Probably every one of you at one time has said “I’d like to get away from it all.” A literal way to pull that off is to try backpacking, extended hiking where you stay overnight or several days and carry in what you need. Being out in the wild for a few days is a great mind clearer, and it’s good for the soul to rough it and be away from the clamor of modern life. The trick to backpacking is to carry only what you really need to be reasonably comfortable and safe. Carry too much and you become a pack mule and have much less fun. What follows is a list of equipment and items usually used on a backpacking venture. Buying all of this can be costly, so try to bum some gear from someone and try backpacking one weekend to see if you like it enough to invest in your own gear, which is best acquired over time.

1. Backpack: Most backpacks are made of rip-stop nylon and have an internal or external metal frame. Get one with lots of compartments and zippered pockets to hold stuff. There are all types, so try on several. Get one that has heavily padded shoulder straps and a padded hip belt to allow some of the weight to be carried on your hips rather than all on your shoulders.

2. Sleeping Bag: Again there are all kinds. The main thing to shop for is one that will keep you warm in whatever weather you’re camping in, is reasonably light weight, and crushes down small for easy transport. Another item nice to have is a sleeping pad, which keeps you off the rocks and insulates you from the cold ground.

3. Boots: You don't have to wear boots on short trips. But your feet take a lot of abuse on a trail, and with a load on your back, foot support is critical. Buy some good leather ones and make sure they are well broken in. Blisters are instant trip bummers, so the shoes must fit well.

4. Clothing: In the summer you can get by on shorts and T-shirts. In the winter you need good wool and/or synthetic clothing that will keep you warm even when wet. Rain gear is good to have year round.

5. Cooking Gear: You don't have to cook when backpacking, but warm food sure tastes good and smells heavenly when your miles from Hardees. There are small, lightweight stoves available, and there are also all kinds of cooking kits with pans, bowls, plates, etc. to do your cooking and eating in.

6. Food: You eat plenty when walking a lot of miles with a load on your back. You can buy the lightweight freeze-dried stuff from hiking catalogs and outdoor stores, but there are plenty of lightweight foods at the grocery store you can use with some imagination.

If you want to read up on backpacking, try Colin Fletcher's book: The New Complete Walker. There are many books on backpack cooking as well. Wilderness Road Outfitters in Cumberland Gap carries backpacking equipment, as do River Sport Outfitters in Knoxville and Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville. There are lots of outdoor catalogs out there as well. Some of my favorites are Campmor, Sierra Trading Post, and SunnySports.

“Tri-State Outside” is written by Steve Roark, Claiborne Countny Forester.