Author: Dylan

9 Best Salty Hiking Snacks

Post author By Dylan
Post date March 24, 2022

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9 Best Salty Hiking Snacks:

Whenever out on the trail, you need to make sure you are correctly refueling! I can talk about hiking and backpacking food all day, but let’s focus on salty snacks for now. We will go over the best salty snacks for hiking and why they are so essential to have when hiking.

Why You Should Eat Salty Snacks When Hiking:

Whenever performing an aerobic exercise such as hiking, you will burn calories and sweat. Therefore you need to ensure you are taking in adequate nutrients and water to match what your body is using up.

Sidebar- if you want to learn how to treat and carry your water when backpacking/hiking, check out this article.

Salty snacks are especially important because they help replenish the precious electrolytes we lose through sweating while also providing calorie & nutrient dense to keep our energy up when hiking.

What Nutrients Should You Have In Your Salty Hiking Snacks?

When you are in the grocery store picking up your last-minute snacks for your hiking trip, you want to grab snacks with a good nutrition profile. Specifically, what you want are snacks that are:

Calorie & nutrient-dense: We want foods that pack a ton of calories and provide great nutritional value! Check out this article to learn more about calorie & nutrient-dense foods.
High in sodium (aka salt): Replete those electrolytes!
High in fiber: To help you go when on the go!
Lots of carbs: Carbs are your friend when on the trail!

Best Salty Hiking Snacks:

Okay, now for what you have all been waiting for here is my entirely subjective list on the best salty snacks for hiking:

Pretzels
Peanuts
Trailmix
Granola bars
Snickers
Justin’s peanut butter
Energy Chews
Crackers
Beef jerky

Pretzels

I go for a gluten-free option (because, celiac disease 🙁 ). These guys are salty and contain straight-up carbs. The only downside is that it is so easy for them to get crushed to bits in your pack!

Nuts

Nuts are super salty, rich in fats and protein, and come in various options, but my personal favorite is Trader Joe’s roasted almonds!

Trail Mix

These are one of my faves, and they can contain ANYTHING! Chocolates, raisins, peanuts, fruit, you name it, there’s a trail mix for it, and if not, you can make your own!

Granola Bars

One of the most popular snack options for hikers, and for good reason. Granola bars are a calorie and nutrient-dense food, with many brands available to choose from. I have always been a fan of Clif bars and will be to the day I die. They have a ton of flavor options, nutrients and are affordable, especially if you buy in bulk!

Snickers

I know what you might be thinking, why would I eat candy when I am doing a healthy activity like hiking? Remember, you are burning tons of calories when hiking or backpacking, so foods like snickers that are packed with sugars, calories, and salt are helpful to have on a long-distance hike. Also, come on, they taste amazing.

Justin's Nut Butter

Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, oh my! Justin’s offers a variety of flavors with these on-the-go pouches. These little guys can be either a great addition to your morning oatmeal or can be enjoyed on their own straight out of the packet. While they are a bit more expensive, the taste is more than worth it.

Energy Chews

These gummies are specifically designed for endurance activities and come jam-packed with all your essential electrolytes and sugars needed for a long hike! The added bonus of these is that they are super small and easy to pack.

Crackers

Throw some peanut butter, cheese, or spread of your choice on these salty snacks, and you have an excellent mini-meal for whenever you need to stop and take a break. Again, avoid placing them at the bottom of the pack; otherwise, they will become dust.

Beef Jerky

High protein and salt content make this salty snack an excellent choice for your next hike. Warning not vegetarian!

Best Way To Pack Your Hiking Snacks:

Okay, now that you have your snacks, the last thing we have to do is pack them in our pack. The biggest piece of advice I can give is DO NOT put snacks in a rigid plastic container directly in your pack. These types of containers are bulky and take up unnecessary space.

To avoid this common pitfall, switch your snacks from their containers to a ziplock bag, so you don’t have to deal with bulky containers when packing your backpack.

Don't Forget To Properly Store And Dispose Of Your Food!

