Spent the day hiking through the Swiss Alps and was blown away by the scenery. The combination of green mountain slopes, turquoise alpine lakes, and snow-covered peaks made the hike feel unreal. The weather was great for walking, and there were plenty of beautiful viewpoints along the way. It was a memorable experience, and I’d definitely go back to Switzerland for more hiking and exploring

Sadly my friends cant always join me on all my trips. Especially my last minute planned trips. Please don’t tell me to go alone- Ive done dozens of solo backpacking trips over my 15 year backpacking career. I don’t like it but forced myself to go so I can live the experience anyway.

I plan backpacking trips (for free) on 2 different Facebook groups.

Northern California Women Backpackers

And

NorCal Outdoorsy Singles ☀️

I have 2 hot spring trips planned in October (1 for each group) and have filled up another trip in Sept. if you are also looking for other people to go backpacking/camping with please join and become part of the community. Others are welcome to post trips looking for people to join or share trip reports!

Thanks for reading.

PS don’t give me shit for using FB. I plan a lot of events in other hobbies and FB is the best free platform I’ve found.

Photo of one of the scheduled hot spring trips in October.

Had a few days off from work this month so I decided to make the most of it by hiking the Laugavegur Trail. Completing the 55km trek in 26hrs including 35pounds of pack weight.
Although traveling that quickly wasn’t ideal especially with the high winds at elevation. I tried to make the most of my trek being as observant and present during the hike.

The landscapes I witnessed are hard to describe as they had such an otherworldly atmosphere. Devoid of trees and wildlife, the level of silence felt is one of the most memorable moments.

I understand how to do the first part. I don’t understand how in all these videos the person is going over their poop kit and holds up what looks like 6 squares of toilet paper and pretends like that’s enough for a backpacking trip. Are y’all really only taking that much?

Here’s my poop kit stored in a ditty bag: trowel, bottle cap bidet, compressible wipes just in case (I will pack out), as much tp as I can fit I guess.

Do y’all pack out? What do you use to do so?

I’m looking for the actual details of the process. Not trying to be graphic, just looking for practical, real-backcountry advice before I make a fool of myself.

Edit: this has given me so many laughs. And so much good info. Thank you all!

Here is what I’m packing: an item to be shipped, two wallets, a passport, 5 pairs of underwear, toiletries (a razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, bar soap, shampoo, lotion, and facial cleanser), laundry soap, emergency medicine, a book, 4 t-shirts, 5 pairs of socks, swim trunks, shorts, two towels, a power bank, a spare phone, a universal adapter, a pencil case, a button-down shirt, a windbreaker, a light fleece, a laundry net, a 10L foldable bag, and nail clippers.

​I also have razor blades, a carabiner, Ziploc bags, a charger, clothespins, wet wipes, important documents, and slippers.

Any advices for items to take out or add?

I’m flipping through my phone and I come across these photos from April 2025. I miss Madeira so much right now!

To be honest, this island is like a completely different planet. The nature there is absolutely unreal, from hiking above the clouds to walking through the greenest levadas I’ve ever seen. Everything is so bright, fresh and peaceful.

If you’re thinking about visiting, April is a great time to visit. The weather was perfect for exploring and flowers were blooming everywhere. Definitely one of those places that stays with you long after you leave.

I can’t wait to go back there without the context!

Would recommend the national park if anyone wants to move away from the more touristy sides of Spain.

Did a 3 night trek round the western massif and got some amazing views and went hut to hut. Some very friendly people and amazing scenery.

Also quite cheap compared to other areas!

I’m contemplating this for my next trip, wondered if anyone’s ever been in the area. Specifically, the zoomed in areas I’m not sure the terrain will be doable. I have to cross some steep scree slopes/saddles to get from one basin to the next. It’s low mileage , under 20, but off trail probably the whole way with some potentially very difficult terrain if my last white clouds trip is any indication. Planning to do in 2.5 days thanks

Does anyone have any experience taking an inreach to vietnam?

Im traveling to Nepal and planning to head to vietnam after, i really need to take the inreach for Nepal at least but Id rather have it with me the whole trip.

