Happy October everybody! What’s going on with you? I’m planning a bit of hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a couple of weeks. Even though I live on the East Coast and GSMNP is the most-visited NP in the country it’ll be my first time.
this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2023
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Overnight backcountry backpacking/hiking in the spirit of taking less and doing more. Ask yourself: do I really need that?
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Did you end up going?
Soon 🤞
I don't know how to start with spending nights in the woods. I love trekking and hiking, have tons of gear (even too much l would say) but I never have slept in a tent. Not sure how should I prepare, how to pack, what do I need, what can I do on the go. If anyone has any recommendations I would gladly accept them.
Start low risk. Bring a sleeping pad, quilt or bag and some kind of shelter and go from there.
I feel you. (This is just my personal input, not a definitive answer.)
How should you prepare?
Start slow, go somewhere, do a single night and go back in the morning. Plan a nice spot for you to camp. My first overnight stay was ... in a weird piney forest, it was dark and sucky. That made me sceptical towards sleeping outside for years. So pick a nice spot; maybe a lake or a hilltop (nothing too high) with a nice view. If you can find a spot where it is safe, sane & legal to light a fire, that's great. It warms you, and you can cook over it (if you want to). Just make sure to put it out completely. COMPLETELY! NO GLIM! Also, don't go too far from civilization. It might make you feel less exposed if you can walk 2 hours to your car or some village. I assume you want to camp where it is legal, else you need to be mentally prepared to move camp in the middle of the night, if anyone takes offense. You might enjoy OpenStreetMap; it covers off-road terrain in much more detail, and many hikers add their knowledge there.
What to pack?
I write this from a northern hemisphere continental Europe perspective. Of course it depends on your surroundings. Before we start with the list, let's agree on a common ground first: This is not an ultralight hike. This shouldn't be one. The learning experience from 'Aww, that stuff is super heavy' is greater than 'I'm super cold, never again.' (IMO).
Go for a tent. Learn how to erect it and pack it up again If you have experience with a quilt, by all means, take it. Else, take a sleeping bag. Check its temp ratings and research the temps you expect to encounter at night. Make sure your stuff stays dry on the way there (especially true for down sleeping stuff). Take a sleeping mat (check R value for appropriateness). This is half your sleeping system and nothing is worse than a good sleeping bag on a bad sleeping mat that let's escape all the heat downwards. Sleep in functional underwear and leave socks on. If you expect to be cold at all, layer up more, wear a beanie. I expect you know about layering clothes, so I leave this to you. Consider bringing an outdoor pillow (or somethin gto put under your head), it increases sleep comfort dramatically for me. I don't think spare clothes are necessary. Often overlooked: Trashbag for packaging/waste, toilet paper (even if you don't plan on doing it out here, better safe than sorry), headtorch(!!!). Consider taking some form of entertainment (book, music from smartphone, ...), ear plugs (rain/forest is loud).
What to eat?
Absolute personal preference, here are a few suggestions. Assuming again that you have some means to prepare a hot meal (fire/stove), you could eat:
- Porridge
- Pasta
- Chili sin/con carne
- Some prebought outdoor food that only needs to be rehydrated
- Some take coffee/tea (If you light fire, consider taking food that is fun to cook like marshmallow, sausages,..)
TAKE ENOUGH WATER! 3L per person per day + cooking. This is where water taps/water filters come in handy.
