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