Make sure that you are following leave no trace principles, properly storing your food, and packing out your trash when on the trail. Check out our “how to store food while backpacking” post to learn more!

Tell Me, What Are Some Of Your Favorite Hiking Snacks?

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Backpacking Nightmare. 8 Biggest Backpacking Mistakes From My First Trek

Post author By Dylan
Post date March 9, 2022

backpacking nightmare my 8 biggest backpacking mistakes

Backpacking Nightmare | 8 Biggest Backpacking Mistakes From My First Trek

Holy crap, what did I get myself into?

I just wanted to catch some cool mountain views. Now I’m cold, sore, and my lips are bleeding. These were some of the thoughts going through my head during my very first backpacking trip. It turns out dropping a city boy in the middle of the wilderness without proper gear or preparation doesn’t go smoothly. Who knew?

My first backpacking trip was about five years ago. Prior to this I grew up in Long Island suburbia and spent my young adulthood in New York City. I was not an outdoorsman by any means.

So when my friend Joe, an experienced backpacker, asked me and our friend tom to go on our first backpacking trip, I was a little intimidated. But I figured how hard could it be?

Since neither Tom nor I had any experience backpacking, Joe sent us a list of the backpacking gear we needed for the trip, told us to get in shape, and assured us that he would walk us through the skills when we were on the trail.

We planned a three-night, four-day backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park. Let me tell you. I made many mistakes throughout this trip which left me cold, uncomfortable, and sore. While I still had a great time, this trip would be a nightmare for some and there are a lot of things I would have done differently. So I figured let me share some of my beginner backpacking mistakes with you guys, so maybe you can avoid making the same ones as me!

Backpacking Mistake #1 Missing Raingear (no rainfly for my tent):

We spent the night before the start of our backpacking adventure on a front-country campsite, and as I finish setting up my tent, Joe goes, “dude, where is your rainfly?”

“Rainfly? What do you mean?” Says I, the dumb city boy.

Joe explains that we will encounter rain on and off throughout the trip , and I need a rainfly to cover the outside of my tent. Without one, if it rains, both my gear and I would get soaking wet. This meant that my tent was essentially useless.

Fortunately for me and unfortunately for Tom, Tom had a two-person tent which meant that the two of us were getting cozy for the next three nights!

Backpacking Mistake #2 No Sleeping Pad:

That’s right. You know that thing you need to sleep on so you are not sleeping on rocks? Well, I slept without that.

Slept might be a stretch, more like I stared up at the ceiling of my, oh wait, no Tommy’s tent for three nights straight. By the end of this trip, I was tired, and my back was killing me from lying on the hard ground.

GET A GOOD SLEEPING PAD! It is more than worth the investment. A good night’s sleep will allow you to recover and enjoy your next day of hiking, and a bad one will leave you tired, sore, and cranky!

Backpacking Mistake #3 Hiking Out Of Shape:

I was no-neck-ed at this phase of my life, spending a ton of time weightlifting and avoiding cardio like the plague, so when I had to do an aerobic activity like hiking 10+ miles a day, I was in pain.

After just one mile, I asked how much longer we had to go, and when I heard ten more miles. I was devastated my precious biceps were doing me no good here!

Next lesson, you need to be in the proper shape for the distances you plan on hiking. The proper shape means good aerobic fitness. Activities such as running, long walks, or cycling can help improve your endurance for a long hiking trip. Don’t be like me. Prepare for your hike, so your legs don’t hate you.

Backpacking Mistake #4 No Trekking Poles:

But this one was terrible because, before our trip, Joe explicitly asked me if I bought the hiking poles he recommended. I laughed at him and said, “what do I need to buy hiking poles for? I got two right here!” pointing to my legs.

Fast forward to just our second day of hiking, we are climbing a steep uphill section of the trail, and Joe sees me struggling with the ascent. Like any friend would do, he proceeded to let me know how dumb I am for not listening to him and then let me use one of his hiking poles.

