Danny: You’ve been on the Topo Maps+ team full-time now for most of the year, but over the summer you completed your first backpacking trip with Stephen and I. Seeing as how you decided to do another multi-day hike a week later I’m going to wager a guess you had a lot of fun the first time?
Luke: Yes I did! Although, I will say I was a bit hesitant to get right back out there. The first trip was very hard – harder than I thought I could push myself. I wore untested shoes, and got some pretty bad blisters. But when your girlfriend and her family ask you to go with them on another trip, what bother are a few blisters?
Danny: What went through your head when you were invited on a 5 day backpacking trip this summer?
Luke: I was rather nervous. Initially I considered declining. I had never been on a backpacking trip before and 5 days sounded like a long time! But I felt a lot better knowing I’d be with 2 experienced hikers.
Danny: What was your biggest worry in deciding to go on the trip? Did we answer that for you?
Luke: My biggest worry was being unprepared in packing. Having never gone on a backpacking trip, I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. Thankfully you and Stephen helped me come up with a list of all the supplies I’d need (and even a few that were just nice to have) so I was able to pack with more confidence.
Danny: What was the clincher in saying yes?
Luke: The fact that I had worked for a backpacking company for a year as an intern and 2/3 of a year full time – I almost felt embarrassed that I hadn’t been on a trip. Could I really understand the spirit of what I worked for without experiencing it? In addition, I had several friends that told me it was something I should try once and I’m quite willing to try new things.
Danny: What did you expect before going and how did those expectations work out?
Luke: I actually didn’t have very defined expectations. In my mind I thought it would be something like tent camping and hiking a few trails. But I had a busy week leading up to the trip, so I didn’t spend much time thinking about it.
My vaguely defined expectations were quickly squashed and re-defined as soon as I started up the first hill. The pack was heavier than I though, and my legs started hurting in the first 5 minutes. The magnitude of what I had signed up for started to dawn on me. The whole day was a mix of pushing myself and enjoying the scenery. The first night was very unlike camping I had done before: everything was quite minimal, and there was no defined bathroom. Everything we brought, we left with.
Danny: What was something you did before going that you’re glad you did?
Luke: I made a list of everything I needed to bring on the trip – food, clothes, utensils, and other equipment. So when it came time to pack, all I had to do was fit everything in the backpack. Especially with food: pre-planning each day beforehand gave me a peace of mind for the whole trip.
Danny: Looking back now, is there something you might have done differently?
Luke: I definitely would have trained and tested out my hiking shoes more. I only spent about 5 hours wearing my trail runners before the hike, and not on any difficult terrain. I also did very little training, and never got to the ~40 lbs my pack ended up weighing.
Danny: What was something that surprised you on the trail?
Luke: There are so many different kinds of trails. We walked on some well maintained trails, a trail that had some serious tree fall, a glorified rockslide, and several non-trails. Each kind of trail had its own difficulties and methods of traversing.
I was also surprised by how different using the bathroom is. It takes some time to find a good spot, and it can be rather awkward. But the views are just fantastic!
Danny: What was a low and high point for you on the trail?
Luke: The lowest point was probably the end of the first day. I was exhausted and hungry. My feet were sore from the rugged terrain, and the blisters had fully formed on my heels. The thought of just one more day of what I’d just experienced, not to mention 4, was overwhelming. I also didn’t have contact with the outside world, so the comfort of people I’d regularly talk to and the mindless phone activities I often distract myself with were unavailable.
A high point for me was ascending to Cathedral Pass during the hike out. I had been the slowpoke in the group for the duration of the trip, and almost all breaks had been initiated by me. We had 1300 ft. to get up before the long descent to the parking lot, and I wanted to push myself. I told myself I would cross 10/20 switchbacks before taking a break. As 10 came and went, I thought “I could go a few more”. I was asked several times if I wanted a break, but each time I said “let’s go a little farther,” and would set another goal. As we got to the last mile, I remember Danny saying “You might be able to make it all the way”. I knew he was right, but had avoided saying it so I wouldn’t disappoint myself or them. But as we crested the pass without a break and I saw a rock to rest on, I felt a large amount of pride and exhilaration that I’d been able to make it.
Danny: As someone starting out in software development, how did it feel to be completely disconnected from all digital tethers in the backcountry? Did that evolve over the 5 days we were out there?
Luke: It was one of the more powerful experiences during this trip, and it evolved day by day.
The first day I was so tired I didn’t have much time to think about it. I did think about texting my mom and my girlfriend once, but realizing I couldn’t, I just focused on eating and getting to bed.
The second day was the hardest in this regard. The terrain was trickier in a lot of areas, but that also meant more stopping. At every break, I would mindlessly check my phone – only to realize nothing new had, or would, happen. We also had more time at camp that evening, and I actually grew quite anxious thinking about all of the information and communication I was missing. What if something bad happened? What if someone needed me? And most importantly, what would I do with my brain so empty? This discomfort with the quiet in my head and in my environment forced me to engage more in what was around me. I busied myself studying the skyline and watching the different stages of sunset. Having a dinner chat with you and Stephen helped out too, and I felt like I got to know you guys in a new way.
The third day was the turning point. Since we only had a short distance to go, most of the day was spent relaxing, swimming, and talking. Around lunch time I realized I hadn’t thought about my phone in quite some time – and it was quite freeing. I felt like I was able to really relax and let my thoughts wander freely. That was one of my favorite days of the whole summer.
This restful feeling extended over the next two days – even though the longest stretch of 12 miles. In fact, when we got out I waited an hour after leaving to check for a cell signal. Getting back to all of the digital tethers felt more burdensome than going without.
Danny: What are some thoughts you have about it all that I didn’t ask?
Luke: I would recommend most people try a multi-day backpacking trip at some point. It might not be something you continue to enjoy, but you’ll be glad for the effort and the views you got along the way. I came away with a new sense of what I could accomplish. If I had known the extent of the physical effort that was required beforehand, I wouldn’t have gone. I was surprised how much I could push myself mentally and physically, and how good it felt after doing so.
And you get to enjoy nature in a new way! It was the evolving beauty of the landscape that kept me going – and it’s what I remembered most fondly afterwards.
I’d also highly recommend going with a few experienced hikers. This takes a lot of the stress out of exploring the backcountry for the first time.