How to get into backpacking

I’m going to share a story and, although you might not relate to all the particulars, I’m sure you’ll understand the overall sentiment. My dad retired in March. For my whole childhood, my dad displayed a wanderlust that was contagious. Every summer he would take three weeks off of work, load the family into our Ford Econoline Van, and traipse us from coast to coast on another iteration of the Great American Road Trip. These trips spawned my love of travel, the West, and the outdoors. Naturally, when my dad announced his retirement, we immediately began envisioning the trips he could take in his newfound spare time. And then, the pandemic hit. And, so, instead of loading up his van and hitting the road, he’s been cleaning out the garage, working in the garden, and thinking about the places he would have liked to explore. After a summer of quarantining, he finally hit his limit, called me up, and announced that he was driving to Colorado to take me on a Daddy/Daughter backpacking trip. I was obviously stoked, but my dad has never backpacked before, and cutting your teeth in the Rocky Mountains in October is not exactly wading into the kiddie pool.

My dad’s not the only one in this boat. A number of friends, coworkers, and social acquaintances have been venturing into the outdoors this summer. For folks who are jonesing to get away and want to take their outdoor game to the next level, here are some resources to get you started.