Yep, I’m a knucklehead. But I have learned my lesson and now I wouldn’t dare go on a backpacking trip without my hiking poles. I recommend them for anyone going on a backpacking trip no matter their age or skill level. Hiking poles help you keep your balance, hike faster, and take a load off your knees.

Backpacking Mistake #5 No Camp Shoes:

The gear blunders continue. At the time, I didn’t even know what camp shoes were, so I sure as heck didn’t bring them on our trip. But boy, I wish I did!

After each day of hiking, all I wanted to do was get out of my boots and slip into some comfortable sandals. Alas, I didn’t bring camp shoes. So at the end of each day, I had to either walk around in the cold barefoot or keep my sore feet in the same boots I’ve been hiking in for the past 8 hours.

Get a pair of camp shoes. They are inexpensive and an essential.

I’m sure you can probably tell by now, but gear preparation is crucial for any backpacking trip. Check out some of my recommendations on my “Backpacking Gear Guide.”

Backpacking Mistake #6 No Chapstick:

I didn’t even imagine this could be an issue, and it may not be a big problem for most of you. But for me, it turns out once I start hitting higher elevation, my lips chap, BADLY.

I’m not talking about just some dry lips. Oh no, these puppies look like they were put through a meat grinder. My lips were so chapped that they were straight-up bleeding for three of the four days while we were hiking. It was very uncomfortable, and I do not recommend it.

After this trip, I never leave my house, let alone a backpacking trip without chapstick on me.

Backpacking Mistake #7 Overpacking:

If you read this far, you can see that I was pretty unprepared and forgot to bring a lot of necessary gear. Tommy’s biggest backpacking mistake was that he overpacked BIG-TIME.

Jeans, hairbrush, and hair gel are just a few of the absurd things Tom brought on this trip. He brought so many nice clothes hiking we thought he had a Tinder date in the woods. The worst part about this was that I had to carry his extra things that wouldn’t fit in his pack! I can’t complain too much though, seeing as I was squatting in his tent the entire trip.

But I digress, the point is when you are backpacking, you need to find the balance of bringing all of your essential gear but not overpacking to the point where your pack is too heavy, and your friend is stuck carrying your hair gel!

Backpacking Mistake #8 No GPS:

This was a mistake that all of us made. While we expected to encounter rain during our trek, we did not anticipate snow.

We encountered a blizzard on the top of a mountain pass during our trek, which completely covered the trail. After several attempts searching for the trail, we still could not find it. This situation quickly became dangerous as the footprints we made were getting covered by the snowfall as soon as we were making them.

Fortunately, we got lucky and finally stumbled onto the trail, but this is a situation where having a GPS device such as a Garmin watch would have been extremely helpful to help us navigate the snow-covered path.

Also, it is worth mentioning that If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to pick up the trail confidently, it is a good idea to go back to your original path and head back. Safety should always be your number one priority whenever in the backcountry.

All In All Still A Fun Trip!

Believe it or not, despite all of these mishaps and uncomfortable moments, my first backpacking trip was still an incredible experience. While I did forget many important things on my first adventure, I did not forget a positive attitude!

It’s corny, but I always like comparing hiking as a metaphor for life. There will always be difficult moments, but if you take the time to appreciate the beauty around you, it becomes way more enjoyable.

If you are new to backpacking and want to learn some of the basics to avoid many of the pitfalls I ran into, you should check out my article “How To Start Backpacking A Beginners Guide By A City Boy.”

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How To Start Backpacking | A Beginners Guide By A City Boy

Post author By Dylan
Post date March 6, 2022

How To Start Backpacking | A Beginners Guide By A City Boy:

Hello friends! Since you are here, you must be looking to take a dive into backpacking (hiking in the backcountry not city hopping in europe). You’re right to be interested. Backpacking is an incredible way to get out of a stuffy city / boring suburb, unplug from social media, and explore some of the most remote areas of the world while connecting with nature.

Starting backpacking can be a daunting endeavor, especially if you are like I was and have no prior experience. But do not let this intimidate you. With the proper practice and preparation, you can enjoy an awesome backpacking trip too. Trust me. If I, a New Yorker without any hiking or camping experience, can learn how to backpack, so can you!

