When it comes to hiking, there are those who hike, and those who really hike. That’s not to say that the weekend walker is any less creditable than the dedicated hiker, but rather, that there is a certain level of pretense that accompanies the sporting philosophies of those more dedicated to the sport of hiking. It’s like this with all types of sport, though with hiking, it is easier (and more affordable) to access that pretense. And once you get there, all that pretense isn’t such a bad thing.

Anyone who takes hiking seriously has gone all the way with it and tried their hand at backpacking. The first thing you need for backpacking is an extensive trail system, like that found in the Rockies, the Pacific Crest, or even the Appalachians. If you’re going to be walking for a few days, or even a few months, you need miles of uninhibited and unblocked trails, which means that some places are better for backpacking than others.

Secondly, you’ll need a good backpack relative to the things you want to be carrying. If you’re going to be backpacking the 21st century way (which is frowned upon by most of the dedicated backpackers), you’ll need room for your laptop, rechargeable batteries, water treatment kits, global positioning systems, snake bite kits, and everything else convenient. However, if you do it the good old fashioned way, you’ll need a compass, a map, a box of matches, a few cooking utensils, a knife, and maybe some toilet paper and body powder.

Hiking, and especially backpacking, can reconnect your body and your mind to your human roots. It can be an ecstatic experience to leave the technological world behind, if only for a short time, and enjoy nature as it was meant to be enjoyed: by being a part of it, not apart from it.