Tips on How to Stay Safe While Backpacking

Venturing into the thick of the wild can spike the adrenaline and creativity and ease stress, but it can also be a little scary. We hope the following tips on how to stay safe while backpacking will help prepare you for possible situations that may (keyword: may) arise. While it's most beneficial to take an introductory backpacking safety course, kickstart the research process by following the advice stated in this article!

Get a physical map and download GPS beforehand

You should have a physical map of the route you’re going to do. While most trails in national and provincial parks are well maintained and well signed enough to make it without one, it is still incredibly useful for planning times, breaks, and learning about the features around you. As well as relieving the worry about running out of battery, a physical map gives a visual overview of an entire area and can draw your attention to trails you may otherwise have missed.

We also like to download an electronic map for our smartphone. If you are relying on your phone for GPS, carry a solar battery pack to keep your phone charged! Our free trail guides can be downloaded for offline use.

Learn first aid

Having some knowledge of first aid is critical in the backcountry. While it is great to help with mundane issues (like blisters, small cuts, sunstroke and diarrhea) it can also be a huge benefit in more extreme cases, such as fractures, deep cuts or allergic reactions.

At minimum, consider taking a wilderness first aid course – the basic ones can be done over a weekend. Good wilderness first aid courses, in Canada called Adventure Medic or Advanced Adventure Medic Courses, take five days and ten days respectively.

Investing in a first aid course, especially with a wilderness focus, is a great step in protecting yourself in the backcountry. If an accident happens, the knowledge you have could save your life or that of a fellow backpacker.

Pack a first aid kit

Paired with knowledge gained in the section above, a first aid kit is a vital piece of equipment on any backcountry trip – even if all you use it for is treating blisters and splinters.

Make sure you know what’s in your kit, and how to use it effectively. Ensure that the kit is equivalent to the size of your group and the length of your trip.

Finally, for your first backpacking trip, add extra Band-Aids, some moleskin or second skin for blisters, a few over-the-counter painkillers and any other useful medications to round out your supplies. Trust us, you’ll be happy you have, and they weigh very little. Our hiking first aid kit guide lists what to put in it.

Satellite communications

Most of the backcountry has no mobile signal, so a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is the only way to call for help. These devices send your position and an emergency message from anywhere with a view of the sky, and most also let you send simple check-in messages to people at home. Rent one if you do not want to buy, and make sure everyone in your group knows where it is and how to trigger it.

While it may still take hours for a helicopter or rescue crew to reach you, knowing they are on the way is a great help.

Inform people where you are heading

Before you leave, email a couple of reliable friends or family members the details of where you’re starting your trip, your destination, the estimated time of return and the phone numbers for all members of your group. This is very useful in case of emergencies and if you encounter an issue in the backcountry. After a long trip, it can be easy to forget to tell your designated contacts you have returned safely, but please try to remember – much time each year is spent by mountain rescue looking for people who are wrapped up warm in bed.

Check the weather forecast

We like to get a quality mountain weather report the morning we leave, and we usually take a screen grab. We like getting a mountain weather report, as that gives a better idea of what will happen in the mountains, as opposed to the nearby population centres. We use mountain-forecast.com which is excellent for this.

We also suggest checking for any trail updates, either using online trail conditions reports or by calling the local Parks or Tourism Office. Here in the Canadian Rockies I also like to check out the weekly bear report, to see if there are any aggressive bears in the area I’m going backpacking in.

Learn about bear safety

Bears are an issue in some parts of North America, and a bit of knowledge can really help in being safe. Read our guide to bear safety in the Rockies.

Take care of your feet

Your feet are critical for your backpacking trip. If you get blisters, then hiking is going to suck. Blisters can also get infected, leading to bigger problems. So, no matter what you do, pay attention to your feet.

To begin with, have good boots that you’ve broken in. Ideally your boots are waterproof and can be paired with some lightweight gaiters to help keep the water from getting into your boots. Keeping your feet dry is a great way to keep them in great shape.

On hot days you also need to make sure your feet don’t overheat. I never wear gaiters when it’s dry and hot, and like to wear shorts, so my feet can breathe from the top of my boots.

Make sure you have the gear you need to treat blisters, like Band-Aids, moleskin and other types of tape to reduce blisters. Then, if you feel even a small rubbing, stop and take care of your feet.

I also like to hike with liner socks. Liner socks allow your socks to rub against each other, reducing friction between your foot and the sock.

Finally, bring extra socks. The one thing I don’t skimp on is extra pairs of socks – reusing dirty socks makes you more prone to blisters and having a dry pair to change into after a wet day is wonderful.

Backpacking for the first time doesn’t have to be stressful! Check out our backpacking tips for beginners to help ease any worries you might have. If you would rather go with a guide, browse our guided and self-guided hiking tours.

This article is part of a series of articles for beginner backpackers. You can see other articles here:

• How to stay warm while backpacking
• Backpacking hydration tips
• Backpacking checklist and how to pack

We also have other articles to help you with the basics of travelling in the wilderness, such as how to poop in the backcountry and trail etiquette.