While backpacking is no walk in the park, proper outdoor skills, gear, and preparation are essential. It is more than worth the time and money invested, as these trips give you experiences that you will carry for the rest of your life.

Where Do I Start?

I find that there are two different approaches to get started backpacking:

Jump right in and learn as you go.
Take your time to gain experience, skills, and gear prior to embarking on your first backpacking trip.

Jump Right In And Learn How To Backpack As You Go:

Let me start by saying I DO NOT mean show up on a trail without any gear, skills, guidance, or preparation and go for it. That is dumb and dangerous. You need to know some of the basics or at least be hiking with a friend who knows what they are doing, so your first backpacking experience is a safe one.

In my case, although I had little to no prior experience hiking or camping, I had a friend who had backpacked all his life with me on my first trip and showed me the ropes.

There was still a steep learning curve, and I made A LOT of mistakes, having some very uncomfortable moments. But experience is one of the best teachers, and with each mistake, whether it be gear selection, skill or preparation, I learned and took that lesson with me on my next backpacking trip.

This approach isn’t for everyone. There is a lot of trial and error, and like myself you may have some uncomfortable nights sleeping and days hiking. But if you can keep positive outlook jumping right in is a great way to immerse yourself and learn quickly.

Build Up For Your First Backpacking Trip:

For those of you who prefer taking things slowly and want to avoid some of the common pitfalls of beginner backpackers building up your skills, gear, and experience is a great way to start backpacking.

This approach allows you to get a bunch of experience before heading out on the trail and will likely make your first backpacking trip a bit more comfortable than if you jump right into the experience.

First Start Hiking!

The first step to get started with backpacking is to get out and hike! It doesn’t need to be anything crazy long or difficult. Just go to a local park or nature preserve, pick a trail, grab a map and compass, and start hiking. Getting day hikes under your belt before going on a backpacking trip helps with the following:

Gets you in hiking shape: Hiking consistently will build a solid aerobic base which is essential to get into good backpacking shape. Keep in mind when you are on a backpacking trip, you are hiking long distances day after day with a full pack on, so your fitness preparation shouldn’t be taken lightly. You can consider hiking with a full pack to help you prepare for the extra weight you will be carrying with you when backpacking.
Allows you to practice basic outdoor skills: Spending more time walking on trails also helps familiarize yourself with some of the basic backpacking skills such as trail finding, navigation, and leaving no trace. These skills along with others are foundational for backpacking and should be honed before entering the backcountry.

Buy The Right Gear:

Having the right gear is an absolute must for any backpacking trip. Here are my tips when it comes to backpacking gear:

Create a gear list
Purchase High-quality gear
Know how to use all of your gear

Create A Backpacking Gear List:

Every backpacker needs to have a gear checklist listing everything needed for your backpacking trip, including the ten essentials. Having a physical list to reference will help prevent you from forgetting things on your journey. Keep in mind that different backpacking trips may require different kinds of equipment depending on:

The type of environment you are hiking in:
- Desert regions may need more water storage.
- Rainy areas may require extra rain gear, such as rain pants.
- Snow may require snow gear such as crampons, ice axes, or snowshoes.
How long you are hiking: the shorter duration of the hike the smaller of a pack you can use as you will need less space for food, extra clothes etc.

Check out my backpacking gear checklist if you’re not sure what to bring.

Purchase High-Quality Gear:

Alright, this one is big. Get nice gear. DO NOT be like me and get the cheapest equipment you can find. Sometimes you can get away with it, but odds are it will be crap and cost you more money in the long run with buying replacements. I strongly recommend going with higher quality gear, check out our backpacking gear guide or go to your local outdoor store to get assistance with gear selection for your needs.

Know How To Use Your Backpacking Gear:

It is not enough to have the right gear, but you need to know how to use all of it too. A water filter is no good to you if you are clueless about how it works! Try to avoid using equipment for the very first time in the backcountry, test gear out at home or on a day hike to make sure that it functions properly and you know how to use it.

