorter days and overcast weather conditions.
2. Find the brightest bike lights available, and try to locate one with a wide cast angle.
3. Many manufacturers offer rechargeable lighting systems which work the best, but can be expensive. If you are going to use a cheaper clip on type of lighting system, be sure to replace the batteries and bulb as needed.
4. Consider your safety when choosing a bike light. Storms can cause whiteout conditions for both you and drivers on the road. Bike lights can help other see you during dangerous times.

Fenders

1. Your tires will kick up lots of slush, ice, and water during your ride, and some of this will get on your clothes making you cold and dirty.
2. Fenders prevent snow and slush from hitting you and are a great way to stay clean and dry.
3. Position your front fenders to reach a few of inches on either side of your fork. Rear fenders can be full length, or will be adjustable to fit in the proper position.

Bags and Panniers

1. Keep your clothes in a weather resistant carrier if you are traveling more than just a few miles to your destination.
2. Backpacks are a great option and can be carried comfortable. A messenger bag can shift unexpectedly and may spill your contents onto the wet ground. Panniers are an okay option, but add bulk to your bike and make it wider than normal. If you are riding in the city, panniers can be cumbersome and may make winter commuting unbearable.
3. Choose something that is water proof and comfortable. It’s also important to find a bag that will hold all of your contents safely and securely as you travel.

Hydration and Food

1. Food and water are important parts of any outdoor or sport activity. Keeping hydrated in the winter months is important and it’s easier to forget if you are not sweltering in the hot sun.
2. Dry air can pull hydration from your body and multiple layers may make you sweat more than normal. Be sure to get plenty of fluids before, during, and after your rides.
3. Eat something nutritious before heading out on your winter ride. Avoid anything too sugary or heavy that may make your feel sluggish or sick. Bring a small snack with you just in case you start to lose energy.

Winter Riding Skills

Correct riding technique is an essential part of winter riding. Ride defensively and be aware of your surroundings at all time. Minimize distractions and focus on your safety and enjoyment.

Lane Position

1. Avoid riding very close to the curb. Snow, ice, and slush will gather there as it’s plowed and shoveled during storms.
2. Ride on the pavement where it’s dry or clear. If that’s not possible, find the clearest path and be careful of potholes, ice chunks, or slick ice.
3. Move evenly and predictably. If possible, don’t make any sudden moves that may distract fellow riders or drivers.

Body Position

1. Ride relaxed and stay loose. Your legs can absorb any motion created by riding around ice ridges, street clutter, and other dangerous areas.
2. With locked knees and elbows, you might find that a little ice ball or parts of a busted muffler can be enough to send you toppling to the ground.
3. Be alert and ready to swerve around broken glass or other tire-destroying monsters.

Snow and Ice Considerations

1. Be aware of melting or freezing snow and ice. Daytime sunlight can make snow melt, which then re-freezes as night when the snow sets.
2. Watch for black ice and other winter hazards. If you hit a patch of slippery ice, slush or snow simple move slowly and steadily through it. Ride evenly and move with any slips rather than turn hard out of them and overcompensate.
3. Stay in control at all times and ride as slow as you feel comfortable.

Winter Post-ride Maintenance Tips

1. Keep your bike functioning properly by cleaning and maintain it regularly.
2. Cleaning your chain and drive train thoroughly with some cleaner, a rag, and a toothbrush after every ride or every few rides as needed.
3. Wipe down your brakes, seat, and handle bars after snowy or dirty rides and apply grease that is designed for dirty or wet conditions.