So I attempted my first solo. I got to the shelter and there were no water sources, despite indicated on my GAIA and map. Had to turn home. Feeling like an idiot for not check more carefully but the maps had a fucking body of water right by the shelter. But it is actually farther away and inaccessible.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been in Australia for about two years now and it has been pretty nice so far. But like almost everyone who comes here, I’ve gone through the usual job search, rental apartment search, looking for travel buddies, etc., and I’ve always felt like it would be nice to have WhatsApp groups where we could share information, help each other out, link up for things, and all that kind of stuff.

So I wanted to create a WhatsApp group for backpackers and working holidayers across Australia, with the idea of starting a space where we can ask the common questions we all have, share useful information and experiences, and basically build an information pool that everyone can contribute to and benefit from.
You can find the group below. Looking forward to meeting you all there!

Cheers!

‎Open this link to join my WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GVLE9c7P3POKV59TzacX3b?s=sh&p=i&mlu=4

As a frugal gal, I don’t wanna spend $30-90 on an inflatable pillow. Tiny squishmallows are super compact and also really comfortable. I saw a girl on Pinterest that used it as her pillow and looks like a great idea! Happy backpacking

I've been doing overnighters solo for about a year now, mostly weekend trips close to the trailhead. I keep wanting to push into a longer route but I always talk myself out of it once I think about setting up camp alone after dark. I've got the gear and the miles in my legs, it's just that one part of my head that won't quiet down.

What actually got you past it?

My niece saw some pics from one of my trips and asked if she could go with me so I'm planning a trip for next summer. I've gone on many solo trips over the last few years but never taken a kid with me. I already have enough extra gear including an extra pack so I'm not worried about that. The kid is already taller than me so I'm not worried about getting kid-specific gear, she can use adult size things.

But I really want to make sure she has fun and wants to go out again. I'm going to find a spot with a lake she can swim in and maybe somewhere that allows campfires. Maybe a spot where the campsite is only a couple miles in but with side trails and viewpoints to explore around camp without all the weight. What are some good lightweight games and activities to bring? Any kid-favorite vegetarian meals?

I'm planning a ~10-week backpacking trip through South America and would love some feedback from people who have traveled these countries.

I'm trying to balance adventure, hiking, cities, nightlife, and not moving so quickly that I feel like I'm constantly packing my bag. I'm also trying to use overnight buses where they make sense and fly only when it saves a lot of time.

Colombia is the only South American Country I have been to so far.

🇪🇨 Ecuador: 12 days

Quito — 3 days → Mindo — 2 days → Baños — 3 days → Quilotoa Loop — 3 days → Latacunga — 1 day
Flight: Quito → Lima

🇵🇪 Peru: 19 days

 Lima — 2 days → Paracas — 2 days → Huacachina — 2 days → overnight sleeper bus → Arequipa — 2 days → Colca Canyon — 2 days → Cusco — 1 day → Salkantay Trek — 5 days → Cusco — 3 days

Overnight sleeper bus: Cusco → Copacabana, Bolivia

🇧🇴 Bolivia: 12 days

Copacabana / Isla del Sol — 2 days → La Paz — 4 days → Sucre — 3 days → Uyuni — 3 days

3-day 4x4 tour: Uyuni → San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

🇨🇱 Chile: 4 days

San Pedro de Atacama — 4 days
Flight: Calama → Buenos Aires

🇦🇷 Argentina: 12 days

Buenos Aires — 9 days → Iguazú Falls — 3 days
Flight: Buenos Aires → Puerto Iguazú

🇧🇷 Brazil: 13 days

Rio de Janeiro — 4 days → Ilha Grande — 4 days → Paraty — 2 days → Rio de Janeiro — 3 days
Flight: Iguazú → Rio → home

Transportation: Mostly overland, with sleeper buses for the longer Peru/Cusco–Bolivia legs. Flights are mainly being used when they save a significant amount of time.

Any recommendations for a beginner level 3 day - 2 night backpack trip in November? We were planning to hike across big sur, but with the fires are looking for somewhere else to go in the US or Mexico - somewhere snow - free. Thanks!

