Backcountry Camping Basics 

TIME STAMPS for the mobile folks! 00:29 Plan Ahead and Prepare 00:52 Selecting a Campsite 03:08 Camping and Food 05:04 Campfires 06:30 Dealing With Waste (Using the Restroom/Packing out Trash) 09:41 Packing Up Camp 10:02 Be Considerate of Others 10:53 Leave What You Find

I highly recommend putting little pieces of reflective tape on almost all of your gear. It helps finding stuff at night VASTLY easier. I work with owls for a living and do a lot of night hiking because of it. A piece of tape on a piece of gear can make it very easy to find from very far away. Seriously, it's easier to find stuff at night with reflective tape than during the day. Also with it you can do a little trick if you have to do a sudden #2 in the middle of the night. Bring one or two pieces of your gear that has reflective tape with you as you walk out. Use the pieces of gear as markers to find your way back to your tent. Just don't space them out too far. It's incredibly easy to get lost in the woods at night even if you are only walking a couple hundred feet away.

My backpacking education came from people who backpacked in the sixties and seventies. I was always taught to take only pictures and leave only footprints. I love your videos Dixie, keep up the great work.

The leave no trace rule is so important- thank you for mentioning it several times in the video!👏🏼

Poop compass Suunto A-10 Compass Point the compass in the direction you want to walk to poop. Align the red marker with North end of the needle (red). Walk away from camp. Once you are done with doing your business, look at your compass and turn your body until the red marker aligns with the South end of the needle (black) and walk back to camp. On the AT finding a landmark can be hard because everything looks like rocks and trees, rocks and trees, rocks and trees. Thanks for the video Dixie

That's all solid advice! Always be aware of what's above you. Things that can fall down on you are usually referred to as 'widow makers' and for a reason. If you ever heard the sound of a coconut drop from a tree when it hits the ground makes you really aware of this. After doing a number 2 I burn the toilet paper because the normal toilet paper actually stays in nature longer than you like. I take a small stick and stick it in the poop area and break the tip so your fellow men know that this was a poop area already and don't start digging their hole there because that can become messy really quick. Depending on the time of day and hours of daylight remaining and also the weather conditions I usually start the campfire first and than set up my sleeping place. You can boil some water whilst setting up the tent or hammock and it saves time. I say campfire but this can also mean just a cook fire in a bushbox. Don't make the fire bigger than you actually need it to be. A good bushbox also keeps the fire of the ground. I usually don't do the dishes with soap but instead use sand and water. But like I said. It's all solid advice!

I carry my tent stakes in a roll made from light nylon, with a slot for each stake. This is an automatic stake counter. As I pull each stake it goes into a slot. Since I started doing this have not left a stake behind.

When I was a boy, I read in a book that my father checked out from a library that one should never set up camp on or near a trail. A big animal might pass through on the trail at night and cause problems. When I became a young adult grouse hunter, one Friday late afternoon after work, I shouldered my pack and, all alone, carried my .22 rimfire rifle up the ten-mile trail up War Creek that is sourced near the Purple Pass overlooking of the head end of Lake Chelan, Washington. As darkness began to envelope the trail, I took a right angle diversion from the trail in the uphill direction and found an almost flat place to sleep for the night about six rods from the trail for to spread my ground cloth and bedding. The next morning after a cup of instant coffee made with water heated on my Sterno stove, I packed up and rejoined the trail. There I saw the track of a large catamount inside one of my tracks made the night before.

I always try to leave a camp or trail better than I found it. I bring a plastic bag with me just for picking up other people's trash. :-)

Would love to see tips and tricks on setting up a tent in a rain storm. Thanks for the years of knowledge.

The 4 w's from Dave Canterbury, wind, wood, water, & widow-maker. Very informative, keep it coming. Community is always a good thing. Be safe & God speed.

Modern campers bring their entire home with them in their RVs, they start their generators as soon as they arrive, watch TV inside all day and make a lot of noises all day and night with at least 3 large dogs too, beside their family of 7. They don't seem to be out there to enjoy nature, but to be away from their communities.

I’m an experienced camper and getting better with backpacking. I grew up riding horses but now that I’m grown I don’t have horses so I started backpacking. I’ve learned a lot over the years but I must say you are very addictive to watch. Thanks for all your info. Hope to see you on the trail someday.

bearmuda triangle- nice.

Great video Dixie! I want to point out there are 2 schools of thought on the whole no impact thing...some people subscribe to staying in established campsites to minimize damage to the surrounding areas. This is probably smart in parks and on the big trails you hike on due to sheer traffic but otherwise the opposite can be more helpful...choosing a pristine area and doing the least to damage it will protect any visibly used spots from getting further devastated. Choosing new each time allows campsites to recover between uses. If you are camping in a regulated place that is, if there is someone to ask, they may tell you either for a certain reason. Do follow their directions. A word for hammockers...be careful picking your trees. The perfect arrangement of trees for hammock setup is pretty universal meaning that if you want to hang there chances are it looked like a good idea to someone else too? The problem is when we wear down the bark in the same places on trees it can damage the tree. Eventually it can kill the tree but even before that happens it starts to make the tree increasingly more dangerous to take the weight of a hiker. You can minimize impact to trees from hammocks by using tree huggers which are wide straps instead of thin ropes or cords.

