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Why I'll never skip the prep talk before a family backpacking trip again
Last summer, I planned a three-day loop with my older brother who hadn't been hiking in years. I figured since we did stuff as kids, he'd be fine. The second day had a brutal climb that wiped him out completely. He was breathing hard and his knees started giving out. We had to cut the trip short and hike back in the dark with one headlight between us. It was a mess and could have been worse if weather turned. Now I always sit down with any relative before a hike and go over the map, their gear, and how they're feeling. It sounds basic, but it saves a lot of trouble on the trail.
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the_dylan6mo ago
Made my sister walk a local hill with her packed bag before our trip. Seeing her struggle there saved us a nightmare later.
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hernandez.gavin6mo ago
My cousin insisted we test our packs on a steep trail in Colorado last summer. I used to laugh at the idea, thinking it was overkill. After a miserable day on the actual hike, I get it NOW. Your post just confirms how IMPORTANT a dry run can be.
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