A Love Letter to Those Who Love Backpackers

They say if they can’t handle you at your worst, they don’t deserve you at your best; but what if you smell like a combination of wet dog and unwashed socks?

Oh, Fresh Ground. How do we love thee? Let us count the ways…

To Our Trail Angels: Come rain or shine, you anticipate our needs before we ourselves know them. You’re always there with a friendly face and a helping hand, and you make a modest breakfast burrito feel like a Michelin star meal. In your hands, even a crappy beer feels like the elixir of life. On days where not much else seems to be going right, you’re just a phone call away. Sorry we stink up your van so badly. We love you anyway.

To Our Communities Back Home: You may not understand why we’re doing this, but you support us from afar nevertheless. You give us something to look forward to amongst the dreaded return to society. You’re our day-one cheerleaders, and we’re motivated to return and regale you with stories. Thanks for humoring us when those stories are all we’re able to talk about for weeks leading up to/following our hikes. Maybe one day we’ll be slightly more chill about it.

Who, if not your trail family, will dress up with you while you get Junior Ranger badges to as many National Parks as possible?

To Our Tramilies (Trail-Families): On those days when it’s rainy and cold and windy and all around miserable, you’re still there. Even if all we’re doing is commiserating, you somehow manage to brighten the mood. You keep us sane– or, sane-ish. After all, what is backpacking if not going slightly mad together? We hold each other accountable, both the angel and devil on each other’s shoulders. No one else on this earth has seen exactly what we’ve seen, experienced these places in the same way. That’s a sacred bond, and one we share for life. 

To Our Slack-Packing Partners: You are the phone-a-friend that makes many great backpacking feats possible. Because of your willingness to go out of your way and carry our gear for us, we’re able to make up those miles and press on towards our goals. Your presence encourages us to give our bodies the grace they need to sustain us, reminding us that it’s okay to lighten our physical and proverbial loads from time to time.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

To Our Trail Crews:  Put simply, there is no triple crown without you. As someone who’s never worked on a trail crew before, I can barely begin to wrap my head around all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into something we all enjoy. It’s demanding, often thankless work. But we are able to do what we do because of you. Every time I pick up a snack wrapper left on the trail or follow switchbacks all the way down instead of cutting them, it’s a small gesture of my appreciation for all the work you’ve done.

To the First Responders and Search & Rescue Teams: We may not always be “happy” to see you, but man oh man are we glad you’re there. You put yourself in harm’s way to help those who rely on your strength, skill, and courage. Thank you for keeping us safe, and for being there when things go wrong.

To the Hosts and Shop Keepers: There’s few better feelings than a fresh resupply. Whether you’re outfitting us with a new pair of shoes or selling us snacks for the next stretch of our journey, you make zero days nourishing for the heart as well as the body. You give us a place to rest our weary heads on those days when the crowded shelters just ain’t cuttin’ it. Because of you, we can recharge and continue on strong.

To the Pets: Thank you for being a beacon of hope when, frankly, I’m sick and tired of all these humans.

Julian, CA. Motel staff softening the blow of having to get off trail early.

And lastly…

To Our Significant Others: Partners; boyfriends/girlfriends; spouses; boo thangs: whoever you may be to us, whether you’re on trail with us or not, we carry you with us every step of the way. Thank you for putting up with us being away anywhere from a few days to a few months. Sometimes we’re out of service and unreachable. That can be difficult in any relationship, but you stand by us anyway. To have that level of support is nothing short of a gift. You are both the hardest thing to leave, and the thing we look forward to most when coming home.

Sorry, folks. The best hiking partner in the world is already taken.

When my partner and I hiked a section of the PCT last year, we learned a lot about each other and our relationship. We learned how to set boundaries through mileage goals, snack break needs, and ultimately through the decision to exit early due to snow we were not prepared for. 

It’s not that those weren’t important decisions– especially in regards to the snow. But backpacking provided us with a contextualized way to navigate difficult situations together. It was an exercise in teamwork, trust, and patience. Every camping trip we take brings us closer. After all, if you don’t want your date looking at their phone, taking them into the woods oughta work!

When he got food poisoning, I followed suit a few days later– what can I say, I’m an empath. I wouldn’t call that experience type 2 fun per se, but we learned how to care for each other under less than ideal circumstances. We were less than a year into our relationship at the time, and now I can say I strongly recommend going on a backpacking trip with someone when you’re ready to take things to the next level. If they stick around after witnessing you puke amongst the quails in Mojave Desert, you know you’ve got something special.

They say if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together. So thank you to everyone who supports us backpackers. Near or far, you are what makes this whole thing worthwhile.