You are so much better than most of the backpackers out there who do not practice LNT. I'm not saying that I'm perfect, far from it, but some don't practice LNT and have every reason why it doesn't apply to them. I really appreciate what you said in this video and the good practices that you have demonstrated in every video.

Well Dixie you have come along ways from the approach day 1 on the AT when I first started following you .Great info. Love all the videos. Keep them coming and may you never run out of trail.

Great series Dixie. Each video has so much information. No more excuses to hit the trails, everything we need to know is right here in this series!

This is a good one to share with my scout troop. Thank you!

Thanks Dixie for sharing your experience!! This has truly been an extremely helpful series!!

Thank you so much for doing this series.

This has been a great and informative series Dixie!!! Thank you so much for sharing everything you’ve learned!!!

Thanks for all the info Dixie! 👍😀

Thank you Dixie for the series. watched and enjoyed all of them. very very good and important info all backpackers should know.

Loved the "Dixie Everyday" Back to Basics Series. Thanks Dixie and Aaron for Y'all hard work the last 2 wks! Y'all gotta be exhausted! Appreciate your efforts! BEAR-muda Triangle is were all your lost gear went! Thanks Dixie & Aaron!

Thanks for the great tips!⛺

Thank you for all the info in all your videos ! I've watched all of them ( some twice) and learned a lot . I'm planning a solo section hike on the AT ( Virginia to NC) and I've used a lot of your gear tips. Keep it up Dixie , your awesome !!

Kudos to Dixie aka Morning Pooper for this excellent series. I always learned new things. I have made this point elsewhere in the series: Instead of an open campfire, try a gassifyjng wood stove. Personally, I love my Trail Designs Ti-Tri Caldera. I can cook with alcohol, Isbit, or twigs and small segments of sticks. It will cook wet wood, too. While the case is bulky, the stove is made of lightweight titanium. I decided this was the best wood stove money can buy. I felt guilty constantly throwing away fuel canisters, so I only use canister stoves if I expect heavy rain. The downside is that wood stoves require more time - in setting up, getting going, and breaking down. The upside is that you will not need to spend time in towns looking for fuel canisters to buy. And it pollutes less than an open fire or non-gassifying wood stove does. Pick your poison. Once you have built up a hot ash base, you will be impressed by how much heat a gassifying wood stove throws. The Trail Designs can hold more hot coals than any other comparable design I have found. At the same time, you do not get many floating cinders, thus you reduce the risk of uncontrolled fire. It is also a lot easier to find fuel than it would be for a conventional campfire. To light my stove, I use a Hemplights hemp wick dispenser paired to a Bic. (FYI, I promote the product for the company president, having been friends with him for 19 years.) It makes lighting stoves and campfires easier. Just do not try the version for Mini Bics - it is not ideal for these uses. I will extend the hemp wick about 4" to reach Isbit, alcohol, wood fuel or campfire birds nests, without having to worry about burning my thumb on the lighter as I struggle to achieve ignition. Makes your lighter last wayyyyy longer, too. As far as gathering fuel, it is not cool to clean out your immediate area. Soil needs decaying wood on the ground to enrich it. Spread out to collect wood fuel. If you use birch bark for tinder, do not peel the bark 360° around the trunk, or you will kill the tree. Pick from here and there, so the tree can recover.

Great video Dixie!! I remember the "Bearmuda Triangle" from my Philmont days, and as an LNT Master Educator and LNT State Advocate for Texas, I want to thank you especially for doing SUCH a good job of spreading the Leave No Trace message.

Thanks Dixie for the whole series you put out over the past couple weeks... They were awesome and full of good information! Keep at it!

thank you, dixie! i have been assembling my first gear for some weeks now to go on my first backpacking trip during the easter holidays and your channel is sooo helpful...! keep'em coming! the triple crown is merely the beginning... ;)

Thank you for sharing 💜 spot on 💜 advice

I'm new to backpacking and I've found these videos SO helpful!! Thank you Dixie!

Great information. Thanks for this wonderful series!

Thanks for the tips & reminders. It's been awhile since some of us have been on trail and a bit of refreshment on trail etiquette is always beneficial Stay well & safe.... Cheers.

These videos are AWESOME! Thanks for posting!

I discovered your videos just last week but I'm OBSESSED with them! I never skip any ads that play before because this information and the simplicity of your videos just feels so valuable :)

Enjoyed the video. Nice reminders

Thank your for sharing all of your knowledge and expertise with us. I know I appreciate it and have learn new things within this two week segment. I will definitely stay tuned for next weeks video. Cheers!

Thank you Dixie. You're awesome.

