4 Things Every Adventurer Should Know

So you want to take more adventures . . .

New to wilderness adventure? No worries! Everyone starts somewhere. Don't feel embarrassed if you're just getting started.

Trips Don't Have to Be Expensive

It’s true! Camping, backpacking, overlanding, and travel, in general, doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a few things that you can do to lower the cost of outdoor adventures.

If you’re just getting started, buying used gear or borrowing gear from a friend can be super helpful. Buying used not only makes it more affordable to acquire essential equipment, it is also a great way to try out gear that you haven’t used before. Check out topic-specific forums, REI’s used gear Garage Sale, Gear Trade, and Craigslist to help build your gear bank.

You can also lower expenses by choosing equipment that better suits your needs. When you first start out, buying gear that does more than you need it to is unnecessarily expensive. For example, if you’re just getting into backpacking, you probably don’t need a Jetboil that boils water in 100 seconds. Instead, a lightweight pot by GSI might be more affordable. Opting for basic gear that gets the job done can reduce costs, allowing you to get exploring more often!

Planning is Key

While you shouldn’t plan every minute detail of your trip, a little bit of planning is necessary when traveling. In many situations, it is crucial to know local regulations. Many National Forests require fire permits or have regions that limit where you can have fires. Not having these permits beforehand can limit your experience. It is much better to be prepared and to know a little about the location you’re heading to ahead of time. Try to have all of your base necessities planned out before arriving. Things like sleeping arrangements, having a general plan for food, and having a basic understanding of the area you’re in is helpful to have sorted out.

That being said, it’s also important to leave some wiggle room for unplanned exploration. Spontaneously doing things can lead to your own unique discoveries. How much time you want to dedicate to unplanned activities is up to you!

Talk with Locals

If you’re hoping to get an authentic feel for an area, you should definitely be talking with the locals. Connecting with residents and regulars is a great way to discover local gems. Whether it’s a great restaurant recommendation or a trail you can’t skip out on, talking with people who know the area opens up a lot of doors for you.

Don’t forget to connect with the visitors around you as well. Out camping? Talk and visit with neighboring campsites to see what they’ve been up to. You may get a lead on some spectacular local trails. See a bunch of cars in a pull-out at Yellowstone? Always ask what all the hubbub is for! You never know what they’re looking at, there could easily be an animal tucked away in the brush.

Don’t just get a surface view of the area you’re traveling to, converse with locals and regulars to figure out the best game plan for your weekend. Talking with the people around you is also a great way to make new friends!

It's Ok to Be New

Last, but not least, don’t be embarrassed about being the newbie. You shouldn’t be intimidated by people with more experience because we’ve all been there! There are plenty of people new to the world of outdoor adventure and the barrier to entry can be as low as you set it. Whether it’s backpacking, camping, fishing, or hiking, there are plenty of groups, pages, and people willing to help.

One of the biggest resources for beginners are online groups and forums. There are lots of helpful online communities such as REI’s Expert Advice columns, Facebook groups, and backpacking forums (to name a few). You can search for terms like “backpacking for beginners”, “budget backpacking gear”, or “beginners camping kit” on Google to easily find articles and information about the topics you want to know more about!

Another resource helpful to beginners are friends and in-person groups. The first couple of trips can be made easier by going with people who have more experience than yourself. In addition to this, doing some pre-travel research can be helpful in making your adventure go more smoothly.

With all four of these, you should be ready to kick off your next adventure! I hope that you feel inspired and confident about getting out there and chasing some mountains!

Let me know, are you a beginner? Did you already know these tricks? Start a conversation in the comments!