Five Common Backpacking Mistakes 

Hey Mark, great topic,! Well done. In regards to over packing, I make a two column list…. NEED and WANT….. need shelter….want xtra sleep clothes…kind of like that. Then when I weigh in, if I’m less than target, I get to select from the want column. It’s worked very well for me. Thanks. Rick

Yep, I've pretty much made all of those mistakes... multiple times... Back when I was a Scoutmaster I regularly carried probably 5 lbs of gear I never used. Rainman finally got me to see the light, that my Gregory Baltoro 65 was simply begging me to shove more stuff in it because I had the room. Once I forced myself to sell that pack and get into a lighter, smaller pack, I not only was less sore after backpacking trips, but I could cover more miles and enjoy the trip more. Wish I'd had that advice umteen treks ago! Great video Mark.

All good guidance that you shared. I would add this one: trying to push through an injury instead of changing your trip. Not a good idea, you just make it worse.

On one trip I didn't bring enough ready to eat food like protein bars and really felt it. I try to eat every hour when hiking now. Or eat a Snickers right away when I feel like I'm about to feel fatigued.

Awesome pointers there

Solid advice.

All great points! If you forget food, just don't be that guy that stares at the others with a pitiful face. lol... You also have those guys that always bring a lack of food or the wrong foods so they eat yours.

Mark, I want to lose weight while hiking, yet I do get hungry! How is the best way to curb that?

Didnt have a chance to watch the whole thing but did you mention pooping ON the trail and leaving tissue ON the trail?? I saw this a LOT last summer on the AT. Gross and ignorant humans, even my DOG knows not to poop on the trail.

Sorry if you get a Duplex and don't realize you needed trekking poles you might not want to go out into the woods period. I know its just a made up situation but that would be totally clueless. Sorry I had to pause the video to say that. I also know you would never do that. Now, I could see someone forgetting their poles at his cabin. You know what I'm talking about? Did you see that the other day? He made it work but every time something goes wrong and I think maybe he does it on purpose. Part of his style. Probably not that he just forgets a lot of stuff, he always never finishes or sticks to the plan. Still just a lot of crazy stuff though. Okay back to your video.