Looking to start backpacking? Gear tips, meal planning and trails for beginners
Are you planning your first backpacking trip? Let The Sacramento Bee help you figure out the best way to carry your (temporary) home on your back.
Whether it is meal planning or how to keep good hygiene in the wilderness, our guide can help.
Here’s what to know:
What goes in your backpack
In order to carry everything you need for the journey it’s important to only bring the essentials. REI has released a guide to help new backpackers on what to pack. According to the outdoor store your gear should not exceed roughly 20% of your body weight. So pack light and take a close look at the list of items recommended taking on your trip.
- Backpack: Pick a backpack that fits the length of your torso for maximum comfort. Additionally, find one that features pockets, a rain cover and other positive features.
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Tent: Make sure the tent is lightweight and waterproof.
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Stove and fuel
- Kitchen supplies
- Plenty of food
- Water bottles and water-treatment supplies
- Weather-appropriate clothing: This includes light-weight pants, a rain jacket, moisture-wicking underwear, long-sleeve shirts and extra socks.
- First Aid kit
- Hygiene supplies
- Small repair kit
How to best pack meals for your trip
How much food should you bring , and how can you pack several meals without weighing yourself down? According to REI, factors determining how much food to bring include the intensity of your activity, your own size and weight, how many calories you burn and how many days you’ll be out.
You should expect to bring 1.5 pounds to 2.5 pounds of food per person per day. This equals about 2,500 to 4,500 calories per day.
Here is a list of tips to keep in mind when packing food:
- Bring what you like to eat: Take comfort food that you love and will look forward to enjoying at the end of a long hike.
- Pack a variety of food: Make sure to add a balance of flavors including salty, sour and sweet as well as different textures. Your meals should have a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Pack lightweight versions of food: Instant rice, noodles and pasta. Many outdoor stores have created a variety of dehydrated meals from mushroom risotto to pad Thai. You can also check online for these foodstuffs.
- Fresh foods: It’s important to include fresh food such as hard cheeses, bread, nuts and seeds.
- Bring spices: Spices are lightweight and can dramatically improve your meals.
How to keep yourself clean on your trip
Here is REI’s guide for how to respectfully move around nature while keeping yourself clean and safe.
- Water filter/purifier or chemical treatment
- Hand sanitizer
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Toilet paper/wipes and sealable bag
- Menstrual products
- Insect repellent
- Urinary products
- Blister treatment supplies
- Prescription medications
- Sunscreen
Beginner-friendly trails in Northern California
Northern California is home to many trails for new backpackers, according to California High Sierra. Some locations require backpackers to obtain a permit in order to use the trail(s).
Winnemucca Lake
- Distance: 5 miles
- Elevation: 600 feet
Five Lakes
- Distance: 5 miles
- Elevation: 1,200 feet
Barney and Ducks Lakes
- Distance: 10 to 12 miles
- Elevation: 1,170 feet up to 3,300 feet
Bull Run and Heiser Lakes
- Distance: 8 to 9 miles
- Elevation: 1,479 feet
Loch Leven Lakes
- Distance: 8 miles
- Elevation: 1,600 feet