Learn Basic Backpacking Skills:

One of the most important steps is knowing proper backpacking skills so you can enjoy your time in the backcountry safely and responsibly. Below are some of the basic skills you MUST have before entering the backcountry:

Leave No Trace:

The golden rule of doing any activity outdoors is to leave no trace. Leave no trace is a set of principles to be followed to help preserve the integrity of whatever wilderness you are backpacking in. Whenever entering a national park or forest, your goal would be to leave the area exactly as you found it packing out any trash and adhering to the leave no trace principles. You can learn all about these principles with our article “What Are The Leave No Trace Principles?” or at lnt.org.

How To Use A Map And Compass:

While GPS devices are a great luxury to have, knowing how to use a topographic map and compass is a mandatory skill to have whenever backpacking. Sometimes technology fails and in those instances, you need to know how to navigate on your own.

How To Set Up Shelter:

No matter where you are hiking, you should have some shelter system packed to keep you protected from the elements. Especially after a long day of hiking, you should know how to set up your shelter quickly and easily so you can get some much-deserved rest. While tents and hammocks are intuitive to set up, I recommend taking the time before a trip to know the ins and outs of your shelter setup.

How To Store And Treat Water While Backpacking

We always need water. So when backpacking it is important to know how to carry and treat water to keep us hydrated. The problem we run into when backpacking is that it is not feasible to carry multiple days of water in your pack, as it would be way too heavy. Therefore you need to rely on natural water sources such as rivers and lakes to keep you hydrated when on the trail.

Since natural bodies of water run the risk of carrying harmful bacteria and microbes, you need to know how to treat your water in the backcountry properly to avoid illness from drinking contaminated drinking water. Check out our article “How To Carry And Treat Water When Backpacking / Hiking” to learn everything about carrying and treating your water on the trail!

How To Plan And Cook Your Meals:

You are burning a TON of calories whenever you go on a backpacking trip, so properly refueling is an absolute must. When backpacking, you need to plan out each days meals thoroughly and be sure to pack a bit of extra food in case of emergencies.

When planning your meals it is a good idea to bring food that is calorie dense, high in salt and is easy to carry. Typically I do oatmeal for breakfast, granola bars/trail mix/ dried fruit for lunch, and a freeze dried backpacking meal for dinner.

Also, you need to be comfortable with using a backpacking stove for cooking your meals. These stoves are typically small propane-powered devices that release fuel when attached to the tank and ignite with a clickable flint (or you can use a lighter). You should make sure you have enough fuel for your trip and practice using your stove before heading into the backcountry.

How To Store Food While Backpacking:

An essential part of leaving no trace is to know how to properly store your food while backpacking. Improper food storage can be harmful to your well-being and that of local wildlife. Let me explain…

It’s harmful to you because improper food storage can lead to your rations being eaten by wildlife. This will not only leave you without food in the remote wilderness, but it can also put you at risk for a dangerous wildlife encounter.
It’s harmful to local wildlife such as bears because once they taste human food, they are much more prone to seeking it out. This can lead to more dangerous wildlife encounters with your fellow hikers and necessitate the need for the animal to be put down by local officers.

To prevent this, you need to properly store food and odorous items using approved storage techniques for whatever park you are visiting. To get a full rundown, check out my article “How To Store Food While Backpacking.”

Basic First Aid:

Conditions on the trail can be rough at times and you will encounter minor scrapes, sprains, and injuries. Therefore it is important to have a basic first aid kit as well as working knowledge on how to manage common injuries and ailments that you may experience when backpacking.

How To Pack A Backpack For Backpacking:

A good amount of gear comes with backpacking, so it is essential to pack it efficiently to carry your pack as comfortably as possible.

To start, you should have a pack that fits you well. You want most of the weight to be on your hips and the backpack to be close to your body so it is not swinging around when hiking, which can throw you off balance.

Next, you should aim to have the heaviest items at the bottom of the pack. This will help keep the weight near your hips and prevent your backpack from being top-heavy.

