Let me share my first backcountry hiking experience, from how I prepared to how I felt afterward. Let’s dive in!
At the end of August 2024, I accomplished my first backcountry hike, which had been on my bucket list for this summer. I’m writing this three days after the hike, and my body is still sore. But it was the best experience of my summer.
This trip was my biggest goal of the year. Last year, I hiked a mountain called Golden Ears Summit, and near the top, there was a campsite with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, located at 1,700 meters. That view stuck with me. I decided then that I had to come back for a backcountry camping experience.
Back then, I had no knowledge of backcountry camping—I didn’t even own a tent. I had just started hiking that summer of 2023. But as I stood at the summit, I knew I needed to stay there one day to see the sunset from that panoramic view. So, I began gathering information about camping and started buying the necessary gear.
Preparing for the Adventure: Gearing Up for the Trip
This whole summer, I focused on preparing. I bought a tent, sleeping bag, mat, and cooking utensils. It took me a while because the gear was quite expensive, and I ended up spending around $1,000. Since I was new to backcountry hiking, I had to ask questions and do my research on which camping gear was best. My priority wasn’t to buy cheap gear, but rather to get the best quality within my budget and ensure the gear would last a long time. I knew if I went too cheap, I’d probably regret it and want to upgrade later. Here’s what I ended up buying:
- Tent: MSR Hubba Hubba
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
The tent was the heaviest item, so I wanted to get the lightest one I could afford. The MSR Hubba Hubba weighs 1.4 kg for two people, which seemed ideal based on my research. If I wanted anything lighter, it would’ve doubled in price. Other gear I bought from Mountain Warehouse because they had a 30% off sale—couldn’t resist!
The Big Day: Setting Out on the Trail
With everything prepared, let me take you through the actual hike.
We started hiking at 8:30 in the morning. The air in the forest was crisp. The first 6 kilometers were pretty easy, not too steep, which was good for adjusting to the over 10 kg I was carrying in my pack.
Then, we hit the steepest part of the trail. After a tough climb, we finally reached the campsite at 2:30 in the afternoon. It took us about six hours to get there. By the time we arrived, there were already tons of tents set up, so we might’ve been a bit late in getting the best spot.
We set up our tent at the campground. It was an incredibly hot day, and with no clouds in the sky, there was no shade to hide from the sun. After setting up, we rested a bit, had an early dinner, and then began the final hike to the summit, which took about an hour.
To be honest, that pasta we had for dinner was absolutely amazing!
The view from the summit was breathtaking. We arrived just as the sun was setting, and we watched as the sky transitioned from blue to light pink, then orange, and finally to the deep blue of dusk. It was exactly what I had been dreaming of for a year. The view was beyond words.
Afterward, we returned to the campsite, where I had ramen and whiskey with salami—the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. That moment felt surreal. As I looked out at the vast wilderness, I realized how insignificant humanity feels in the face of nature’s greatness. It was a powerful feeling.
That was my first backcountry experience. It was tough, but absolutely worth it.