Setup/How To
IMPORTANT: Set up tent early, not when it is dark already. Have a spot in mind/be actively looking for spots (starting late afternoon). Be aware of surroundings. Consider the way water would flow if it rains. Avoid dry riverbeds, etc. You are looking for a flat piece of ground, soft surface that won't damage your tent. Remove stones and such as much as possible. Set up tent, even if you do not plan on sleeping immediately. Don't delay. Depending on weather, you can be more or less sloppy with the tent setup/tension. Make sure nothing pushes against your tent walls (not even the different layers themselves). If your inner tent wall is wet, that means you did it wrong. Just use all provided strings and stuff, you'll be thankful if it rains. Roll out/inflate your sleeping mat and upack your sleeping bag. Shuffle it a bit so it gets more fluffy and leave it alone for ~30mins before you go to sleep, so it can fluff up and provide more warmth. Now you are set up. Cook, maybe light a fire (I feel like it makes everything more fun), enjoy the nature and go to sleep once it gets cold/ you grow tired. Pee before you sleep. Just do it. You can take your backpack inside or rest it against the inner tent layer (just make sure it doesn't touch the outer wall). Put your shoes there as well. You will probably wake up early (~6-7am). Depending on your area, check your shoes for unwelcome visitors. Let your sleeping bag air out (if it is moist).
What to do?
- Photography
- Wood carving
- Reading
- Swimming
- ...
Final notes
Many people organise and share their packing list using a website called LighterPack. If you have likeminded friends, you could take them with you. Coordinate who is going to bring what. Also make sure that you have shared expectations (trekking vs drinking trip). Also, you might wanna go to a managed camp site that offers amenities such as toilets and a worry free stay.
Finally: This is a mere starting point. You will notice for yourself that you might wanna do things differently. Consider reworking your packing list after each trip as you gain experience.
If anything is unclear or debatable, please hit me up. Don't forget to have fun!
Thank you. I wasn't expecting such a long a detailed response, I really appreciate it.
I am from Poland and there is a program called "sleep in the woods". There is a map of forests in which you may camp without a permit. Most of them don't officially allow fires (it says the place needs be designated for fireplace). Do you think that is a problem? Do you recommend skipping lighting a fire entirely or to search for a legal place? Or maybe just do it quietly.
I don't have a tent yet but I own a nice hammock. I love it, it's a staple during my trekks and hikes to rest a little bit it a nice view. What do you think about it instead of sleeping in a tent for a first-timer? I know it needs additional insulation.
I waa thinking of staying in a forest near the road for my first night. There's a very nice area of birch wood. If anything goes wrong I could get into my car in half an hour. Does that sound good enough?
Lots of good advice here. I really feel I know how to start now. I will sleep solo so maybe that's why I'm more afraid (unfortunately I don't know other interested in such activities). I will make a checklist out of your post and get back to you if you want in couple of weeks.
You are welcome :)
The sleep in the woods thingy sounds good. I would not light a fire, except if there is a firepit and you can easily control it. Bush fires are no joke. Again, my recommendation is to find a place where it is legal to light a fire, but you can do without. It's just more fun (to me).
Here is an interactive map that shows all firepits in Poland (generated from OSM). Some might be at campsites, but some are in the wilds as well.
I must confess that I never slept in a hammock outdoors, so I can't give suuuper good advice on that. A friend of mine is always putting her sleeping mat in the hammock, and sleeps in a sleeping bag on it. There are special underquilts for hammocks, but that is pricy. Be aware that if you have no mosquito net, there is nothing that protects you from them. I don't know whether they are a problem in Poland, but just saying. Same goes for tarp. If you have no tarp, you have 0 rain protection, so you must be sure that there won't be rain.
Some people like the 'laying under stars, so close to nature' thing, others feel more exposed and safer in a tent. Ultimately, only you can tell. A hammock can be very fine.
The birch forest near the road sounds great! Close to your car is a good idea.
You don't have to, but I would be interested in your updates (especially if you do sleep outside)!
Start with a test run by camping in someone's backyard. This lets you see what you use and what you don't need without being out in the middle of nowhere. Make a list as you are out there of problems and things to make it easier
Totally agreed with the recommendation to start in a backyard (or car camping in a nearby place if no backyard available).
Sleeping in a tent is easy. Set it up, put in your sleeping pad, bag/quilt, pillow solution, ta da. Make sure you pick a good site that isn't next to water, in a wind channel, under a dead tree branch, etc. Depending on the tent material, tighten it up again after you pitch it before you go to sleep.
