5 STUPID but Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes (learn from them) 

Bring gear that has multiple uses to save weight. Cast iron skillet is also a water vessel, a hammer, self protection, a pillow and even a frisbee.

a mistake I made once: not paying attention to elevation changes when planning a route. ie, that shortcut that took 3 miles off the route and wound up making it 10 times harder. those topo lines matter.

“You can only learn so much from RU-vid.” Best quote ever. I watch hundreds of backpacking RU-vid videos. However, I learn more about what actually works for me by getting out there and doing it.

The epiphany I came to understand is this: it doesn't matter how much a piece of gear costs, it only matters that it works (especially when you really need it)

Not being prepared for the mental ups and downs of a long hike was my biggest beginner mistake. Tips and observations are still fun and useful though. They can definitely alleviate the mental stuff. Plus I can say that Bigfoot taught me how to use trekking poles.

Please please condense your videos. 6 minutes just to say "hold your hiking poles like this" and "don't hang extra stuff from your pack".

One thing I realised from my mini adventures trekking solo / and with others in Nepal, is how quickly things can go south. This happened to me as a beginner and also when much more experienced. There's definitely a high value in always maintaining a healthy respect for the environment and always keeping a small part of your mind on safety. I've been in idyllic situations and switched off a bit, took a few off the cuff chances with route finding (going for an interesting short cut or path) and found myself in situations that escalated into risky territory (very cold weather or chances of being seriously injured). One moment it's sunshine and complete peace, the next you're battling exhaustion, cold or off the path, lost in a tricky place. I live for being on the trail but never forget that things can turn in a moment.

My best piece of gear camping/hiking: a small notebook to write down during, all the crap I should have left at home and what I really wish I'd brought. Went back thru a few years of notes and kinda shocking now what I once thought useful and other things "how did I not know that was important to have?"

When I look back at my first set up its hilarious. Nobody introduced me to backpacking I just always had the itch to do it. when I was 18 I went to a sporting goods store and bought everything I thought I needed. I left with mostly good gear that I still use now 14 years later. That said... I bought a back pack that was sized for children and spent three years hiking with this until I finally went on a hike with a friend and he was looking at my pack and was like.. you are aware you are using a childs back pack right? lol I gotta say it taught me how to pack my bag well. It only ever carried the essentials.

The reason you put hands up through the strap is so if you fall and let go of the strap the hiking pole drops away instead of breaking your thumb or ripping its ligaments ( skier’s thumb ).. it’s incidental that it provides more support when walking with it this way 😊

The pole strap thing has another benefit… you can easily and quickly shift your grip so that the palm of your hand is resting on the top, allowing you to easily apply a lot more downward pressure than you can with the “pistol” grip. It’s a small thing but it’s super useful at times.

Biggest mistake is thinking that you'll be able to have a contingency plan for every problem you might face, while simultaneously still thinking that you can lift your bag.

big problem over here (in Australia) is misjudging how much water you need. Out west you need at least 6L in summer, whereas over on the East cost you can get away with 2L. so you can literally screw yourself by carrying way too much weight, or get crazy dehydrated because there's no water source for another 50km. so I guess the mistake would be not finding out about the conditions before you go.

"Not bringing a tent..." Carrying a tent is a lot of extra weight but I did have to use it once when a shelter I planned on staying at was full. So yeah, you should kind of bring one with you. Have a little story to tell... This one group showed up at a shelter that me, my friend, and his father were staying at in the middle of what was a torrential rainstorm. All of their gear was soaking wet, none of them had any ponchos. None of them brought anything to cook their food with either because they were going to rely on campfires. Well, you can see the obvious discrepancy with this particular plan, not to mention that they brought bulky, heavy canned foods with no can openers either and only one of them brought a canteen. None of them had any water tablets or charcoal filters. Anyway, we didn't go anywhere that day, no sense in getting soaking wet boots for obvious reasons. We did offer them to stay with us but for some reason they decided to press on. I hope they decided to go back home, they were clearly miserable. Anyway, this happened 30 years ago somewhere on the AT south of the Shenandoah National Park but north of Roanoke, VA. I unfortunately do not remember the precise location or shelter.

Be prepared to make mistakes. Alot of the fun is in realising you have an issue, like blistering or a piece of gear you've forgotten, and figuring out a way to fix the problem on the fly. I once used oak tree bark in my boots to lessen the rubbing causing me blisters. I learned the hard way why you should set up your tent on a hill rather than in a dell. I was trying to avoid wind in a dell and ended up getting swamped by the rain and puddles.

