| Backpacking (also tramping or trekking or
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| | referred to as a "rucksack" or simply a
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| bushwalking in some countries) combines
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| | "ruck". Soldiers who serve in the
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| hiking and camping in a single trip. A
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| | militaries of most nation-states usually
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| backpacker hikes into the backcountry to
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| | receive at least some rudimentary
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| spend one or more nights there, and
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| | backpacking training while infantrymen
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| carries supplies and equipment to satisfy
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| | are often trained to a more advanced
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| sleeping and eating needs.
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| | backpacking skill level. They share many
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| What is backpacking?
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| | common attributes with amateur
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| A backpacker packs all of his or her gear
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| | backpackers: being self-contained, use of
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| into a backpack. This gear must include
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| | land-navigation skills and actively
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| food, water, and shelter, or the means to
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| | minimizing their environmental
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| obtain them, but very little else, and
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| | foot-print. Although there are also a few
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| often in a more compact and simpler form
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| | differences such as the need to carry an
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| than one would use for stationary
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| | assault rifle, other weapons, ammunition
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| camping. A backpacking trip must include
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| | and communication equipment as well as at
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| at least one overnight stay in the
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| | times maintaining "noise and light
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| wilderness (otherwise it is a day hike).
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| | discipline", which means remaining silent
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| Many backpacking trips last just a
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| | and in darkness to avoid detection.
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| weekend (one or two nights), but
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| | Other professional backpackers may be
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| long-distance expeditions may last weeks
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| | scientific and academic researchers,
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| or months, sometimes aided by planned
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| | professional guides, photographers,
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| food and supply drops.
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| | park-rangers and "search & rescue"
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| Backpacking camps are more spartan than
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| | personnel.
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| ordinary camps. In areas that experience
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| | Why people backpack
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| a regular traffic of backpackers, a
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| | People are drawn to backpacking primarily
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| hike-in camp might have a fire ring and a
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| | for recreation, to explore places that
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| small wooden bulletin board with a map
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| | they consider beautiful and fascinating,
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| and some warning or information signs.
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| | many of which cannot be accessed in any
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| Many hike-in camps are no more than level
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| | other way. A backpacker can travel deeper
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| patches of ground without scrub or
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| | into remote areas, away from people and
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| underbrush. In very remote areas,
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| | their effects, than a day-hiker can.
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| established camps do not exist at all,
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| | However, backpacking presents more
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| and travelers must choose appropriate
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| | advantages besides distance of travel.
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| camps themselves.
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| | Many weekend trips cover routes that
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| In some places, backpackers have access
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| | could be hiked in a single day, but
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| to lodging that are more substantial than
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| | people choose to backpack them anyway,
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| a tent. In the more remote parts of Great
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| | for the experience of staying overnight.
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| Britain, bothies exist to provide simple
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| | These possibilities come with
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| (free) accommodation for backpackers.
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| | disadvantages. The weight of a pack,
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| Another example is the High Sierra Camps
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| | laden with supplies and gear, forces
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| in Yosemite National Park. Mountain huts
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| | backpackers to travel more slowly than
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| provide similar accommodation in other
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| | day-hikers would, and it can become a
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| countries, so being a member of a
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| | nuisance and a distraction from enjoying
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| mountain hut organization is advantageous
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| | the scenery. In addition, camp chores
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| (perhaps required) to make use of their
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| | (such as pitching camp, breaking camp,
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| facilities. On other trails (e.g. the
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| | and cooking) can easily consume several
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| Appalachian Trail) there are somewhat
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| | hours every day.
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| more established shelters of a sort that
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| | Backpackers face many risks, including
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| offer a place for weary hikers to spend
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| | adverse weather, difficult terrain,
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| the night without needing to set up a
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| | treacherous river crossings, and hungry
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| tent.
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| | or unpredictable animals (although the
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| Most backpackers purposely try to avoid
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| | perceived danger from wild animals
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| impacting on the land through which they
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| | usually greatly exceeds the true risk).
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| travel. This includes following
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| | They are subject to illnesses, which run
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| established trails as much as possible,
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| | the gamut from simple dehydration to heat
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| not removing anything, and not leaving
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| | exhaustion, hypothermia, altitude
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| residue in the backcountry. The Leave No
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| | sickness, and physical injury. The
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| Trace movement offers a set of guidelines
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| | remoteness of backpacking locations
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| for low-impact backpacking ("Leave
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| | exacerbates any mishap. However, these
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| nothing but footprints. Take nothing but
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| | hazards do not deter backpackers who are
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| photos. Kill nothing but time.").
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| | properly prepared. Some simply accept
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| Professional backpacking
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| | danger as a risk that they must endure if
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| For some people, backpacking is a
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| | they want to backpack; for others, the
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| necessary and integral part of their job.
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| | potential dangers actually enhance the
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| In the military a framed backpack is
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| | allure of the wilderness.
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