Myanmar Backpacking Basics And Practice

By Pamela Roberts


Backpacking is one of the outdoor recreational activities. It involves carrying gear on the back in a backpack. People carry different forms of gear including clothing, cooking kit, shelter, bedding, food, and water. The activity lasts a varied amount of time, but must involve spending out at least one night. Resupply points and occasional drops of necessities may be included in the activity if the journey takes several weeks or months.

People are compelled by different reasons to participate in a backpack activity. While out there, the activities of good backpackers should impact the environment to the least level possible. Activities that help to minimize pollution include carrying garbage out, following existing trails, and causing no disturbance to the vegetation. In Myanmar backpacking is a culture that is well respected and valued by the locals. They adhere to the movement ethos in their activities while out.

The movement ethos directs the journey and activities that backpackers engage in. For instance, the only thing they kill is time, they keep nothing besides memories, they leave nothing besides footprints, and they take nothing besides photos. Preparedness of difficulties is part of the exercise. Backpackers must expect to come across dangerous animals, heights, treacherous water crossings, difficult terrains, and adverse weather among others. One must be equipped with survival gear and skills to survive the experience.

Some sites have grounds where backpackers can spend the night and some time during their adventure. Most campsites have things like maps of the area, fire rings, outhouses, and wooden bulletin boards. Campsites are level patches of ground that mostly lack underbrush. Such campsites lack in very remote areas and backpackers have to find their own places to sleep and rest.

Many pieces of equipment are needed for a successful backpacking experience. Like the name suggests, having a suitable backpack is mandatory. The backpack should be of the right size and strength. Besides the backpack, one should have suitable footwear and clothing to match the expected conditions. One must also carry food of the right amount and type and a sleeping bag. A survival kit is also needed plus the right level of skill.

Carrying shelter is not necessary, but some backpackers proceed to do so. Other items that may be considered of relative importance include cook kit, water purification mechanism and water container. People often carry food in ready-made form when the trip is in places where food facilities can be accessed. Otherwise, they carry food that can go for a long time without going bad.

How much the backpack weighs is usually treated as a critical matter. It is always advisable to ensure that the backpack weights less than 25 percent of the weight of the person going to carry it. That implies that every item placed inside the pack must be scrutinized well. There is also of lightweight gear on the market although it costs highly.

Lightweight gear can be carried easily but still retains a high degree of utility and durability. Materials used to make such gear are many including lightweight alloys, carbon fiber, impregnated fabrics, and specialty plastics. The exercise of backpacking differs among countries, but many similarities exist among Western countries.




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