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