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I recently went on my first ever overnight backpacking trip to Mt. Yonah in North Georgia. I grew up camping, but I had always done “truck camping.” Not “glamping.” But sleep in a tent, get away from technology, cook over charcoal, wakeup in Georgia humidity wondering why everything is now damp camping. So when my friends approached me about backpacking I felt like this would be a piece of cake. Why wouldn’t it? The only real difference is that everything I would need for two nights would be carried one and a half miles up hill on my back.
So I packed up my backpack. I was so proud of my ability to roll my clothes and stuff everything I would need for three days into this pack that I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. We parked the truck, and my boyfriend lifted my pack up, so I could slip into it. The second I was strapped in, and he let go. I realized that backpacking was NOTHING like “truck camping.”
One mile and a half up the mountain in the dark accompanied by plenty of complaining from my end, we found our friends waiting for us at the campsite. I haven’t felt that accomplished in a very long time! Along the way I learned these 10 seemingly obvious yet mind-blowing at the time things.
1.You can never have enough water. (Anyone have any good camping filtration systems?)
2. Cleaning is much more difficult with limited water.
3. Everything in moderation. Just because you can pack, eat and drink it, doesn’t mean you should.
4. Headlamps in the woods = headlights on the road.
5. Staying in shape helps prepare you for life. (You never know when you’ll need to carry everything up a mountain.)
6. Don’t let a fear of heights ruin an epic moment. (Even if you tear up for a second.)
7. Just because you’re a pyro, doesn’t mean you know how to build a fire.
8. A chair IS worth it, but a hammock is more fun.
9. Take the picture, or you will regret it later.
10. There is nothing better than great friends, being in nature and hanging out where you don’t have reception!
Have you ever been backpacking? Any favorite spots to share?
Just Getting Started 