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How Backpacking Can Make You a Better Person

The skills you use and lessons you learn while in the backcountry can help improve your life off-trail as well.

By: Mila Ringo + Save to a List

Of the many reasons people list when asked what they love about backpacking, things like foul weather, venomous snakes, tick bites, hellish climbs, and injuries rarely make an appearance. No good backpacking trip, however, would be complete without some sort of hardship featuring in the story. People who don’t particularly consider themselves outdoorsy often regard those of us who embark on such adventures as a little less than sane. “That sounds miserable,” I’ve often been told upon relaying such a story. “Why would you do that?”

To those who have never been backpacking, it sounds like one enormous chore. The thought of forsaking your own comfortable bed to hike miles with a heavy pack, through rain or snow or heat, eating freeze-dried meals, getting covered in bugs/dirt/mud/water (not to mention the lack of a bathroom) is enough to convince many people that the idea of this activity is more romantic than the reality. And yet, a lot of us - upwards of 9 million a year, according to the American Hiking Society - continue to gear up and hit the trail, eager to experience discomfort at the hands of nature. What is it that drives us to do this? What do we bring home with us after such an experience?

For me, backpacking is a wonderful opportunity to unplug from the various screens that dominate our modern world, in addition to a chance to see some truly phenomenal and remote places. It’s about hitting the reset button, big-time. It’s about living simplistically, relying on my own strength and wits, and sacrificing creature comforts in order to experience wilderness and adventure. By no means do I consider myself an expert backpacker. My skills have certainly gotten better with experience, but things never, ever go 100% according to plan. I have experienced plenty of packing mishaps (too much or too little), extreme weather, thousands of bugs, and sleepless nights. Yet I find that I can’t get enough of it. On my last backpacking trip it occurred to me that, as much as I love the wonderful scenery and solitude, I also learn and grow more and more from these experiences. As with many challenging sports, backpacking can be an opportunity to get technically good at something while also strengthening your mental and emotional faculties. Here are some ways that backpacking can contribute positively to your life, on- or off-trail.

Roll with the punches

On my last trip to the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas, my partner, my dog, and I got caught in a sudden downpour. A clap of thunder echoed off the mountains, and we hurriedly pulled out the tent and draped it over ourselves in an effort to keep dry. As we sat underneath, already soaking wet, my dog trembling with fear in the sudden storm, I swore at myself for all the things I had forgotten. My rain jacket. My backpacking towel. A freaking emergency poncho. I’d prepared for it to be freezing overnight, but had neglected to bring a single thing that would keep me dry while hiking. I felt stupid about being so ill-prepared. As soon as the rain let up, we all dried off, had a little swig off a whiskey bottle, and kept hiking.

My bad mood left me quickly, and I remembered one of the things I love most about backpacking: truly being present. It’s perfectly natural and healthy to acknowledge your feelings in a frustrating or scary situation, not to mention reacting to them, but complaining for the sake of complaining or spending time dwelling on negatives is a generally unhelpful skill for the trail. If you made a packing or navigation error - oh well. What’s done is done. You can fix it next time. Right now, you have to deal with what’s right in front of you.

Backpacking teaches us to accept and deal with situations that arise unexpectedly, rather than fighting against or denying them. When we are able to release a little bit of control and say, “okay. This wasn’t on my itinerary, but I guess this is what I’m doing right now,” we can release an enormous burden from our shoulders. This tenet can be applied to a multitude of other circumstances in our lives - relationships, careers, parenting, school, hobbies; the list goes on and on. Learning to be present and accept reality reduces stress, helps you think more creatively, and helps keep you sane enough to deal with the thing at hand, and maybe even laugh about it later.

Challenge yourself

You won’t know what you’re capable of until you try, and backpacking demands a wide variety of skills, some of which are best learned through trial-and-error. You’ll challenge yourself physically, of course, but challenges will also arise that have nothing to do with your burning legs. Backpacking calls on you to be tough, flexible, resourceful, patient, willing to persevere, able to admit mistakes, and capable of performing damage control. You may end up covering more ground than you meant or needed to, due to a navigation error or weather. You may have to restructure trip plans and/or or provide first aid if a member of your group becomes ill or injured. You will most definitely have to do some bushwhacking and some river crossings, which can be just as mentally difficult as they are physical.

Learning to overcome fear in order to push yourself is an incredibly useful tool in many aspects of your life. Taking on something that feels too big for you is an excellent kind of exposure therapy - regardless of whether or not you succeed, an empowering lesson unfolds for you. Should you be rewarded by obtaining your goal, you’ll gain confidence through knowing that you persevered despite the struggle. Should you fall short of your goal, you’ll gain useful knowledge of where you went wrong and what you can do differently next time. So many people are afraid to try new or foreign things in the first place, but challenging ourselves to experience life outside of our comfort zones can yield amazing experiences and personal growth.

Know your limits

Challenging yourself can be both elating and rewarding, but knowing your limits is an equally important skill, and the two often play off of each other quite nicely. Knowing your limits isn’t the same as giving up, nor is it something that anyone should feel shame about. On the contrary, knowing (and continuing to learn) your limits will help you take better care of yourself in the backcountry. One of the most important rules: take breaks. If you’re hiking with a group, announce that you need a break. At least one person will be ready to join you, and others can hike on if they are chomping at the bit. Taking a few minutes to remove your pack, pee, drink water, have a snack, or do some stretching does wonders for your morale. Pushing through your pain and your exhaustion will only make you feel worse at the end of the day, and that can feel like a death sentence on a lengthy backpacking trip.

There is no rule that says you have to hike 10+ miles a day in order to have a rewarding backpacking experience. Don’t attempt to overdo it and screw yourself over by falling short of reaching a water source or campsite, or putting unnecessary strain on your body. You don’t even need to be in tip-top shape to backpack - you just need to pack smart and know when to push yourself and when to take a breather. Personally, I like to move at a pretty slow pace. I take lots of breaks, enjoy the scenery, take some pictures, and press on. I’ve found that when I’ve pushed myself to do long and arduous days, I’m miserable. I don’t feel like I’ve gotten the experience that I went out there for. The adventure is what you make of it, and you don’t have to go a long way to really be way the hell out there, so do what makes you happy.

Learning, accepting, and communicating your limits is not an easy task. Many people struggle with this in various aspects of their lives. Luckily, it’s something that becomes much more familiar with practice. The reward of having your needs met is a great motivator to continue strengthening this muscle, and it will inspire others around you to do the same. Know when to clench your teeth and keep going, and know when to throw in the towel. This is particularly helpful when struggling with the old “should I stay or should I go?” problem, be it a relationship, a house, or a job. Be honest with yourself when something is not right for you, or is no longer right, and be willing to let it go. Recognize that admitting your limits is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself, and that it will lead you to better and better things down the road.

Spend more time in nature

It’s no secret - spending time outdoors is good for you. In addition to the obvious physical benefits, researchers have found that walking in nature can aid in reducing the risk of depression, in addition to boosting your self-esteem and creativity. Turning off your smart phone, laptop, tablet, and TV screens can do wonders for resetting your circadian rhythm, helping you get better sleep and feel more energized. It can also be a helpful tool for managing the high levels of stress and anxiety which more and more of us find ourselves grappling with in order to try and make ends meet.

You don’t have to have lots of experience, expensive gear, or a backcountry guide to reap the many benefits that backpacking can offer. As with many things that are worthwhile, if you’re willing to put in some effort, you will be rewarded with not only wonderful sights and memories, but the opportunity to change your perspective as well. Happy trails!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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