How to Actually Prepare for Backcountry Camping

Backcountry camping differs from camping at a developed campground. You have no parking lot, just twenty feet from your tent. There are no bathroom facilities. There are no rangers next door in case of an emergency. Everything you need is on your back, and the nearest road could be miles away.

This is also why people love it. However, this means preparation is required, which means camping for fun does not need to be stressful. It’s not merely uncomfortable if you forget something; it could be a life-or-death situation.

You Need to Be Physically Prepared

The first thing most people get wrong about backcountry camping is not understanding the physicality involved; it’s camp on the go, meaning you’re hiking for miles just to your destination while carrying everything you need. Once at camp, setting up, searching for water, and general daily activities require more hiking and steep inclines at altitude, so most people do not have the physique necessary to accommodate a sedentary office life.

Start your condition at least a month before the trip. Put on weight (start small, 20-30 lbs) and start hiking. Gradually add weight and distance. This is not just cardiovascular fitness, but also understanding which boots chafe, how your pack distributes weight, and whether your shoulders can support it.

You want to find out now if that new pack that looked great in the store is painful five miles into your hike, not in the backcountry where you’re miles away from civilization.

You Should Know Where You’re Going

Backcountry preparation begins with research. Get detailed maps – topographical, not just a quickly taken screenshot on your phone. Get familiar with the high and low elevations, watering holes (or lack thereof), where you might camp, and where your “bailout” option is should you have to turn around due to weather or injury.

Research what wildlife lives there, what risks, if any, exist, and what type of weather patterns occur at this time of year. Are permits needed? Fire restrictions?

Many common backcountry areas require permits well in advance, as they’re limited; fire restrictions are common during dry conditions, meaning your cooking accommodations will need to rely on those.

Gear That Actually Matters

Too often, people focus on the latest ultralight gear for backcountry camping. While certain items are critical and specialized, preparation itself requires items that can be trusted in all situations (not just the fanciest).

Shelter, sleep system, water purification, food, first aid, navigation, and fire-starting ability are all necessary items. Anything else is either comfort or redundancy.

Shelters should withstand what weather you’re likely to face – not just what the forecast says when you leave town. Sleeping bags should be rated for temperatures at least 10 degrees below the expected coldest temperature. You need both a primary (filter or chemical) and a secondary (backpack) method for water purification. Food should fulfill the expected calorie intake without complicated preparations.

If you’re combining camping with other sports/adventures/activities, bring applicable gear as needed. If you’re hunting or need protection against dangerous wildlife or mammals, pack an over-under shotgun, which is versatile enough for various applications without adding excessive weight.

You Need to Test Everything Before You Go

The backcountry is not the best place to discover that your tent has no stakes, your stove doesn’t work, or your water filter has broken. Set up everything you plan to take home or to a local park before your trip.

Pitch the tent. Start up the stove. Attempt to filter water. Make sure zippers are intact, poles are not cracked, parts are accounted for, and everything is functional. This seems like common sense, but countless people show up at trailheads with gear they’ve never used before.

Make your first meal on your camping stove with the food you’re bringing. If you’re planning on freeze-dried meals for the week, make sure you actually like them and they’re worth enough calories – caloric intake increases significantly during backcountry travel. If there’s food you’d eat at home but wouldn’t here, you’ll be sad you brought it.

Final Water Considerations

Water is HEAVY – 8 lbs per gallon – as such, you’re not going to lug 4 gallons of water for a 4-day trip, but you’re going to need a method to collect and purify water on route.

Get familiar with your maps and research various methods of collecting water – streams, lakes, springs – but recognize they might not be available depending upon the time of year or season; that creek in June may be bone dry by August – have alternatives.

Bring at least two methods of purification: a filter can clog or break; chemical tablets work but take time; boiling (obviously) is the safest option, but requires fuel. At least have two methods so something doesn’t fail and leave you with a questionable water supply.

Communication Before Communication Is Not Available

Cell service is rarely available in the backcountry. Before leaving, tell someone precisely where you’re going and which way you’re heading; give them a time frame for return (stating “I’m going camping somewhere in Colorado” won’t help anyone if you never return).

Consider bringing a satellite communicator, should the worst come to worst; these devices can send messages and request help regardless of location; they’re pricey, but so are search-and-rescue missions or being left alone with a critical injury.

Prepare For Sudden Weather Changes

Mountain weather can change within hours: a sunny moment could turn into a thunderstorm the next, or into snow at higher elevations.

Your gear and accommodations should account for worse-than-forecasted weather; bring layers so adjustments can be made; rain gear is an absolute MUST – not an optional component; if the forecast looks pristine, it means nothing – hypothermia can settle quickly in semi-warm temperatures if you’re wet from rain or sweat and fatigued.

Bailout plans are critical; if the weather gets too dangerous where you are or if you’re unsure where you’re supposed to be going, sometimes it’s better to cut your losses than fight through peril.

First Aid Reality

First aid in the backcountry is NOT about little scrapes; it’s about life-threatening situations until you can return to civilization – if it’s only days later – so assess reality.

Take wilderness first aid courses before you go – these teach you how to treat injuries, illnesses, and critical situations when you can’t access a hospital; book smarts are better educated through hands-on learning.

Create a first aid kit based on realistic scenarios: blisters from too-long walks/hikes, sprains from downed branches/stumbling/super steep inclines; cuts which need to be sealed up (ultrachloride), burns from campfires or stoves, allergic reactions from unaccounted-for pollen/mosquitoes/etc; pain relief for discomfort long before rescue. Bring multiple doses of personal-use medications just in case you’re gone longer than expected.

When To Go

Be honest with yourself: if you’ve never backpacked before – for your first trip ever – you don’t want it to be a solo week-long venture into unknown backcountry.

Start small—and work up—camp overnight with friends in a well-trafficked area. Learn your tolerance levels. Test your equipment/system out. Find comfort before taking this on alone or attempting something too big, too soon.

The backcountry will always be there when you’re good enough and have enough experience under your belt to take it all on – with sufficient preparation, it all comes together and becomes adventure instead of disaster.