Are you ready?
You need to be able to hike a 10-mile day hike with elevation gain (meaning not totally flat) and with a day pack and not feel completely destroyed by the end. If you can hike a 10-mile day on a footpath (not a dirt road or a paved road) that goes up and down and you feel good at the end of the day, then you are ready. We will be hiking around 9 miles a day, but with an overnight pack, which is significantly heavier than a day pack. We use ultralightweight gear, but the ounces always add up. 25-30 lbs is weight that you can carry on your back, but it does slow you down and tire you out.
Questions
Shoes?
Wear shoes that you already know you are comfortable in. These are shoes that you have hiked in loads already, or maybe the shoes you run in. Wear shoes that you already know never give you a blister or cause any discomfort. You do NOT want to go out and buy new shoes, or buy special hiking boots. Honestly, most hiking can be done in sneakers. We will not be on muddy or slippery terrain that requires intense tread or traction on the soles of your shoes. If you feel comfortable in shoes with more ankle support, great. But if you don't already hike in these shoes, do not go buy them.
Are you okay with bugs?
We will be in nature. There will be bugs. Ants and flies live here. You are a guest in their home. Ants might crawl on your skin while you are sitting down taking a break. You can brush them off so they stop tickling you. Flies will buzz around and tickle your skin when they land on you. This is part of outdoor life. If it is the season for mosquitoes or biting flies, you might get some bug bites.
Will you see snakes?
Probably. They live outside. There are many nonvenomous snakes in San Diego. They will just slither away when they are aware you are close by. We may encounter a rattlesnake, but it will announce itself with its distinct rattle and we will walk around it giving it loads of space. In the unlikely event that you are bitten, emergency medical response will be called for evacuation. They have good medicine for these things.
Will you be in pain?
Common discomforts during first time backpacking trips include bruises on your hips and shoulder areas from the pack itself. It is uncomfortable, but not intolerable. More padding can be added, but in reality your body just gets used to it and numbs the area temporarily.
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Will you be comfortable?
Backpacking is not inherently “comfortable.” It is fun and challenging. It makes you feel like you've actually done something today. You have walked from there to here, moved forward with your life, literally: physically and mentally. When we live at home comfort is expected. When be backpack, we do what we can to make it more “comfortable.” But sleeping on the ground is not as comfortable as sleeping in a bed. Hearing night sounds is not as comfortable as the silence of your room (or white noise of the TV if you're into that). The climate changes from hot to cold, from wet to dry, and anywhere in between, and we adapt. Humans are adaptable. We used to live outside all the time, and we actually still can. Our bodies can adapt. We are still instinctual and intelligent beings when forced to be. Our definitions of “comfortable” start to change. Making these changes with new friends in the same situation is memorable and fun!
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Age requirements?
Nope! If you are under 18 you are still welcome with your guardian's permission.
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Maps?
You will take turns each day being the person in front and navigating the group with a paper map. We can also talk about hiking apps for your phone.
Leave No Trace:
We will learn how to dig a poop hole, also known as a cat hole, to be sustainable and clean and follow leave no trace principles. Toilet paper can be packed in, used, and then packed out in a separate Ziplock bag. I will also show you the alternative to toilet paper.
Food:
Backpacker meals with be provided. They are dehydrated/freeze dried and we will rehydrate them in water with our cooking stoves. Lunches will be a lesson in cold-soaking for those interested in not carrying the added weight of a stove/fuel in the future. You will also be choosing from a variety of snacks and energy bars, but if you want to bring anything of your own, you are welcome to.
Dietary restrictions are welcome. There are loads of hikers that thru-hike on vegan and gluten-free diets.