5 Backpacking Mistakes I've Made That You Can Learn From!

[@jaredcurrie5146]

Bug sounds were spot on

[@dakotacoburn]

I take pride my sound effects😂

[@danielsingh9415]

Hey Dakota, new sub here, nice to see a fellow Cdn & PNW backpacking/hiker sharing his experiences 👍 Sweat alot? U need electrolyte tabs or powder, as just water dilutes ur existing electrolyte supply, cramping calves are easy to deal with, but cramping quads OMFG that hurts! U only need experience that once & never again! I always keep Himalayan pink salt in my pocket pharmacy, and Nuun tabs in my 1st aid kit. A couple salt crystals under my tongue, most times takes care of my foot or calf cramps. Dry camping requires alot of planning, I use Alltrails too, but mostly for trip reports of around the same time of year (app & website for bushwhacking off trail, satellite view, the 3D satellite view is so cool 😎). Hydration: 0.5L/hr normal terrain, to 1L/hr ascending or hot or high elevation, plus 1L/1000 ft elevation gain. Camel-up when u can, and have capacity for more when dry camping. I use 2-1L smart water bottles, 1-500ml collapsible bottle for electrolytes so doesn't contaminate my main water supply, plus 2-2L cnoc water bladders & filter, so if dry camping, I have 6.5L capacity, but water is heavy at 2.2lbs/L or 14.3 lbs. As well, if ur melting snow for water, u need more fuel & a bigger pot (add a lil water to ur pot, it conducts heat better than just snow). Do a shakedown hike to test ur gear, always bring a fix it kit for when ur gear fails. I use a full length 1/8" closed cell foam pad as puncture protection for my inflated sleep pad, but also insurance in case of catastrophic leak or blowout. I can double up the pad for my torso and use my pack for my legs/feet, wear all my layers including rain shell. But most pads come with a repair kit of stick-on patches, and not stick-on that need extra supplies: alcohol wipes for cleaning, scissors for rounding corners, adhesive that requires 24hr curing, soap for finding leaks/bubbles, and internet! QR code -do it at home b4 ur struggling in the dark & freezing rain on a dead pad with no cell reception! Always bring a bug head net at the minimum, weighs almost nothing but will save ur sanity (like when ur headlamp, attracts said moths!) or a bug bivvy and tarp at best, when cowboy camping, just in case or for dew/frost. Setup in porch mode/lean-to & fold the porch over the back, ready to deploy in seconds in unpredictable mountain weather (needs an extra set of trekking poles or sticks) 👍

[@dakotacoburn]

Hey Daniel! Thanks for the super useful comments, I can tell you’re extremely knowledgeable! I think a lot of people over complicate electrolytes(including me lol), just bring salt like you said would work well enough. The times have got me the worse for large water carries and dry camps are the times when I’m not expecting it to be dry. as you know, it gets extremely dry here in the summer when else first starting out I didn’t fully understand that. I definitely agree, I need to start bringing a repair kit and a bug head net!

[@CodingWithUnity]

Useful info. Gatorade did make for a good thumbnail.

[@dakotacoburn]

Thanks! Gatorade makes bright colours that are easy photograph hahah

[@LeifMacIver]

Kings peak.

[@dakotacoburn]

Island classic