Got a new (well, second hand) baselayer (Patagonia Capilene Lightweight) and had to cancel travel plans due to COVID. Seems nice so far, can give a more detailed review once I wore it in the field.
Planning to do a few 3-5 day autumn hikes (before I store all my stuff in Winter as I am no winter hiker) in Germany/Central Europe. Any recommendations?
Just got an used 80/90’s era Whisperlite for winter camping.
Actually I would be interesed too. I feel like winter is always quite cold and not very easy to ultralight. In the summer, I am just a bit uncomfortable if my setup sucks. In the winter, I am worried and shivering.
Figured the canister stoves would only get me so far down in the temps, plus if I have to melt snow for water….that doesn’t sound like a great use of fuel. So…I bought a used Whisperlite and a new pump and new 20oz bottle. I spent less for this than just a new stove/pump.
I don’t like the childproof cap on the bottle…I feel like I’m going to break it twisting it down tight. I may buy an old school one and swap it.
Anyway, I hope it continues on like a champ for decades to come.
Tell us more about your winter trips!
Fall just started 😉I don’t have any major winter trips planned yet. Just weekends here and there when time allows as of now.
I do plan on getting out there in the cold, I just don’t have any big trips planned yet. Hoping we see some snow though in the northeast.
got back from Asheville, NC and GSMNP, everything went really well. trip was really more about reconnecting with a friend and my SO dipping her toe into the ultralight world; but anytime one can visit a NP it’s special. will write up a teeny tiny trip report when I sort through the pictures. how are y’all doin?
Yeah! I hope you had a great trip. How did it go with the SO?
I'm hanging in there. No hiking right now but we will do a short (day?) trip soon to the Channel Islands NP. I am pretty well recovered from COVID...been watching my cycling stats. Today I smashed my PR speed record for a ride so I am pretty stoked!
Overall it went well; SO tried trail runners for the first time and found them comfortable. Trying a frameless pack, initially SO was frustrated that pack body was annoying to access. Repacked pack so that frequently-accessed items sat outside and were easy to access but still secure — this worked. Second change is going to be streamlining camera kit by consolidating lenses and mounting the camera permanently on shoulder strap, hoping a Peak Design capture clip does the job. Tried to go a step further by convincing SO that iPhone camera is enough but this proved to be non-negotiable 😅
Glad to hear you are feeling better and congrats on your speed record 😀👍
Channel Islands NP
I know almost nothing about Channel Islands, tell me about it!
I tried Altras last year, which I liked, but decided they didn't have enough grip - I fell a few times on some steep descents. This year I switched to approach shoes and they are awesome. I love them for the hikes in the Intermountain West.
What pack did your SO try?
Oh my, a full camera with lenses? Is she a pro photographer or major enthusiast? I get some pretty nice shots from my Pixel 6... All the stuff I put up here is from that.
Will report back when we go to CINP!
SO jogs in Brooks so tried Cascadias and liked them, though to be fair we haven’t done anything too gnarly yet.
Pack was sewn by me, it’s an imperfect clone of an MLD Burn in spiffy new Challenge UltraGrid fabric. My new off-season hobby it seems. Pack came out pretty well though I always see the imperfections in it.
I agree a smartphone camera is perfectly good (I took a bunch of photos on the PCT I really liked with an iPhone) but SO is passionate about photography and full camera is non-negotiable at this point. SO carried 3 heavy-ass lenses this time but is interested in dialing it down to 1 do-it-all lense, though apparently they’re expensive.
Can’t wait to hear about CINP! 👍
Not much going on right now. Recovering from the end of the fiscal year and the plane crud I picked up on travel. Hopefully in late October I can get out and at least do some day hikes if the snow in mountains is significant (let's see what this year's El Nino brings).
Update: plane crud is actually COVID. Ugh. Wear your masks again, folks, it's definitely making the rounds.