Let's GetBackpacking!

Are you bummed at the end of a day on the trail by the realization that you must now return to civilization? Well, that needn’t be the case. As a backpacker, your day begins and ends on the trail, no predawn wakeup calls, no long drives, no looming daylight deadline to heed. And restful sleep breathing cool mountain air.

Our new GetBackpacking! program is designed to make a bonafide backpacker out of you. This five-week program consists of four weekly hikes in full packs and a graduation three-day backpack trip to the mountains. During the four training hikes, which will be of increasing length, we will practice a different backpack skill: packing, setting up camp, cooking a meal, knowing exactly where you’ve packed certain items for quick retrieval. On our graduation trip we will leave mid-afternoon on a Friday and spend two nights in the woods. Our first training hike is Sunday, Sept. 7.

Intrigued by our GetBackpacking! program, or by backpacking in general? On Tuesday, Sept. 2, we will hold an introductory session at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. store in Cameron Village. We’ll tell you how the program works, we’ll talk about the weekly hikes and skill sessions, we’ll talk about the weekend graduation trip. We’ll talk about how backpacking technology has changed over the past 20 years, and we’ll also talk about some of the great places to backpack in the region. Don’t have the basic gear? Not a problem; we’ll talk about our rent-to-own program and about getting you equipped. We’ll have refreshments and a raffle item or two as well.

Each session is limited to 12 participants, and signup will begin at the Sept. 2 info session. See you on Sept. 2!

Learn more about the program — and discover 10 great places to backpack in the region — by going here (http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/blog/our-new-getbackpacking-program-takes-you-backcountry-camping/).