Interested in an outdoor activity, but don't know how to get started?

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) has detailed information on choosing your equipment, planning your meals, camping with kids and dozens of other topics on their "Learn and Share" page.

For backpacking, we've put together a checklist of equipment that we suggest people bring along on our trips. Note: It is a Word document.

Also, try these links:

	Beginner's Mountain Bike Info Guide courtesy of Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers
	Buying Backpacking Gear courtesy of Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

The Central Indiana Wilderness Club runs numerous trips which are suitable for the first-time backpacker each year. There is a weekend trip to Red River Gorge each spring. It is only about 2 to 3 miles each day. It features some of the finest scenery in the eastern United States. The club also usually has a weekend trip to the Knobstone Trail, which is Indiana's longest and best known trail. Most of the club's other short backpacking trips are suitable for beginners. If you are unsure about whether a particular trip is suitable for you, talk to the trip leader.

The first thing you need to do to get ready for your trip is to obtain the necessary equipment. The club provides tents, stoves, cooking utensils, & water filters. The main items you need to provide for yourself are a backpack & a sleeping bag. These items are not cheap, so you might want to see if you can borrow them from your friends or fellow club members for your first trip. Smaller items which you will need include a water bottle (or two if traveling through dry areas), eating utensils, and a bowl or mess kit. Some sort of rain gear is also highly recommended.

There are several items which are highly desirable for backpacking but not absolutely necessary for your first trip. Hiking boots are nice, but you can get by with athletic shoes. A thermarest pad to go under your sleeping bag is nice, but not absolutely needed. Many members wear specially designed outdoor clothing. You can get by with regular clothing, but look for items made from synthetic materials. Most natural fibers, such as cotton, do not dry out quickly. Jeans are especially bad.

The club provides your breakfasts & dinners on backpack trips, but you have to provide for your lunches & snacks on the trail. Everybody has their own favorites, and here are some of mine:

	Gorp or trail mix (a mixture of dried fruit & nuts)
	Power Bars (banana flavor)
	Cheese Nips (backpacking trips are an excuse to eat junk food!)
	Pretzels (the little ones, which don't break up as easily)
	Cheese & pita bread or bagels
	Carrots

All sorts of options are available. Whatever you choose, just make sure that you can transport it in your backpack okay. Bananas would be great to take along if it they didn't bruise so easily.

If you decide you like backpacking after your first trip, you will probably want to start buying some additional equipment. Here is a list of items you might want to put on your wish list to Santa:

	Hiking boots
	Thermarest pad
	Hiking socks
	Camp pillow
	High quality rain gear
	Vented shirt
	Pants with zip-off legs

Most folks are a little unsure of themselves when they go on their first backpacking trip. There are probably others who would like to go but never do because they just feel uncomfortable about going on that first trip. The aim of this little article is to show that it isn't that difficult, and you don't have to spend a lot of cash to go on your first trip. If you have any questions that weren't answered here, feel free to send me an e-mail at ed@peteandedbooks.com. See you out on the trail.