“I could never do that” is the response I get from about 50% of the people I tell about my backcountry camping trips. I completely get this response, it isn’t for everyone but I still think many of them would appreciate aspects of a backcountry trip. This is why I am looking to give a brief overview of my experiences. Now that I have been on multiple trips I can’t imagine not going. I definitely think that all of the work and unpleasantness that you may encounter on a backcountry trip is worth it.

The work

There is lots of work that goes into backcountry camping compared to everyday life. You need to carry everything you may need for your trip and hike or canoe to your site. You need to set up your site once finding it. You need to filter and treat water from a water source in order to cook or rehydrate. You need to find a strong branch to hang all of your food overnight. You definitely get pretty sore from it all. Finally, after all of this, you get to relax, go to sleep, wake up, pack up, and do it all again.

Rain, snow, wind, cold, and heat

Sometimes when on a backcountry trip the conditions aren’t ideal. There may be unexpected snow, rain, or thunderstorms during your trip. The worst part about this is that the trail conditions may become more difficult or unsafe. In extreme circumstances, you may not be able to continue on your trip for a certain amount of time and may need to stay at your current site. Hot or cold conditions are also challenges that need to be considered on a backcountry trip. If there are extreme heat and sun it’s important to avoid sunburns, stay hydrated, and take many breaks to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If it is very cold it is important to pack extra layers, wear warm clothes and keep warm. 

Bugs and animals

Bugs are definitely one of the more unpleasant parts of camping. If you go during certain times of the year you can encounter swarms of mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, and deer flies. Of course, there are other bugs, but these are what were most troublesome on my trips within Ontario. In addition to bugs, there are other animals including bears, moose, deer, coyotes, lynx, and more. We haven’t had any negative encounters with any animals but it is important to properly store your food to avoid attracting animals.

Although backcountry camping has its challenges it is all worth it to me. I find being in nature and focusing on the required tasks is a good escape from everyday life and is very therapeutic. You can see places you can’t get to on a day trip and can really disconnect from the everyday world. It is important to know about and be ready for the unpleasant aspects of backcountry camping, I find this can make the trip way more enjoyable. Even though it is hard it is so worth it.