How Triple Crown Hikers Prepare

When it comes to backpacking, preparation is key. Arguably, the best preparation is repetition…which of course means going backpacking. I find a lot of new hikers get stuck in this loop: in order to go backpacking, they have to prepare. In order to feel prepared, they need to go backpacking. So much of what keeps us from making the first move is the fear of the unknown. At some point though, you just have to go. Triple Crown hikers are not immune to the trepidation of putting life on hold to go backpacking, but once they’ve done it once, it’s less fearful and it’s easier to do it again. When you’ve done your due diligence in research, go on a hike. Keep it short, keep it close to home, keep it easy. You’ll be surprised to find out how quickly your confidence grows.

Part of being prepared is having the gear you need to be safe, comfortable, and successful. This is the step where so many people get overtly hung up on getting right. I think in an activity where almost no variables can be controlled (weather, trail conditions, other users, etc.) focusing on gear gives the illusion of control. If you have the “right” gear, then you’ll be fine. While it is important to have good gear, that gear list is highly individual. Triple Crown hikers know from thousands of miles of backpacking what their likes and dislikes are and have a good sense of what gear they need for what type of trip. The truth is, they didn’t learn that by copying another person’s gear list online. They learned it by trying things out for themselves. You have to start somewhere and that can be with the gear you have. Peruse online reviews and ask people what they like and why. The more you hike, the more you’ll discover your preferences. Once you know that, you can invest in gear that will last you a long time.

Every Triple Crown hiker has been lost at some point. They know that navigation is essential. Download an app, use a GPS, learn map and compass. Prepare to not know where exactly you are at some point and have the skills to get to where you want to go safely. Practice these skills until they are second nature.

Over time, Triple Crown hikers learn where they can skimp and where they can’t. Taking care of your feet, eating plenty of calories, and ingesting clean water are essential. Prepare yourself physically for hiking, carry the proper water treatment for your route, plot your meals and calories, and deal with foot problems as soon as they start. Preparing your body for your trek and taking care of it along the way is key.

Preparing for the conditions of the route you’re planning to travel is crucial to safety and success. Most Triple Crown hikers have mailed gear ahead, swapped it out, of purchased things along to way to cope with changing conditions. Researching the climate, the weather, and reading reports from hiker’s who’ve hiked your route at similar times of year can help you anticipate your gear and hydration needs. Keep in mind that altitude can dramatically shift conditions, sometimes requiring ice axes and traction even in the dead of summer.

Triple Crown hikers know that preparation is essential for being safe and happy in the backcountry. They choose their gear according to the anticipated conditions and make sure their kit is vetted from previous hikes. They know how to navigate and take care of their bodies in the mountains. They also know that their skills were built over time and that taking their first steps on trail were the key component of reaching their skill level.