Wrap Up and a Little Inspiration
Episode #10 of the course Beginning Backpacking by Alice Morgan
Congratulations! You’ve made it to your last backpacking course. Today, we’ll wrap up by looking at a few aspects of backpacking you can look forward to on your adventures.
Backpacking Is a Hobby
We’ve gone over lots of material in the last 10 days, but you can find more tips and tricks to learn beyond this course. It can seem overwhelming, but I want you to remember that backpacking is a hobby. Above all, it’s supposed to be fun. Getting the skills down to be comfortable and take care of yourself in the backcountry takes time and practice. Backpacking is also a process. As time goes by, you’ll get better and better. In the meantime, there are plenty of sunsets, stars, campfires, and good memories to enjoy!
Backpacking Leads to Independence
When you start backpacking, you gain independence. When you’re on the trail, you are in charge of your experience. You can decide where and when you go, what you eat, and when you take breaks. You’ll gain the experience of relying on yourself. After all, you have everything you need to survive and thrive on your back.
Backpacking Leads to Adventure
The act of backpacking makes you the main character of your own adventure story. Every aspect of your trip adds to your experience. Some trips will be amazing. You’ll crush miles, find the best campsites, see wildlife, and meet other interesting backpackers. Other times, you’ll find yourself in a rainstorm with a broken backpack strap, having just eaten slightly undercooked pasta. As much fun as the good days are, the bad days will often be the moments that makes you appreciate the experience. No matter what, you’ll have some great stories to tell.
Keep Learning
There’s so much more to learn! Backpacking builds on itself. As you practice the basics, you’ll discover more aspects of the hobby that you’ll want to learn. You might become an ultralighter and devote yourself to shaving as much weight as possible from your pack. Or you could become an backcountry gourmet and make amazing meals like cinnamon rolls and pizza from scratch. You might even find yourself on the start of a six-month thru hike of the Appalachian trail. Wherever you end up, I hope you have clear skies, smooth trails, and lots of fun.
For our last recommended reading, I’m not going to give you any manuals. Instead, I’m leaving you with stories of people who started out knowing nothing and ended up having amazing adventures.
Recommended books
Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Phar Davis
Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart: An Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail by Carrot Quinn
I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling
Share with friends