Senin, 23 Agustus 2010

Essetials Backpacking Skills


Backpacking may seem like a simple, fun hobby, but serious backpackers know it is more then that. Backpacking is a serious sport where people have created a culture. Backpacking involves a lot of skill and while almost anyone can do it, anyone who wants to get serious about it needs to make sure they have the essential backpacking skills.
There are many unwritten rules in backpacking. These rules help to keep everyone safe and to keep the environment beautiful for those who will be enjoying later. They incorporate certain skills that every backpacker must know.


Here is a list of essential backpacking skills you really should know before you hit the trails:
- Backpacking etiquette. Every backpacker needs to respect the land. It is important that a backpacker does nothing to destroy the environment, like littering or ruining areas.
- Survival skills. These are those things that will keep you alive in an emergency or threatening situation. Every backpacker should have a basic set of skills that will help them should an emergency situation come up. The type of survival skills will vary a little depending on where you are backpacking, but in general you should be able to handle basic needs like shelter, water and heat.
- Orienteering skills. These are skills that will help you out should you get desperately lost. You need to be able to figure out where you are so you can then find a way out.
- Navigation skills. Navigation skills will give you the ability to find your way back to camp or civilization.
- First aid is another skill set you must have. If you are hurt you need to be able to take care of it enough that you do not end up with a more serious condition once you can get medical help.

No matter where you are backpacking or how often you backpack, having the skills listed above is an important part of backpacking. These skills are gear that you can't pack in your bag. Any backpacker can run into an emergency, no matter how safe your intended route may be. These skills can mean the difference between life and death, so don't risk it, just get knowledgeable.


there are other tips on backpacking:

Backpacking Recipes


Backpacking is a fantastic pastime for a whole lot of people. Many people actually use backpacking as their way to take a long vacation. But whether you are backpacking through the trails of Europe or are backpacking through the Appalachian Mountains and trails near Kentucky in the United States, there are plenty of backpacking recipes that one can use while on their travels. Even though many people think that they need to buy expensive freeze-dried food at specialty backpacking stores, this simply is not true. Indeed, many of the backpacking recipes that you can find involve less expensive base foods at simple grocery stores.

The first thing to remember about backpacking recipes, though, is that you want to make sure that your load that you are carrying is as light as possible. While it may be tempting to take along big steaks, that simply isn't realistic. Indeed, many of the backpacking recipes that can be found through other backpackers and backpacking resources involve water, dried milk, and even rice. Many of the backpacking ingredients for food that you need will need to be extremely light so as not to take up too much room in your backpack.


One example of a backpacking recipe does include dried milk (1/4 cup to be exact), salt, curry powder, three cups of water, two cups of the instant rice that can be bought at any grocery, as well as cashews and cheddar cheese. The way you fix up this backpacking recipe when you are ready to eat is to basically mix the dry milk with water to form a thick substance. That is brought to a boil with the rest of the water and the cheese and cashews are then added. You know that this backpacking recipe is finished cooking when the cheese is melted. For backpackers, this is actually a common backpacking recipe that a lot of people use!


Other backpacking recipes include much of the same ingredients as the one described above, though. Dried milk and water form the basis for a lot of backpacking recipes, and the important thing to remember is that you can basically add any ingredient that you wish. For example, if you want to add turkey, beans, or any other types of cheeses or dairy products, all of those backpacking ingredients will do just fine! All things considered, though, backpacking recipes are definitely easy to pack as well as easy to cook!



there are other tips on backpacking:

Backpacking food


When thinking about backpacking wherever you decide to go, taking along essential backpacking food is always an issue. While many backpackers try to keep their loads and backpacks as light as possible, there are many necessary backpacking food equipment, ingredients, and supplies that you must take along in order to eat on the way. While backpacking can often be a fun adventure, it takes careful planning and consideration when trying to figure out how you are going to juggle your backpack, sleeping bag, as well as backpacking food.



To get started planning which types of backpacking food that you're going to take along, you first need to consider how much you're going to eat. A backpacker must make room and time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. For breakfast, some of the suggested types of backpacking food include instant oatmeal or oats that you can quickly boil over a pot of water, as well as small cans of fruit. Even though backpacking food, such as fruit cans, can add a large weight to your load, there are many types of mini-sized plastic packages of fruit like peaches or mandarin oranges.


The next type of backpacking food that you should consider is lunch. Lunch is usually eaten around mid-day or whenever the backpacker has planned out his schedule. For these types of backpacking food you should probably have something a little more substantial than breakfast, but enough so that you'll get your fill. A couple good backpacking foods include pre-packaged tuna meals that often include crackers to spread the tuna on. These are not terribly heavy, either, so you'll have no trouble fitting in your backpack. A couple other suggestions for backpacking food for lunch is summer sausage that comes pre-sliced. If you have bread then you can eat the sausage on that, but you can also eat it right out of the package, too!



