First Time Backpacking in New Mexico: What I Learned as a Beginner

Even if this is the first article of mine you’ve ever read, I’m sure you can tell just by looking at my blog that I am a HUGE outdoor enthusiast. Outside is my favorite place to be, and I love trying out different ways to enjoy it! I always wanted to try backpacking. A couple of years ago, a friend and I gave it a shot, but we winged it and it was a total bust. After that, I never tried again.

I thought about it often but was far too nervous to try it out alone and unfortunately, I never found anyone interested in going with me. So it continued to sit and collect dust on the back burner. That is until I moved to New Mexico; with an unplanned career change and little to no social life, I had a lot more free time. However, I still didn’t have anyone to go with. I realized I needed to be more intentional and seek out an opportunity for myself instead of just sitting and waiting, which wasn’t working.

I joined a few Facebook groups and followed a few Instagram pages that fell into the niche. An opportunity appeared not long afte, a backpacking trip to South Sandia Peak. There would be 10 women and two experienced guides; it felt exactly like how I hoped. I marked my calendar for the day the trip was scheduled to drop. I was among the first to sign up.

As I move forward with this article, note that I am NOT an expert on backpacking, and would never claim to be. As a novice, I will share the top things I learned and noticed during my trip. I hope to learn more, as I am confident this will not be my last backpacking trip. But, if you are a seasoned backpacker, any advice you have is more than welcome!

1. Be Prepared Not To Have All The Right Gear Your First Time.

This was hands-down what stressed me out the most before I left for my trip. I questioned everything I put into my pack the day before and even berated myself for not doing more research and getting different gear. But here’s the thing, I did do research, quite a bit actually- I watched numerous videos and read multiple blog posts on what and how to pack. Besides, it wouldn’t make sense to run out and splurge on new gear since I wasn’t even sure I would like backpacking.

Your first experience backpacking, just like anything else, is an experiment. While some knowledge and understanding are essential to avoid feeling miserable the whole trip, you’ll learn a lot regardless of whether you have top-tier gear. Expect to have things you won’t end up needing and to forget some items you’ll wish you had later. This is where being in a group setting your first time is beneficial- I was able to borrow items I didn’t have.

There were a few specific things regarding the gear I brought that stuck out to me most.

• Tent Size– My biggest hindrance was the tent that I brought. It was a bit too heavy for this backpacking trip, especially since it was my first time and we were climbing an elevation gain of 3,228ft. I now plan to invest in a lighter tent. Ideally, it would fit in my pack or a side pocket, rather than hanging off the bottom, making me feel like Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings.

• Water Bottle Choice– Since there was no water source on trail, we packed our own, adding extra weight. I brought 5.5 liters, which was the right amount for me, but there is one thing I would do differently. I would have thought nothing of it if one of the other women hadn’t pointed it out. My water was in two hydration bladders that were 2 liters each and my Yeti which was around 1.5 liters. She advised that I look into buying a Nalgene bottle instead since it is quite a bit lighter than the Yeti. Although I absolutely love my Yeti (I have 2, one filled with Park stickers and the other filled with Anime stickers), this would be an easy way to rid myself of unnecessary weight.
• Taking Care of Business– I considered not sharing the most important thing that I forgot (or at least what I viewed as the most important). But, the whole point of this article is so others can learn from my mistakes, so here it goes. I didn’t have anything needed to handle solid waste. On an overnight trip, it’s almost inevitable that most people will have to go number 2 at least once, especially if you want to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning before you set out. Again, fortunately, it was easy for me to borrow from someone else in the group, but I would have been in an awkward situation if I was by myself. So next time I’ll be bringing a trowel, some wipes, and a separate bag to dispose of the wipes specifically.  I did have hand sanitizer though!

Below are links to the gear I’m glad I had and will continue to use!

Gregory Jade Backpack – Be aware that the best way to get the proper backpack for you is to be fitted for one.

Fire-Maple Backpacking and Camping Stove System – It’s a little bulky but worth it, in my opinion. It even comes with a little bowl!

Trailmade Mummy Bag Pillow – Keep in mind, that no camping pillow is super comfy, but I prefer this over the inflatable ones I’ve tried!

Bear Food Bag Hanging System – It was much lighter and more affordable than a canister. It took up little space and I was able to figure out how to hang it pretty easily!

Kula Cloth– An antimicrobial pee cloth that is an excellent Leave No Trace option, and there are so many cute designs!

2. You’re Going to Have to Play Around with Adjusting Your Backpack a Bunch.

According to the REI website, your pack should weigh no more than 20% of your body weight. Considering I’m around 130 lbs and my pack was about 38 lbs… I did not follow this rule. Now, we went over a few things I could do to lighten my load in the future, but I think it’s pretty common for packs to be heavier than recommended.

That being said, wearing them correctly will make a HUGE difference when it comes to your level of enjoyment as you hike. I was fortunate to have a guide who was constantly checking in with us and taking notice if we were fidgeting with our packs more than we should have been.

