If you are a fan of the outdoors or just simply looking for a new experience, you should try out backpacking. Backpacking is ideal whether you want to go alone, with a few close friends or even with family. In fact, backpacking is the perfect family outing. It has just enough activity to create the bonds that form when a family works together, as well as to keep your family entertained. Backpacking camping can be planned out as a two to three day trip. This can be a much cheaper alternative to a vacation which involves long distances of travelling.
Backpacking camping like any other trip requires a lot of planning ahead. Not planning ahead will prevent you from enjoying the backpacking trip. Planning it out in a rush or the last minute will be hectic and you are bound to make mistakes in drawing out a proper plan. This could have serious drawbacks, resulting in the whole backpacking camping trip being a failure. Last minute planning usually means you will have forgotten gear and miscalculated timings. Being insufficiently equipped could go as far as ruining the entire experience and the same can be said about miscalculated timings. If you do not plan out your backpacking route through a suitable backpacking trail, you may find yourself unable to reach allocated camp sites before dark, which can be very inconvenient. In addition, this lag will add up, delaying the entire backpacking trip. Not having the right equipment could be even more fatal. For instance, you find yourself in desperate need of a lamp to light the way and you have not packed the lamp. You would be putting your family in danger.
Backpacking camping could also be an educational experience for kids. Most kids have life styles which keep them indoors, most, if not all the time. Outdoor activity will teach them how to survive outdoors, without the comfort of their home. Backpacking camping may also help kids get rid of fears of nature. Fears of insects and other harmless creatures can be overcome with their firsthand experience of the outdoors. Backpacking camping will also help your whole family to learn survival techniques like cooking and purifying water. It is very important that you take great care with these two, because not cooking food properly or not purifying water can lead to you and your family falling sick. Tips on how to cook outdoors and purify water depending on where the water is collected from can be found on backpacking camping web sites.