Green Mountain Club Women’s Introduction to Backpacking Weekend

When: Saturday, June 6 until Sunday, June 7
Where: Green Mountain Club Visitor Center & Birch Glen Shelter (Duxbury, VT)

This winter, I read, researched and/or purchased every backpacking related thing I could find. From the comfort of my apartment, I impatiently waited for better weather and passed the time by virtually throwing myself into the wilderness. Given the record breaking amount of snow we saw this year, I was studied enough to feel like a theoretical expert.

However, as anyone will tell you, theory and practice are two entirely different beasts. The GMC Women’s Intro to Backpacking workshop was only my second time backpacking out in the wild. It was my first time without Mike leading the way. I’ve had a sharp learning curve gaining experience as a day hiker, but there’s something so vastly different about leaving the modern world overnight. You’re carrying your livelihood on your back, solely and directly responsible for your very survival. Preparation is far more vital, and your actions and needs, though arguably simpler, must be predetermined and more deliberate. Solitude is one of the main reasons a lot of people go into the woods; leaving behind phones and computers, finding an escape from responsibilities. At the same time, the inverse of that idea is a little scary: you’re giving up your ability to easily reach out should you need anything.

I’m not trying to be dramatic, but I can’t deny the feeling that sunk in my first weekend backpacking, only two weekends before this one. It was a three day trip, and the night before we left, I did everything I could to delay leaving the safe comfort of the grocery store. I did the same thing the next morning in the parking lot at the trailhead. It was terrifying to cut the tie to modern convenience. However, the moral of this story is very predictable – it was so very worth it.

Similar to my online education, my first weekend left me feeling pretty experienced. My comfort with backpacking came quickly. Since conquering that initial fear, I’ve really felt at ease. It was terrifying to embark on the first trip, but with Mike I had a good teacher to guide me through the planning and preparation. Things went smoothly; I quickly felt adept.

Upon arrival at the GMC workshop, I realized the course was true to its name, and it was intended for true beginners. With an ego far bigger than only three days of experience warranted, I felt beyond intro level, but I’m still very glad I did the workshop. The biggest value for me was diversifying my knowledge. Mike has been an incredible teacher but after our first weekend, I was eager to get back out (1) with other women and (2) for all intents and purposes, to be the only person ultimately responsible for my decisions and accountable for my actions. I was with a group and had instructors looking out for me, but primarily, they answered questions and provided guidance. The “doing” was up to me entirely and I had to “do” it myself. This workshop allowed me to test my skills with a safety net, exchanging ideas and learning skills alongside women who were as excited as I was to be there.

The formal conversations about things like leave no trace and camp etiquette provided a ton of useful information, but casual chatter was equally invaluable (“How do you deal with a hangry hiking companion?”). Being with such a group (you know, bad ass women), everyone had some adventures and experiences to share. We all benefited from sharing our gear, food and general hiking philosophies with one another. I learned a lot.

I think (and hope!) a portion of the registration fees supported the Green Mountain Club, and I feel more legitimate as a GMC member now that I’ve participated in an event. It was a great experience to be part of, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in backpacking basics.