The Pre-Trip Panic Is Real The second you say, “Let’s go backpacking this weekend,” your brain immediately responds with, “Cool, let’s think about everything that could go wrong.” Suddenly you’re wondering if bears like the taste of protein bars, whether you remember...
Let’s set the scene: Early May, sun already melting the asphalt, and I’m in Dark Canyon, Utah, rethinking every life choice that led me to lug a small boulder disguised as a backpack up a 1,500-foot wall of misery. My eyes are stinging from sweat and I’m halfway up...
Let me set your expectations: if you’re thinking your first backpacking trip will be some Instagram-worthy journey of self-discovery, think again—especially if you’re sharing a forest with a swarm of scout troops. My first time backpacking was with a bunch of them,...