I can admit, I struggle with being a beginner and asking for help. So if she hadn’t been insistent, I probably would have trekked on in misery. About an hour and a half in, my back and shoulders were hurting, and I just assumed it was because my body wasn’t used to the extra weight. This was not the case. It was actually because I didn’t have the straps adjusted properly.

• The Hip Belt– I learned that the belt needs to be pretty tight and centered on the hip bones so they can help bear some of the weight. This allowed my lower body to take on more of the weight rather than my back and shoulders.
• The Shoulder Straps– Although this made a huge difference, it took me a bit longer to find the best level of tightness for my shoulder straps. They wouldn’t budge when I tried to pull on the loose ends. To solve this, I was informed that leaning forward to tighten them helps with this issue.
• The Load Lifers– I had also been tightening the load lifters (the straps attached to the top of the pack) before my shoulder straps. The best practice is to start by adjusting the straps at the bottom (the hips) and working your way up from there.
• Fine Tuning– I noted a few pressure points of discomfort even after my bigger adjustments. This is where I had to play around a bit more by slightly tightening or loosening the straps to find what worked best for me. Don’t be discouraged if your pack takes a bit to figure out, it definitely took some patience, but by the end I had it figured out!

3. Pack a Mixture of Sweet and Salty Snacks.

I have a big sweet tooth, so when I allowed myself to follow my heart while picking out trail snacks at the store, I couldn’t totally be surprised by what I ended up with. It wasn’t until that night that I realized my mistake. I had stocked on protein bars, gummy snacks, freeze-dried fruit, and peanut butter and banana wraps. The closest thing to salty I had was the trail mix (that I primarily got for the dairy-free chocolate chunks and dried cranberries).

My tastebuds were over it by the time the sunset and I was stoked to have my savory dinner.

Eating consistently is essential on the trail to keep your energy up! You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where eating sounds unappealing because you only packed one kind of snack. I never imagined I would get sick of sweet snacks…but lo’ I most certainly did. I was coveting another woman’s pretzels as I forced down dried pineapple.

Set yourself up for success and bring a balance of both!

4. Be Honest with Yourself When it Comes to How You’re Feeling Physically.

This one is much easier said than done.

I pride myself in being physically fit and capable, so my ego and I had to have some conversations while out on the trail. I reminded myself of the conversations I’ve had with multiple clients and members over the years: Training and becoming strong in one aspect of fitness does not automatically translate to another. Just like it took time for me to work my way up with weight training and trail running, it will take me time with backpacking as well.

My body is experiencing something new, and it doesn’t do any good for me to overdo it while I’m still learning. Backpacking is about being out in nature, taking on a physical challenge while enjoying the beauty around you, and in my case specifically, building community. Slowing my pace and taking periodic breaks won’t take away from any of those important things!

Another thing to keep in mind is, that if you are holding a fast pace that is not right for you, or neglecting to take breaks when needed, you will not just become physically exhausted but mentally and emotionally as well. This can lower your awareness of your surroundings while you hike. You may be so focused on “just getting through it” that you fail to notice a wild animal in the bushes, a snake on the trail, or a root sticking out of the earth that could cause you to fall.

We want to enjoy the trail but stay vigilant. A big part of that is making sure we’re monitoring ourselves physically and mentally to maintain safety.

5. Always Practice the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

Keep in mind, that the Leave No Trace Principles go beyond picking up your trash. Some examples of how they can be applied to your backpacking trip are:

• Interactions with Nature and Wildlife– Keep your distance, avoid feeding animals, leave what you find, and do not disrupt natural behaviors.
• Selecting Campsite– Be sure to camp and hike on a durable surface, avoid fragile ecosystems, and set up at least 200ft away from any water source.
• Human Waste Disposal– Dig a cathole that is 6-8 inches deep and pack out any toilet paper or wipes used.
• Know the Rules– Understanding the area’s rules and regulations to be aware of group sizes, campfires, and permits.

For a more in-depth blog post on the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace follow THIS LINK!

Final Thoughts:

Full transparency, I was borderline, a nervous wreck the night before this trip. I questioned if I should even be going, I felt like I was in over my head, and the unknowns were daunting. It doesn’t take much for me to say “yes” to outdoor adventures, but for whatever reason, the nerves came on strong and I almost let myself miss out on an amazing opportunity.

Being a beginner isn’t easy and it can be quite scary, but we learn best by doing. I needed to go on this trip and make mistakes and realize I was missing things. Online information is a great starting point, but I learned much more by actually being out there than by reading ten more blog posts.

Backpacking challenged me in a way that I haven’t experienced in a while. I not only felt connected to the women around me, but I learned a lot about myself. I am strong and I am capable; two traits that I can apply to the rest of my life.

I strongly encourage you to try out backpacking for yourself if it’s something that’s been on your bucket list. Just like most things, it all starts with you getting out there. I feel confident that you will also learn valuable things about yourself out on the trail, all while admiring the fantastic views!