Backpacking is not for the faint of heart. Backpacking requires days and nights to be spent in the great outdoors. Cooking is completed over campfires and small stoves. At night, you curl up in a sleeping bag listening to the wind rustle the leaves and the sound of the forest and its animals. There is nothing between you and nature, and there are definitely no luxuries while hiking. Aside from what you can carry on your back, there is nothing else on hand. This may mean that instead of the daily shower you are use to, you will be subjected to days of cold water or no bathing at all. Yes, backpacking can be tough, but it is 100% worth the effort. Kirk’s Mountain Adventures offers guided backpacking trips in Estes Park for beginners that want to experience the great outdoors.

Packing for a backpacking trip takes a little skill and a lot of planning. When you are out in the wilderness, there is no place to stop and pick up supplies. What you bring is what you use for safety, meals, bedding, etc. Depending on the length of your trip and the size of your pack, there are essentials that you cannot do without:

Backpacking Essentials

• Tent

• Sleeping bag

• Sleeping pad

• Emergency blanket

• Extra clothing

• Food, 1-2 days extra

• Water, water bottles, water purifier

• Safety supplies; assorted bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, antihistamines, medical tape, ointment, etc.

• Navigation tools; compass, map, GPS

• Sun protection; glasses, sunscreen, SPF lip balm, long sleeve shirts, hat

• Light

• Matches and/or fire starter

• Mirror and whistle

• Knife/axe

Guided backpacking trips in Estes Park make getting into this activity much easier. With a professional guide you will see and experience things that you otherwise may not have. Our guides can also help you prepare for your upcoming adventure, so give Kirk’s Mountain Adventures a call today and start building a backpacking checklist.