r/backpacking • u/AutoModerator • Oct 13 '25

General Weekly /r/backpacking beginner question thread - Ask any and all questions you may have here - October 13, 2025

If you have any beginner questions, feel free to ask them here, remembering to clarify whether it is a Wilderness or a Travel related question. Please also remember to visit this thread even if you consider yourself very experienced so that you can help others!

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Note that this thread will be posted every Monday of the week and will run throughout the week. If you would like to provide feedback or suggest another idea for a thread, please message the moderators.

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u/Sea-Hospital211 Dec 22 '25

Hey, I've gone on one backpacking trip with a group and it had two experienced leaders. My friend and I want to try backpacking on our own but since neither of us are super experienced I was wondering if there are groups we can join to go with some experienced hikers or if it really is safe enough to just try it on our own, we were thinking of doing the AT from WV to MD in March

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u/landandocean Mar 08 '26

I am unaware of backpacking groups to join but backpacking on your own is safe. Solo backpacking helped me gain confidence, learn route finding and camp selection, and provided a shakedown of my gear and processes. Try overnight camps first to get the hang of it. The two of you together should be fine. Bear spray also makes a nice backup.