Trekking pole straps...the struggle is real watching people use them wrong. 😂

You should do a video on how to keep a hydration bladder from sloshing. Many people don't know the trick of turning it upside down and sucking the air out, before putting it back in pack right side up. No sloshing!

Not knowing how to fit/pack/wear your pack…*sigh*. I met a girl who was suffering on trail…her bag was skewed and she was complaining her shoulders were hurting and she WASN’T wearing her hip belt!! (She said she didn’t like how it pushed out her stomach). So…We took off her bag, dumped it, fit it…showed her how to adjust her straps, repacked it (properly) and then I told her to “embrace the hiker paunch”. She was so much happier. It just looked so painful…she had gone 20 miles like that.

I love how Kyle while recording is usually trying to be semi serious, but post production Kyle looks up "ur mum's house", cracks me up 😂

+1 on the straps "up-from-the-bottom" method. The Cross-country ski method. uses your arms for propulsion with grip only for balance and control. I barely grip the pole in fact because you dont have to. Poles angle behind you like the Hiker Crossing street signs and generally don't wander out in front of you, the tips plant near your feet as you use your arms to push you along uphill. It's also why there's padding on some wrist straps placed for this method. Also when you fall you are less likely to sustain an injury with this method because the poles easily falls away and can move about if you let go, hence why downhill skiers use the same method. For downhills and navigating terrain downward or stream crossings. While it's safest to remove your wrists from the straps, the "up-from-the-bottom" method lets you quickly rotate your hands up and place your palms on the top of the grip as you navigate downward for better control and a more natural stance. If you havent tried this do it, it's a game changer. Lastly, "up-from-the-bottom" method makes briefly using your hands for other things then returning to the grips easier. RE: alltrails, the hikers I help most commonly either have no map at all, or have alltrails and say they are on something like "Rob's Cool Loop" or whatever in the app. A user created loop that connects many different trails and doesnt actually exist on any map or in actuality. "Can you help me get to the parking lot? I am on Rob's Cool Loop"

1. I use poles "correctly." Use them how you like, but I'm more comfortable with hands-up-from-the-bottom, lean into the straps, just steer the poles with the fingers. 2. We're coming into the time of year when I've got a bunch of stuff outside my pack. Whatever traction gear (ice axe, crampons, poles, snowshoes, spikes) isn't in use, the shovel if I'm carrying one, and the second sleeping pad. (In deep winter a ground dweller needs two pads, and one of them has to be foam. You don't want a leak to be a survival situation). Oh, and the little flashing red light, against the possibility of a nighttime roadwalk. Of course, my pack has all the little doodads to rack that gear securely. 3. One of my pet peeves, too! I'm an old-school bushwhacko - I don't trust any navigational instrument that can have a dead battery. 4. One of my pet peeves, too! They can have my space in the lean-to. I don't like sleeping on rodent scat. 5. Definitely, listening to Kyle's videos is a common beginner mistake.

I have been hiking now for 4 years and as odd as it may sound only learned the proper way to use poles last year by watching a video like yours. Thinking you can not learn something is a huge mistake when it comes to anything you do. I learned the hard way on a hike when I I was out on the Dockery lake trail going up to Preachers rock. I made it to where the Dockery lake end at the AT and took a break. I started to not feel well and thought I better turn back rather than continue on. 11 miles in, 14 round trip, I started getting sick and and lightheaded. Another mile and I was on the ground with severe leg cramps and a massive headache. I could not hold any water down. I learned from a video about electrolytes. I had never heard of needing to not just drink water. With the help of my wife I made it back to the car but was in so much pain she had to keep pulling over so I could lay down and cry and try to stretch my legs because they would not unbend. So I do believe they are helpful but also must be taken with a grain of salt as there are people putting out bad advice to unsuspecting people. One other thing I learned is to always take all your gear even on a day hike because accidents can happen, bad storms roll in you were not expecting and time can run out on you if your not paying attention and find yourself in darkness. So I say thanks to you and others that take time to help others that may not be all knowing whan it comes to hiking. Will try LMNT.

My biggest mistake was watching this video.