One of my last tips is to avoid attaching things to the outside of your pack. Items on the outside of your backpack can become loose and fall off, leaving you without a piece of gear and littering the park! Having equipment on the outside of your pack can also dangle around when hiking, which can throw you off-center on the trail.

How To Poop While Backpacking:

Okay, now I know this one sounds crazy for my fellow city people, but yes, you will have to poop in the woods, and yes, there is a right way to do it. The above infographic gives you a brief overview, but take a look at our “how to poop while backpacking” article to learn everything you need about pooping outdoors.

Practice Your Backpacking Skills:

Okay, you got your gear and learned some of the basics. Now it’s time to put them to the test!

A great way of doing this is by going on a car camping trip. Car camping is a great way to simulate the experiences of a backpacking trip in a more controlled environment. While doing shorter day hikes and camping in the front country, you can practice essential backpacking skills, but you still have the security of being a short drive from civilization.

Another great way to practice backpacking skills is by joining an outdoor club or taking advantage of some of the REI backpacking classes!

Plan Your First Backpacking Trip:

Look at you go! You got your backpacking gear and skills down pat now all there is left to do is plan your first backpacking trip!

The steps to planning your first backpacking trip are as follows:

Pick your backpacking destination
Research your backpacking destination
Create a backpacking itinerary
Plan out travel logistics

Pick Your Backpacking Destination:

First things first, you need to get inspired and find a park/wilderness/forest that excites you and fills you with wonder (#wonderfarr)! The best way I found to do that is with pictures!

Look at those views! Don’t they make you want to go out there and explore these areas in real life?! Check out our hiking destinations for some backpacking inspo or just type in “beautiful mountains” on a google image search either way you’ll find some cool stuff!

Research Your Backpacking Destination:

Now that you picked your dream backpacking destination your next step is doing some in-depth research about where you are going.

If you are going to a national park I recommend checking out the specific national park service website or see if we made a national park guide for where you are visiting. The following are questions you should be able to answer through your research:

What is the best time of year to visit the park for backpacking?
What will the weather conditions be like for your trip?
Are there special gear considerations (extra rain gear, snow gear, extra water storage for desert conditions)?
What are the backcountry rules and regulations?
Are backcountry permits required (learn about backcountry permits here)?
Is parking easily accessible?

Plan Out Your Backpacking Itinerary:

After you have completed your general research about the area you plan on backpacking in, it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of your backpacking itinerary.

A backpacking itinerary is a day to day schedule of your backpacking trip which includes where you are entering and exiting the wilderness, which trails you will be hiking each day, and what campsites/shelters you will be camping at after each day of hiking.

You need to have a well-planned backpacking itinerary for every backpacking trip. When planning out your backpacking itinerary, some questions you need to answer during your planning include:

How many days do you plan on hiking?
How many miles and elevation gain do you want to cover each day?
What trails do you want to hike/views do you want to see during your trip?
What type of route you want to do (point to point, out and back, or loop)?
Which campsites or shelters do you plan on staying at?
How to apply for permits for your desired itinerary?

Feel free to check out some of my pre-made backpacking itineraries within our national park guides!

Review Your Backpacking Itinerary With A Park Ranger:

After you complete a rough draft of your backpacking itinerary, I recommend going over your itinerary with the park rangers. No one knows the park better than the rangers who hike it on a daily basis, so get their input before applying for backcountry permits. Keep in mind that no one knows your physical limits and ability better than you so be sure to create an itinerary suitable for your skill level.

Plan Your Travel Logistics

Okay, now we are cooking with gas! All there is left to do is plan the final travel logistics. Feel free to use our free trip planners within our national park guides for guidance. Some of the basics you will need to consider include:

Flights
Hotel stays before and after your trip
Travel insurance
Rental car insurance
Apply and get backpacking permits

Have Fun And Stay Safe!

That’s all guys! I hope this was a helpful starting point for those of you interested in backpacking. Feel free to reach out to me for any beginner backpacking questions you may have!