How to Find the Outdoor Backpacking Program That’s Right for You

Do you dream of hitting the trails and escaping into the backcountry, but don’t know where to start? If you’re looking for some guidance to get started, a backpacking program is just what you need.

A backpacking program can help guide you on your dream adventure and learn the skills you need to go on your own backpacking trips.

But choosing the right backpacking program for you can be a challenge. This post will help guide you through the process, from why you should join a backpacking program to what to look for in a backpacking program.

I’ll also tell you why the Become an Outdoor Badass Backpacking program is different, and why it would (or wouldn’t) be a good fit for you.

Let’s get started!

WHY JOIN A BACKPACKING PROGRAM

The biggest reason to join a backpacking program is that you need some help hitting the trail. Whether you need the skills, confidence, or motivation, a backpacking program can help you.

An in-person backpacking program is great if you just want to have a specific experience and be guided along the way. But if you want to empower yourself to go on adventures on your own or lead your friends or family, that’s when you want a backpacking course that will teach you the skills, like Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass.

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GRAB MY [FREE] OUTDOOR BACKPACKER STARTER KIT:

I created the Ultimate Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for you (and it's FREE)! This starter kit is filled with 14 pages of my best hiking and backpacking tips to help you learn what it takes to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient outdoor backpacker!

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BACKPACKING PROGRAM

You want to find a backpacking program that fits your needs – including the skills you want to learn, your schedule considerations, and learning style.

An in-person backpacking program offers the ability to get out on the trail and get hands-on experience. However, you might not learn all the skill sets you need to feel comfortable going solo or taking the lead after such a trip. Plus, you’ll be committed to a specific date(s) and time for an in-person backpacking program, which might not work with your schedule.

An online backpacking program lets you learn at your own pace, so you can easily fit it into a busy schedule. While an online backpacking course might not get you hands-on experience immediately, it will walk you through the steps to get ready to hit the trail. And once you are ready to go backpacking, you will have all the skills to plan and execute your own backpacking trip.

WHAT SETS OUR BACKPACKING PROGRAM APART

The Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass program is a different kind of backpacking program than a guided trip. Here’s what makes our backpacking program special:

Meets you WHERE YOU ARE

Our backpacking program meets you where you are. Whether you’re brand new and don’t have a single piece of gear, you’ve been hiking a bunch and want to start spending the night outdoors, or you’re already tagging along on backpacking trips and are ready to plan your own adventures in the backcountry, Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass will give you the skills and confidence to have your own backpacking adventures.

EMPOWERS YOU TO LEAD YOURSELF

You know the saying, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” – first of all, we believe that this should include women! Secondly, that’s exactly why we give you the skills to empower yourself outdoors.

You could go on a guided backpacking trip and have an amazing time, but when you come home, you realize that you didn’t actually learn to be self-sufficient. So if you want to go on another backpacking trip, you’ll have to hire a guide again.

But our backpacking program is different. We teach you all the most important skills – trip planning, navigation, safety, etc – so that you have everything you need to plan and take your own backpacking trips.

As one of our graduates Cathy says, "This is the best way to make sure you know all you need to to be safe and knowledgeable in the backcountry. It is the next step to motivate you and move you to next level."

OFFERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Even if your goal is to backpack solo, having support on a big dream like this is so important. And our backpacking program features an incredible community of current students, program graduates, and our expert team.

This Facebook group is always available for any questions, gear advice, route recommendations, and more. And if you’re feeling physically stuck and need a training plan, or mentally stuck and need some cheering on, you’ll find all the support you need. Plus, we offer three coaching calls a month (one which is all about mindset) in the group, so you get direct and real-time support from our outdoor expert team.

Also, this community is specifically for women, non-binary, and gender-fluid people, so it is a safe space to speak up, ask questions, and share your experiences.

For more ways to find community in the outdoors, check out our post on hiking groups & hiking challenges you can join for support.

FINDING A GOOD FIT IN A BACKPACKING PROGRAM

While our backpacking program has empowered over 1,400 students to hit the trails, it is not the right fit for everybody. Here’s how to determine if the Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass backpacking program is right for you.

WHO OUR BACKPACKING PROGRAM IS A GOOD FIT FOR

• Someone ready to take the lead on their own outdoor adventures

• Someone who plans to go on many backpacking trips and make backpacking a part of their life

• Someone who wants to learn online at their own pace

• Someone who thrives in a supportive community

WHO OUR BACKPACKING PROGRAM IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR

• Someone who prefers to let others take the lead

• Someone who just has one specific backpacking objective and no desire to continue backpacking

• Someone who wants in-person learning on specific dates

WHAT WE TEACH IN OUR BACKPACKING PROGRAM

Our backpacking program gives you everything you need to hit the trail on your own and achieve your backpacking goals. As graduate Heather says "I decided I wanted to do more and I was tired of watching everyone else have the adventures and being too scared to do them myself...”

The Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass 5-Step Framework will guide you on your path to becoming a confident, self-sufficient backpacker.

ALIGN

Get clear on your beliefs and mindset, and nail down your goals in order to take real action.

STRENGTHEN

Gain confidence in your body and mind on the trail by strengthening your physical capability and mental grit.

SYSTEMIZE

A gear roadmap to building your essential backpacking systems and creating a no-fuss gear plan.

EMPOWER

This is where the magic happens! Build the skills that will take you from being a “passive” backpacker to one who is truly self-sufficient and takes total ownership of her own safety in the backcountry

MASTERY

Here’s where you take everything that you’ve learned and apply it to create and build a backpacking trip plan.

IF THIS BACKPACKING PROGRAM SOUNDS RIGHT FOR YOU…

Join me (and your peers) on a transformational adventure, where you will learn how to confidently go on your first ever (or perhaps your first solo) outdoor backpacking trip without the constant fear of getting lost, the debilitating worry of being unprepared, and the lurking feeling that you lack the "know-how" and skills required to stay safe on the trails. Click below to be the first to know when my one-of-a-kind backpacking program reopens again for enrollment!

https://www.shedreamsofalpine.co/backpacking-program-waiting-list

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Hope this post helped you figure out what you need in a backpacking program! If you have any more questions about backpacking programs, post in the comments!

BACKPACKING RESOURCES ON SHE DREAMS OF ALPINE

If you’re looking for more backpacking resources, be sure to check out these other posts on our blog!

• Backpacking for Beginners: 15 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid Your First Time Backpacking

• The Ultimate 3-5 Day Backpacking Packing List for 2019 (PLUS Backpacking Checklist PDF)

• 9 Must-Know Backpacking Safety Tips

• Essential Backpacking Hygiene Tips & Feminine Care in the Outdoors

• 13 Awesome Hiking Groups and Challenges to Encourage You on Your Hiking Adventures

Cheers,

Allison - She Dreams of Alpine

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