If this is your very first expedition into the mysterious world of backpacking, be excited. You will shortly embark
on one of the greatest experiences of your life. Great writers like Thoreau and Emerson advocated the simple an
natural existence that backpacking offers, but why? What is it about this experience that affected them so
strongly? Let's explore a few of the reasons people love backpacking so very much.
It offers a different view of nature. Ultimately when you are backpacking, it shows you how indifferent nature is
to your presence. No matter what you do, you cannot change the weather, or the sunset. You realize just how small
you are compared to the world. This perspective helps you clear your mind and appreciate the value of life.
You get to see a little something special. Backpacking permits you to get deeper into a park or recreation area, it
frees you from the crowds and allows you go beyond the tourist level. You can see wilderness undisturbed and
realize the beauty and value of nature in its most basic form.
You can appreciate the quiet. In the back country you can get away from the constant noise and bustle of modern
life. Away from the stresses and speed of motorized transport and technology, you are better able to appreciate the
true essence and nature of life. It offers a chance to realize that life isn't just about e-mails and twitter, but
the serene and beautiful experiences of sight, smell, and sound.
You can leave the stress. Getting away is one of the goals of every vacation right? But how often do you go
somewhere where you literally can't check your e-mail. It might not seem true at first, but sometimes getting
outside the 3G network is a wonderful idea.
Feel accomplished. Remember when your mom told you that if it wasn't hard it wasn't worth doing? She was right.
When you get out in the wilderness and live with just a sleeping bag or less, it proves you can do something
difficult and build independence.
This article was written by Brian Tecklenburg. He loves camping, backpacking and more. Brian trust all his
backpacking needs to www.moosejaw.com
This article offers you a simple introduction to the joys and challenges of
backpacking and camping.
When you are backpacking, you have a chance of becoming much closer to nature and
further from the tensions of modern life.
We like to think of this style of travel as "trekking". This is where you manage
to travel off the beaten track, either on your own or with one or more traveling companions.
One word of warning: If you are plannning to travel off the beaten track, make
sure that someone else knows of your plans, and take some form of emergency beacon (EPIRB) with you. This will
enable you to be found should something unforseen happen.
A recent example of the problems that arise if you don't prepare properly for your
trip relates to a search for an English backpacker in Australia. The short video below highlights the
dangers.