I've been reading "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson off and on. It's a bit funny hearing the tales from a novice hiker. You realize how easy it is to be unprepared and overwhelmed.

The biggest mistake is watching Kyle Hates Hiking horror videos and being so scared that you never leave the house. Ever.

Great advice on the paper map! There is absolutely a great deal of fun and satisfaction in planning your trips this way. All Trails did try to drown me once though, so I do have that as a basis of comparison.

1. Don't grip your pole too tight. 2. Don't leave your junk dangling in the open. 3. There is more than one way to finish your business. 4. Don't rely on others for protection. Pack your own. Avoid STDs: situational terrain disaster. 5. Don't get caught up on perfecting your performance before you've even had any experience. Go out and do the dirty... Hike... and put a notch on your belt.

I used to go backpacking and hiking in Maine and New Hampshire in the 1970's. We had external frame packs, no cell phones, and no trekking poles. The shelters were rudimentary at best. But I still had a great time and survived. You can go hiking without all this stuff! Bring adequate clothing and food and a map and you will be okay.

what a useless video. can't believe his mum clicked this 300k times

I’ve been led astray by all trails. I was hiking through a pretty extensive trail network and it told me that 2 trails linked up. One trail ended in a dead end and I had to back track 3 km.

As someone who bit the bullet and did my first trail this summer, I learned sooo much from that trip compared to watching videos. It rained the first 3 hours of our hike and soaked the back half of the trail(The trail was not brushed well at the final stretch and got our shoes soaked. Definitely be prepared for worst case scenarios but getting out there even if you think are fully prepared, you will still learn a lot. Our trail said the estimate was 7 hours both ways when in reality it took us about 5-6 hours ONE way and we got to our campsite with only 2 hours of sunlight left. The first 4 km were about 1- 1.5 hours then the next 3 KM were 3 hours. The elevation changes influence time a LOT, so do your research on the trail, bring extra socks and have fun!

One thing you have to consider is that some people aren't out to make miles, they're out to find a beautiful remote spot where they'll spend a couple weeks. Those are the people carrying tons of stuff.

One of my biggest issues these days is everyone , and I mean damn near everyone , watches videos on RU-vid and just copies everyone exactly. The world used to be so much more interesting when people learned what they liked or needed by ya know , doing the thing.

Hey Kyle, I'm from the North East and I guess I'm an old school hiker because I love paper maps!! I have a small obsession with pouring over paper maps and planning out day hiked and backpacking trips.

I had a chuckle on this one. Laughing at myself for making my first blunder. Packing my pack too heavy. Luckily, it was only a weekend trip and we still had fun. Lesson learned well. 😉

I definitely learned a lot from RU-vid backpacking info vids it’s all I used to prepare for my first back packing trip and to the Grand Canyon at that and it was a success. Packed too much which I’d refine on the next trip but didn’t lack anything. But beginners definitely should watch these vids and learn be prepared for what’s to come. If I didn’t have them I would have never made it.

My All Trails story: A Meetup day hiking group of out-of-towners met at a local state forest that has an extensive trail system. So extensive that people routinely get lost there multiple times a year, resulting in search and rescue getting involved. You shouldn't go there to hike the first or tenth time without a physical map of the trail network, unless you know the trail system by heart. Noone in this group had hiked this mountain before; they found the day hike listed on All Trails and thought that it would be fun to hike. I had hiked with them once or twice on other trails in the past and found them to be disorganized and unsafe, so I generally didn't hike with them. As soon as I saw where they were planning on hiking, I knew right away it would not go well. So I decided to attend the hike. The hike leader shows up for the hike with a screenshot from AllTrails of the trail network. Not the actual AllTrails program running on their phone, just a screenshot of the trail system map off AllTrails. None of the groups other regulars showed up with a physical map. It was a Superbowl Sunday, and they all wanted to be off the mountain and back home ( out of town ) by the start of the game. I brought multiple maps for the hikers, which I passed out. They intended to hike a specific route as described on All Trails, which left out much of the most scenic parts of the trail system. I suggested a route that would include those sections, only because I figured that some scenery would make for a nicer hike. One hiker announced to me and the group that they were there to hike for distance, not for time, and they were going to follow the AllTrails route. That didn't make sense, as I already knew that they intended to be off the mountain and back home ( an hour drive ) in time for the game. After that guy chirped up I was like...OK guys, you do your thing, and hung back from the main group as they hiked along. After much needless deviation from either the All Trails or my suggested route and being a couple of hours past their stated end time, I waited until they were gathered around a copy of the map I'd brought, arguing about which way to go. I pointed out the most direct route back to their cars, and off they went. I'm pretty sure that by the times they all got home they had missed kick-off

Mistake 1! Watching this video!