Last but not least, the types of backpacking food that you should include for dinner consist of things like cans of turkey or chicken soup, instant rice, chili powder, as well as many different types of cheeses. These are all common types of backpacking food that backpackers have for dinner. There are a plethora of backpacking recipes that you can use to combine all of these foods into great and delicious meals! Another suggestion for dinner, though, would be corn on the cob. Not only is it easy and simple to pack, but it's also light and easy to carry! All in all, there are many types of backpacking foods that one can carry on the way and many of them can be turned into great meals for your backpacking trip!


there are other tips on backpacking:

Overseas Backpacking Tips


Backpacking overseas is a great adventure.  You get to see another land and enjoy backpacking at the same time.  You are in for an adventure of a lifetime.  You will experience a new culture and new terrain.  The foreign lands with their ancient pasts bring surprises and breathe taking experiences.  If you are fairly new to traveling overseas then there are some things you should be aware of so you can have a flawless trip. 
Make sure you understand the local laws and customs.  This is important because the last thing you want is trouble.
Make sure you have everything you need to travel overseas and get into the destination country.  You should check with both countries to ensure all of your paperwork is in order.
You should check to make sure the map you are taking is current.  You do not want to plan a backpacking trip in an area that has recently been changed from wilderness to a shopping center.
Just as you would when backpacking at home, you need to fill in your family on all your plans.  This is even more important when traveling.  You never know what can happen and nobody there is going to realize you may be in trouble.
You can't just go back home very easy if your plans get messed up by weather or some other unexpected event.  Be sure you have an alternative plan in place so your trip is not ruined.
Do not let your mind get clouded by the fact you are backpacking and that is familiar to you.  You are still traveling to a foreign land and need to be as cautious as you would if you were just going for a visit, not to backpack.  You have to plan out your trip and be smart about it.

Even though you are going on a backpacking trip you still need to understand the basics behind safe travel abroad.  Here are a few last tips:
  • Leave valuables at home.  
  • Hire a local tour guide and always travel in a group or with at least one other person.  
  • Stick to public areas.  Do not try to venture to unknown areas.  You never know what types of problems you could run into. 



there are other tips on backpacking:

    Backpacking Checklist


    In the hustle and bustle of trying to prepare for a backpacking trip, you can often be overwhelmed with all the details. Where to go, what to pack, what to wear, what to bring, and other questions may be running through your mind. Without a little help, you may find yourself coming up short, and who wants that? A simple backpacking checklist can help you out.

    The basics are easy to remember; food, water, and clothes are necessities to everyone (though you can really do with less food than what you plan on packing, I am sure), and will not be forgotten. A camping backpack is only logical to carry your items in and a sleeping bag and tent are just as logical. Toiletries and an army knife are also items that you would want to have on your list.


    There are, however, some other items that you could add to your backpacking checklist, but it all comes down to what you want to do or how much you can carry. As the whole idea of backpacking is hiking with everything on your back, you do not want to burden yourself with stuff that will weigh you down. Even a tent or sleeping bag can be debated upon prior to leaving. After all, tarps are lighter and serve the same purpose as tents, and a pile of leaves and dead grass make for a warm bed if you do not mind ‘roughing it.’

    A backpacking checklist can vary depending on where you are going, how many people are in your group to help with lugging the equipment, and what the weather conditions will be like. You will definitely want to examine each and every item that you pack and make sure that you really need or want to bring it with you. If in doubt, pack your bag and do a test run. Walk around town or your local paths with that pack on your back for a day. Once you get back to the house, you may come to realize that you can do without a lot of the ‘necessities’ you packed.


    It is important to note that backpacking checklists are not going to be the same for person to person. Some people can handle more weight than others, some require more amenities than others, and some just want to challenge themselves. As long as you pack the basics, you should do well.

    there are other tips on backpacking:

    Backpacking Tips For All Backpackers


    Adventure is unlimited, one of them is backpacking, although it sounds dangerous but it could be a good refreshness for us, the more adventure you had, the more experiences you got

    Undoubtedly, if you are planning a backpacking adventure, you will be in the wilderness encountering the wild. Without basic backpacking tips or survival skills, you will not be able to function or have a fun backpacking trip. Basic backpacking tips also create a sense of security knowing that you can face whatever may be thrown at you. Backpacking tips such as staying warm, hydrated, and uninjured are common sense.



    It may take some getting used to, but sleeping at a slight slant with your head pointed downhill is a great way to stay warm. You do not have to sleep with all the blood rushing to your brain, but some. Nothing is more rewarding than eating off the lands that you are backpacking through. A great backpacking tip in regards to what berries to eat is to trust your instincts; if it looks like a blueberry, it probably is a blueberry! Taste it and find out. It will not hurt you, and if it does not taste right, spit it out.

    Keeping in mind that Mother Nature is fickle, a good backpacking tip would be to collect moss and milkweed fuzz along your trail so you have dry tinder for fires in case of a change in weather. A change in weather conditions can usually be noted in the skies so pay attention to them; lightening kills, but if you are observant, you can keep yourself out of trouble. Large fir trees can also help you stay dry in those changes of weather conditions. Should you get a small cut, use the sap from the ‘blisters’ on spruce or fir tree trunks as an antiseptic dressing.



    Stay hydrated! You have heard it said that if you find yourself thirsty, you are already dehydrated; do not get to that point. Fill your water bottles or bladders every chance you get so you are hydrated during those long trails. This backpacking tip is the most important tip to remember. Staying hydrated is more important than remembering to feed your belly.

    Backpacking tips are not just ideas and places to see when you are backpacking. They are basic survival guides that will allow you to have a safe, fun hike. Many of the tips are common sense ideas that you already follow day-to-day, but some are crucial to your well-being and safe backpacking.

    there are other tips on backpacking: