Why Every Backpacker Should Repeat Local Favorite Trails (Especially before a Big Trek)
There’s a funny pressure in backpacking that says every trip has to be somewhere new. A new trail, a new mountain range, a new national park.
But after spending another Fourth of July weekend in the mountains away from the crowds and heat, I’ve realized something about me.. Some of my most valuable trips are the ones I’ve already done.
With my Bryce Canyon Under-the-Rim Trek just around the corner, this overnight wasn’t about checking another destination off a list. It was more about warming up my body, giving my gear a run through and slowing my mind before a much bigger adventure.
Sometimes the best adventure isn’t a new trail, it’s returning to an old friend.
Every Long Trek Deserves a Shakedown
I don’t like discovering problems on Day 2 of a five day backpacking trip, if at all avoidable. I know there is inherent risk in solo-backpacking. A simple overnighter is the perfect dress rehearsal.
Did I pack too much? Does my backpack still fit comfortably? Did I forget anything important? How does my sleep system feel now that it’s summer? Is my food plan something I’ll actually enjoy eating for multiple days? These are some small questions that can potentially become big problems on longer trips.
By repeating a familiar trail, I can focus on those details instead of worrying about navigation or what terrain or obstacles lies around the next bend.
Your Legs Need a Reminder too
No matter how much I hike throughout the year, backpacking with a loaded pack uses muscles differently. Now that I’m well into my 40’s.. those climbs feel steeper and those descents remind my knees of there age.
That first overnighter in awhile is my body’s way of saying, Oh… we’re doing this again.
It’s much better to let my legs complain now than halfway through my Bryce Canyon 30 mile trek.
Confidence is a Piece of Gear
There’s something comforting about walking a trail you already know. Instead of wondering where camp might be or if the next climb ever ends, your brain has room to think about everything else.
I notice more, enjoy the scenery instead of racing to the next waypoint. For me, repeated trails become confidence builders. I know I can do this. That confidence carries into unfamiliar places later.
The Trail is Never Really the Same
Even when the route stays the same, every trip feels a little different. The weather changes, wildflowers come and go, the light hits the mountain differently. Every backpacking trip teaches something new because you bring a little more experience with you each time. That’s one of the reasons I keep coming back.
Final Thoughts
By the time I hiked back to the trailhead, I wasn’t just excited for my Bryce Canyon Trek next weekend.. I felt ready.
My body had been reminded what carrying a backpack feels like, although it’s going to be heavier with water and food for a 5 day trek compared to this overnighter. My mind had also settled down a little bit into trail mode. This 9 mile round trip overnighter accomplished exactly what I hoped it would.
If you’re preparing for a longer backpacking trip, don’t overlook the value of repeating a favorite trail near by. You don’t always need a brand new destination to become a better backpacker.
Sometimes the smartest trip is the familiar one, especially solo backpacking (which I do a lot of). It gives your gear a shakedown, wakes up your trail legs and builds that confidence.
And every now and then, it reminds you that backpacking isn’t about collecting and documenting the trails, but about enjoying the journey.
With my shakedown complete, the next adventure is just around the corner.
This weekend I’ll be heading out on Bryce Canyon’s Under-the-Rim Trail for several days of backpacking through one of Utah’s most incredible landscapes. I’m looking forward to putting everything I tested on this overnight to good use.
I’ll be sharing the full trip report when I return. Until then.. Happy trails