I'm the guy that buys all kinds of gear and then can't go backpacking. I'm from Nebraska and can only go backpacking once a year. I haven't gone backpacking in almost two years. Last year there was fires in Oregon and this year I was in a car accident. But due to RU-vid Videos I have all the best equipment. lol

Super vague and unhelpful imo. 'Find a better way to pack your stuff.' Cool bro. This is probably the point at which you should explain and/or demonstrate what the 'better' way is. And your beef with all-trails was again.. vague and unhelpful. AT serves a very specific purpose; to provide people with trails, maps, reviews, tracking, and trail reports. 'Use paper maps' or 'use other apps' paper maps are obviously for a totally different purpose for a likely different demographic and WHAT apps? This was such a low effort video.

I couldn't help but notice that all of your ideas are of what YOU think is right. I also see a lot of assumptions. Have you ever heard the saying " Don't Assume! It makes an Ass out of U and Me!" Don't Assume "You People" are all beginners just because they do things you don't think is the right way. I went to a mountain school for two weeks and had a kid tell me I wasn't stacking the wood correctly to start a fire. I started the fire and it burned just like a fire. I've been an outdoors guy since I was a kid and have been using hiking poles since the early 90s and as I get closer to 50 I still use the straps the way you think is wrong, I've carried a frying pan on my pack and hung my sandals and all kinds of other stuff on the outside. I do all of this because it's what I choose to do and what I will always do. Maybe you should stop talking about what you Assume other people are doing wrong and just tell us what you do and what you think might help people out in the future.

I think that you can have all the apps you want but if the batteries die on ya...you better have a map AND compass AND actually KNOW how to use them!

Skiers have known that for years. You are correct.

#5 ~ 100% Even if a trip doesn't go as planned, you learn something for the next one.

HERE'S ONE. BY A PACK THAT'S BIG ENOUGH AN STOP TRYING TO PACK 75L OF STUFF IN A 55L PACK. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A BIGGER PACK. IT GIVE YOU THE OPTION ON HOW YOU CAN PACK YOUR PACK. STAND THING'S UP OR LAY THEM ON THE SIDE. ANOTHER THING PEOPLE SAY TACTICAL AN MILITARY PACK ARE NO GOOD. AT LEAST THEY GIVE YOU THE CHOICE OF ADDING MORE POUCHES IF NEEDED AN MOLLE WEBBING IS AWESOME FOR THAT. HOW YOU GONNA HAVE FIVE OUT SIDE POCKET'S AN THERE BUILT IN TWO THE INNER PACK? MY THING IS THE MORE REAL SEPARATE POCKET'S ON THE OUT SIDE OF YOUR PACK THE BETTER. TWO MORE THING'S. WHY ALL THIS NEWER PACK SO TALL? I OWN A CFP 90 MILATARY PACK AN IT'S 110L. WITH OUT THE PATROL PACK AN IT'S NO TALLER THAN AN 65L PACK. ITS JUST WIDE. AN WHY THEY DON'T HAVE TO MANY PACK'S THAT HAVE SIDE POCKET'S WITH AN OPENING BETWEEN THE POCKET AN PACK? ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS LOOK AT THE OLDER KELTY PACK'S AN YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S A COUPLE OF THING'S I THINK NEW AN OLD HIKER'S HAVE. NOT ASKING THIS COMPANY WHY YOU DON'T MAKE ANY PACK'S THIS WAY ANY MORE AN THE SPACE IN THEM AREN'T REALLY USABLE ANY MORE.

Sorry kids there is NO WRONG or RIGHT WAY, ONLY MY WAY!🇺🇸✌🏻🍻

I feel like Kyle is one of the only RU-vids that’s not always trying to sell the new hot gear, you see these guys with what ever the new what ever is.

John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Not watching videos and getting lost due to silly mistake is more fun specially when you never return home. 😊😊

I was in the military I like my bag being heavy I like having everything it feels just right when it’s 50lbs and I’m going 10 miles

Beginner RU-vid mistake: looking at the screen and not the lens. You think you'd learn by now.

