Sienna Fry – Backpacking 101

Sienna Fry – Backpacking 101

Backpacking 101

Backpacking is one of the best ways to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and commune with nature. BACKPACKER and the Colorado Outward Bound School will teach you the skills you need to explore the outdoors on foot in this 10-part online course: Backpacking 101. You’ll learn what gear you need (and how to use it) as well as the basics on planning trips, navigating on or off-trail, setting up camp, and even administering some first aid.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn pro backpacking tips and techniques from someone who introduces hundreds of people to backpacking each year. We’ll cover: the right backpacking gear (everything from boots to tents) and how to pack it; trip-planning; basic navigation; campsite selection; food preparation; layering; backcountry hygiene (including pooping in the woods); plus required safety information and trail etiquette.

How This Course Works?

You can take this course at your own pace. You’ll learn through a variety of interactive formats, including video instruction, photo descriptions, and more. Each lesson builds on the last, and, while we’ve designed the course to be 10 weeks long, you can take it as quickly or slowly as you want. Plus, once you purchase the course, the lessons are yours forever.

Section 1: All About Gear

• The essentials:Cooking gear
  • Tents
  • Sleeping bags and pads
  • Backpacks
• Hiking boots and shoes
• Apparel
• Headlamps
• Going ultralight
• Gear on a budget
• Proper gear care

Section 2: Know Your Pack

• How to pack a backpack
• Weight considerations
• Proper fit

Section 3: Trip Planning

• Route safety
• Geographic considerations
• Food and water prep
• Pro planning tips

Section 4: Trail Travel and Basic Navigation

• Trail travel techniques
• Using a map
• Using a compass
• Handling emergencies

Section 5: Choosing a Campsite

• Picking a site
• Camp set-up

Section 6: What to Eat

• What to pack
• How much to pack
• Food prep
• Tips and tricks

Section 7: Control Your Temperature

• Managing body temperature
• How to layer
• Hacks for staying warm at night

Section 8: Bathroom and Hygiene

• What to bring
• Types of toilet paper
• Digging cat holes
• Staying clean
• Handling periods

Section 9: Common First Aid

• First-aid kits
• Dealing with common ailments

Section 10: Backpacking Etiquette

• Leave No Trace
• Trail manners
• Tent do’s and don’ts

INSTRUCTOR

Sienna Fry was raised on the northern California coast and grew up hiking and backpacking in the Redwood Forest. She earned a B.A. in Physical and Environmental Geography with a certificate in GIS/Cartography (aka: maps) from California State University, Chico. During college, Sienna fell in love with rock climbing, skiing, and outdoor education and began working for the Colorado Outward Bound School as an intern. She’s continued to instruct for the Colorado Outward Bound School for seven years and now calls Denver home.

When she’s not in Denver, Sienna’s exploring the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains or the slickrock canyons of southern Utah.

“Each backpacking trip is a chance to explore the best of what the outdoors has to offer, whether you’re a beginner or experienced backpacker,” Sienna says. “I’ve led dozens of groups of teenagers on backpacking trips—many of whom had no experience camping when they started—so I know what it takes to introduce people to something that I’m passionate about.”