Ten Skills - A Backpacking List

Did you ever have a backpacking trip that was a disaster - even though you brought all the things you thought you needed? Perhaps you had matches, but couldn't get that fire going, or the tent was blown down by the wind. More than good gear is necessary to assure a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience. You need to learn a few skills, and the following list will get you started.

1. Firemaking. Practice in your yard if you can, and try to start that fire with one match. Try it when it's raining too.

2. Tent pitching. Pitch it wrong and the rain will come in, or the the wind will tear the seams. Tents need to be pitched tight, and you need to be able to set your tent up in a few minutes.

3. Staying warm. Camp in the yard, to learn how blocking the wind, wearing a hat, and eating fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.

4. Cooking over a fire. It's not as easy as it sometimes seems. Learn to block the wind, cover the pan, keep the fire small and concentrated. Learn speed. Faster is better in a jam, and it's possible your stove will break.

5. Edible plant identification. Knowing cattails and three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.

6. Walking well. Learn how to pace yourself and how to move comfortably over rocky terrain, and you'll be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle.

7. Recognize animal behavior. How do you tell if a bear is "bluff charging" or stalking you? With the latter, playing dead will make you a bear's supper. A clue: lots of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you, but you should read up on this one.

8. Sky watching. Is a lightning storm coming or not? It could be useful to know when you're on that ridge. Learn basic weather predicting, and you'll be backpacking more safely.

9. Basic first aid. How do you recognize the symptoms of hypothermia? Can you properly treat blisters? These are good things to know.

10. Navigation. Maps won't help if you don't know how to use them, and the same is true for compasses.

You don't need to become an expert in wilderness survival to have a safe and enjoyable hiking trip. Knowing a little more can help, though. Start with the backpacking skills list above, and learn something new now and then.