Two things: First, I must confess I often don't bother with the straps on my trekking poles, depends on how often I want to use my hands while hiking. Second, I ordered the LMNT sample pack finally. I hope they are good! BTW how did you keep a straight face for so long at the beginning of the video? :)

You and your poles bro.

If you wanted to add a 6th beginner mistake to this list, it should watching Kyle's channel 😎

I definitely agree on the loading the exterior of the backpack with a bunch of gear. Not only is having a bunch of stuff dangling from the outside of the pack a pet peeve of mine, but it can also be practically bad, like it will snag on stuff, not carry the load in the way the backpack was designed, and make the wearer of the backpack off balance more easily, which could be dangerous when out in the wilderness.

I hang objects off my pack that clank together while hiking through bear country.

I always see the Instagrammers with all the pots and pans to cook their full breakfast out in the middle of the wilderness. Personally, I'm fine with a pocket rock and a pack of dehydrated mac and cheese! LOL Great video and great tips!

I've watched a lot of different backpacking RU-vid videos over the past year and a half, and it did really help me get my first set of gear. After my first trip I only needed to swap out like 2 things, but other that than I was pretty happy with my stuff. RU-vid is a great resource to get started, but I'm looking forward to Spring to get out there more!

You never even backpacked. This is the most pointless video ive seen. You make zero valid points

I used to bring my bivy sack to save weight instead of tent but a tent is way better specially when the weather turns on you

Relying on All Trails routes is a great why to expereince crowded trails. Getting away from crowds is 75% of why I hike.

I watched the first five minutes hoping to find something helpful then gave up.

Take a partner for long winter nights. Or just a photo of Dan will do.

Great! I use that same hiking pole trick!

My hiking poles stay in my pack, in case someone asks me why I don't have hiking poles. It's about 12 ounces of dead weight, but it saves have a conversation about hiking poles. I figure when I'm 80 and can't walk, I'll start using them. A beginner trying to emulate a UL thru hiker on their third trip car camping isn't a bright move either. I remember thinking All Trails might be a good option when I first started hiking. Then I realized smart phones didn't exist, or mobile internet, or All Trails. We just basically wandered around aimlessly for decades waiting for smartphones, mobile internet and All Trails to be created.

I actually like your style man keep it up

My first experience was last year. I underestimated my abilities, underestimated the trail, and the weather. I went solo, started too late, slipped on wet slippery rocks, watched my pack bounce down steep drops, thankfully always landing on the trail...I myself slipped on one of those drips and landed on my wrist (did not injur it to badly) and never made it to the campsite. Ended up setting up my tent at like 9 or 10pm in rain on the side of the trail over a 4 inch root because I was absolutely exhausted and not paying attention. I ended up bailing on that trip after that night. Went again with my husband the next month and had a much better experience. learned so much. I am still working on my gear and what is comfortable to me, and trying to pare it down more.

#1 Not looking fashionable enough. Go buy all North Face and Patagonia clothing before you even buy any backpacking gear. #2 Not packing enough clothes, other hikers will judge you if you wear the same outfit twice #3 Not packing enough food. You are going to be ravenous, fill every space with food #4 Forgetting your camp chair

Just get to your points and stop rambling. Had to turn this off.

Hiiker is a decent app for my navigation purposes in 🇬🇧

I always thought trekking poles were for warding off evil spirits and smacking wolves on the head.

Concur, your vids and many others are a good starting point in terms of establishing a baseline for planning a long hike. Bottom line - you need to get out and use gear to find out what works for you. I did a flipflop hike of the AT this season, and I did benefit from Ytube vids !!

You're not carrying my shit, so shut it.

Tip 6! Pronounce Appalachian correctly

The #1 mistake is not packing loads more toilet paper than you think you will need. (It costs virtually nothing and weighs virtually nothing... but can quickly become the most important thing in your world)

I feel like Kyle is one of the only RU-vids that’s not always trying to sell the new hot gear, you see these guys with what ever the new what ever is.

Thanks for letting my husband see that I’m correct about the trekking pole straps🤣 I tell him every time, but he’s never taken me serious.