Thank you for posting this video doll

This was a phenomenal series! Thank you so much.

All a backpacker needs to know in this two week collection. Thank you, Dixie.

Excellent advice

Fantastic. I always enjoy your vids. You are Very Helpful, Humble, Funny with Great Expressions and Gestures. mot informative video series on hikes and such a pleasure to watch.

Hey Dixie! About an hour ago I was doing some research on crampons vs microspikes and I saw your vid come up on that topic in my search results. I wanted you to know I clicked on that before anyone else's review. I have often appreciated your honesty as to what you know on a topic and what you don't. Very much appreciated!

Thanks Dixie, so much do I appreciate you from talking from experience and not a book. Well done !! 👍👍👍👍

Great series, thanks for sharing!

Great set of videos Dixie

I do not like ever leaving a pack attended so I started hanging a bandana or shemagh on the trail to mark my departure from the trail. I HAVE misplaced my pack so have had that panic and howls of despair. Thank you for covering the most essential elements to LNT and providing real backcountry examples with best outcomes.

awesome series . thank you dixie!

Great info and insight. Best wishes.

Thanks for this! Come on, summertime! 😎

Thanks for sharing the series. Very informative :)

Thanks Dixie I hope your current activities are meeting your expectations keep making good videos thank you

This series of videos were amazing!!! Thanks for taking your time on getting so much information out.

Enjoyed the series thank you so much

Those are all great ideas about camping out and I try to keep my food in my backpack when not in use and if I camp out in a park I will try to keep my food stored in my vehicle unless I am on foot.

RU-vid recommended finally got it right. Some awesome tips!

Jessica, excellent as always!

Thanks Dixie! I love all ur videos. Informative and done well. The editor does a great job also. I've learned a lot!

All videos are great, thank you

Really enjoyed the series! And I learned a couple of things to boot! 👍

Great info about the basics !!

Excellent series, Dixie!

Good video ,thanks, answered a lot of questions that I had. Cool

beautiful disappearing fire ring!

I sure do enjoy ya videos. Thanks

Thanks for a great series 👍

Very informative.. thanks!

Yea Play list! I'll have binge watch party! 😀

great series - thank you!

Great series on backpacking!

great video thanks !

Thanks for the videos!

Thanks Dixie! Always great info. Keep up the great work. ATB : )

Awesome video. Have a great week, Andreas 🇸🇪

Very informative; enjoyed video.

Another great video in a series of great videos. You ROCK!

Nice one Dixi. Love your videos 😊

Hi Dixie, great video!

Excellent advice from someone who really knows what they are taking about. Very comprehensive.

Outstanding series.

Thank you for a wonderful video. Great presentation. I work with scouts and other outdoor groups and will steer them to this video. Where I backpack there are no bears, but rats, mongoose, wild pigs and dogs can be a problem . . . especially the rodents. I often hang my food and even trash to be carried out in odor proof bags.

You are a blessing, Dixie!!

Thank you so much, Dixie for answering my question about what YOU do with your pack when you need to go “off trail” and also how you navigate to your cat hole and back to your pack! I hope I won’t be laughed at if I use those cute colored clips deer hunters use! I just don’t want to get turned around and lost......my biggest fear. I have really enjoyed this series so thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. 😎⚓️

DIXIE...you rock, lots of great advice and tips...many thanks appreciate your efforts!.

Thank you so much for making these videos . You have really helped me. Hoping to drop some weight this spring and summer. Cheers from Vancouver Island ❤️✌🏼

Very nice video and very informative 👍🏼🇺🇸

Fabulous video! I can always rely on you to teach responsibility!

Good basic information that is needed to be heard several times.

So excited for this video!

Tis the season, happy hiking to all.👍

Australian tips: Watch for snake, emu or boar tracks. Don't want to have your tent ripped open or bitten in the morning ahaha. Stay away from gum trees because they expand during the day and shrink overnight thus causing stable 100 kilogram branches to snap off and kill you. (Watched it nearly happen to a mate of mine, terrifying) CLOSE YOUR TENT!!!! I slept with a huntsmen once and lemme tell you they aren't friendly if you lay on em. Watch the bush fire season, fire ban or not if it's not and windy then no fire, if they're a dry lightening storm then stay away from any bush and watch for fires! Also fire ban is important! Watch the sand, brown snake babies hide in it, they will bite and kill you. Bring 2x water because you don't know if something will happen and you need that water. If you are lost looks for mass trees, birds or crows. Tree = water. Water=people. Bird=water. Crows= dead animals. Dead animals= road kill meaning roads.

Great 👍 thank you

- "Do you like to hug a tree as you do it" hahahaha that had me dying! what if you loose your grip?... Love your content Dixie!

Thank's for inspisering videos and lot of useful tips :):):)

Bar far your best video...............learned more from this one...........than 20 normal backpacking videos.

Luv the “Bearmuda” concept! Very creative philosophy, which perpetuates bearreal environs!

Excellent