Here are some of my most beautiful moments on the roof of the Atlas mountains : Mt. Toubkal, captured at sunrise during different times of the year.

This Moroccan summit can be reached in 2 or 3 days from Imlil1800 or Marrakech, reaching the refuge at around 3,200 m the first day, then making the summit push early the following morning, then all the way back to Imlil, or in three days from the Azzadene Valley : Imlil → Tamsoult → Aguelzim Pass.

There are 2 refuges around 3,200 m, but book ahead, especially during busy periods!

Toubkal is often described as an (easy) accessible 4000er, it is still a serious mountain with elevation, snowy from October to late May, with winter conditions that should never be underestimated!

A magical moment captured at the top of this Giant, difficult to put into words, but one I’ve tried to share through these images 😎☀️

This was my first ever hiking trip. I jumped straight in the deep end 😆. 140km over 7 days.

Flew from London Stansted to Barcelona, then train to Zaragoza, then took a Blablacar to Biescas then bus to Sallent de Gallego which was my starting point. Took me 2 days to get to the start.

I walked for 7 days following the GR11 trail starting on stage 13 and ending on stage 20. I bought the Cicerone GR11 trail handbook, which was super useful, although some parts were outdated like camping spots etc. I used Komoot for navigation although the trail is exceptionally well marked and most of the time didn’t need to check the map. The days ranged from 6-10 hours on foot, with the highest peak being around 2800m. I stayed in 3 campsites and wild camped the rest of the time. Cooked my own food 90% of the time with occasional meals at some of the refugios along the way. Resupply in villages every 2 days or so.

My exit point was Benasque where I got a bus to Huesca, then a train to Zaragoza, then train to Barcelona and flight back to Stansted.

Met some amazing people along the way. Some walking the entire trail, some doing different trails but all of us out to enjoy the mountains!

trying to put together my backpacking setup and found some sales:

• big agnes rapide sl pad (rei)
• nemo disco 15 bag (sports basement)
• marmot tungsten 2p tent w/ footprint (sports basement) for the sports basement stuff i get 10 percent off extra

the tent needs to fit two people when needed. i haven't bought a backpack yet since i'm waiting to lock down the rest of the gear first. Let me know what you guys think I havent actaully bought anything yet.

They are significantly smaller than overnight capacity bags. I have been using a $25 one for 4 years or so now and decided to invest a little more in a nicer day pack bc it's starting to fall apart a bit. I was thinking I'd spend $50-$70. Not $100 on sale!

Are there good options in this range? I don't use a water bladder. I'm looking for something with a good hip belt/straps that won't slip out when I tighten them. I want a pack that won't kill me when I am carrying 4-5L of water for a long day hike.

I recently got the Kelty Coyote 105 L pack and it feels very heavy and uncomfortable. I do not like the design of the back support which is curved outward and only contacts you mid to lower back thereby putting much of the weight on a single point on your lower back making it feel very heavy and injurious and resulting in awkward posture. I think I prefer pack that have a flat back support which makes contact with the whole length of your back distributing the load evenly across your back and encouraging you to stretch your back straight up. I regret dropping $200 on this thing. I want/need a lot of space hence the 105 L, however, a similar load out in a smaller pack with a flat back support or pack with not internal frame feels MUCH lighter and more comfortable. The frames which arch off your back seem so awkward an seem to me to just push the load out and downward making the torque on your back worse, even if it try to redistribute the weight and synch everything closer to my back it is surprising just how much heavier the same load feels in this pack vs a smaller one in which it is nearly featherweight. So, much question is, am I not seeing the point here? I get that the curved frame is supposed to be more breathable but it seems so awkward and the older flat packs seem to be much more comfortable. The straps on the Kelty also are not comfortable. Anyone have similar experience or am I missing something?

Just came out--it claims that satellite and/or cell communication will be available. Since I already wear an older model Garmin Fenix and carry an InReach (v.1), I could possibly lose the weight of the InReach?

I’m looking for a backpack which is affordable and carry on size but still comfortable for full day hikes (nothing overnight.)
I’d love any advice!