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Six Good Backpacking Habits Travel Articles | August 11 Heren Nike Air Max Deluxe Metallic Zilver Wit AV7024-001 Sale , 2008
When backpacking, habits matter. A better sleeping bag may keep you a bit warmer, and a cell phone or GPS unit definitely makes a trip safer, but the things you regularly do while on the trail are jus...


When backpacking, habits matter. A better sleeping bag may keep you a bit warmer, and a cell phone or GPS unit definitely makes a trip safer, but the things you regularly do while on the trail are just as important. Here are six habits you should develop for wilderness travel.


1. Foot Care


Blisters and other foot problems are not always just painful inconveniences. If they happen far enough into a trip they can slow your hike out to the point where food runs short or you just can't continue. You may know how to treat a blister or trench foot, but good habits can prevent these from ever happening.


Make stopping several times daily to air out your feet a part of your routine. Take off your shoes and socks and set them in the sun. Pull out your insoles if you can. Soak your feet in a cold stream if they are very hot, but be sure the skin is entirely dry before putting the shoes back on. Change socks if necessary, and let the wet pair hang from the pack to dry. Cover and "hot spots" with moleskin before they become blisters. This regular attention to your feet may seem time consuming, but it will allow you to travel more miles more safely.


2. Water Planning


Dehydration is always a possibility when hiking in the wilderness. It is dangerous in hot weather and it can even lead to hypothermia in cold (we need enough fluids for our bodies to heat themselves properly). Plan ahead so you never get the point of being thirsty and without water.


Carry two water bottles, and develop the following good backpacking habit. Anytime you cross a stream or are near a water source, if one water bottle is less than half full, finish it off and fill it. If you are using a water treatment chemical like iodine, while it does its job you will still have the other bottle full of water. If there is a long stretch coming without opportunities to collect water, drink up both water bottles if practical, and fill them both. Also be sure to start each trip fully hydrated. One more habit is to watch your urine. Unless you are taking vitamin pills it will usually only be bright yellow when you aren't drinking enough fluids.


3. Watch The Weather


It is a good habit to watch the weather reports before you go backpacking. You can get the forecast for anywhere in the world now online. But you also should be looking at that sky from time to time, and be aware of any changes. It is common to have lightning almost every afternoon in some mountain areas, for example. If the trail you are on is heading up high and you see the clouds forming, you might want to wait where you are until after the storms.