Get to the point too much bs I am out of here don't subscribe

One of the reasons I spend so much time on yt is that I don't want to spend money on gear that won't work for me so listening to someone talk about it really helps me figure out if it might work for me without buying it. For example shelters that require a tree or don't do well in humidity won't work for me. I don't want to spend $700 to figure that out. There is also just a huge amount of gear and styles that people have so it's good to learn new things. I used to hate backpacking because I was packing too heavy. I never thought to just throw out pointless comforts and use an ultralight tent to enjoy the hike.

Skip to 4:21. You're welcome ✌🏽

Novice hikers wake up hungover at 11 to go hike Mount Isolation "cause it's barely over 4000 feet how hard could it be?" and end up watching the sun set from boot spur at ~5000 feet with cramps, no flashlight and no water. Don't ask how I know this

I think a few things hanging from your backpack is not the worst idea, especially if they make sound. Basically, at least the sound of clanging metal, will possibly warn and deter a predator (of the nonhuman kind).

Leave no trace is a big one for me. I usually bring more trash back from the trail, because I collect stuff people left behind (Mt Langley and Whitney were pretty bad). You can't blame ignorance on some of the stuff I've seen on the trail, it's mostly narcissism and laziness.

Funny. I'm just getting into hiking, but I've skied a whole lot. The mistake with the pole straps is the exact same when you are skiing - though in that case you do it to avoid dislocating your thumb when crashing.

You talk so much and say so little

Yes! I’ve always bought large volume packs and put everything inside the pack. All to often you get salespeople who try to convince people to buy smaller packs so you will carry less stuff. I do a lot of hiking on Vancouver Island where the trails are sometimes overgrown and you don’t want loose stuff snagging. The pack loads better too and the aesthetic is much cleaner. The marginal weight savings for a smaller pack isn’t worth it.

Lol, well some people have items on the outside of their backpack maybe depending on their backpack size? Different people take different items whatever works or that they're comfy with! I certainly prefer a couple different mapping apps besides all trails and paper maps for sure though. Just wanted to toss this out there my biggest mistake was not having a proper backpack for what I was doing, caused me to under pack and have VERY sore shoulders.

This was a pointless video

Great video, I never been one for poles , they get in my way. But that just me each to there own.

Instead of AllTrails, you can just bring a dog and let it lead the way to see where you end up 🤣 We actually did that for a video we called the Follow the Dog Challenge. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sO9yk89wYjA.html

No complete sentences just random thoughts and phrases. This whole thing could be condensed into a 3 minute info-vid instead of a 13 minute goof.

Call number 2 the "Sam Gamgee Pack". Got the pots and pans and sleep kit and Frodo hanging all over the outside

I would say carry what you need and nothing more-tailor what you bring for each adventure and your own limitations or abilities

I was an early adopter of trekking poles. I personally do not pass my wrist through the strap at all. I like to be able to have my hand(s) instantly hands free (ostensibly to deploy other gear) without requiring both of my hands to doff/drop my poles. Instead I pass half my hand horizontally like a handshake througn the strap loop. I then grab the pole like normal and hold the strap against the pole handle. I can easily switch to topping the pole for descents, choking up for rest step ascent, or just drop my poles witbout assistance from my other hand should the need arise (glassing/aiming, fall arrest, stuck in mud, etc). BTW, this is the same way I use ski poles for GS.. But, as you said, everyone has individual preferences.

What's a trekking pole? I've used a walking stick for decades...trekking pole? LOL

I didn't strap things to my pack before, but I'm a cold sleeper and now bring a closed cell foam pad (so that goes on top of my pack) and when a bear can is required, it goes there too.

I am totally hoping to be that girl that Flossy saw, carrying a C.I. skillet with me to cook stuff. (although maybe I'll bring one of my smaller or medium-sized ones) I'll hopefully "practice" on a couple weekend overnights and see how it goes. But I've got years before I'll be able to have time off enough to do an extended thru-hike, so practice different recipes

learning to read a map & triangulate yourself is VERY important! outside of the all trails thing (I sorta think this should be required to hike lol) learn to use a compass to read a map & triangulate position. Thats allowed me to practically go get lost then find my way home, it would save many people hardships learning this simple easy skill!!

Lightweight gears pointless bring what you need you can tell real hikers over fake ones when you buy all this lightweight junk gear that has no used in the mountains

Another thing to note in those All-Trails apps and such is the estimated mileage is often underestimated from my experience and you may have to allot more time and energy than what you expect if it turns out to be a longer trail. Some trails might not have had any maintenance done on them unless there are recent reviews.