Backpacking Essentials, How to Pack Light for Backpacking and Hiking

When going backpacking or hiking you always want to pack the essentials by not over packing. The most important things to pack and to keep nice when you are hiking are what you are going to sleep on and what you will be wearing. Having a good pair of hiking boots can solve lots of problems especially in bad weather conditions. Keeping your clothing and sleeping bag warm and out of harm’s way of water is a must when backpacking and hiking. If those items get wet, get them airing out as soon as you can to dry them out and to make sure your night’s sleep is dry and warm.

When backpacking most of the time you may not know the area you are in. Have a map of the area on hand at all times. Mark the map with what you see to remind you later if you pass by that area again. A compass is an important tool when exploring through the outdoors. Knowing what direction you are headed will help with reading the map and finding an end destination.

You also want to bring the right essentials and pack them in the right pockets. If you continue to place an item in the same pocket, it will become natural to grab for that item without having to think about where it is. This will also help you not lose as many items.

Packing your backpack can also cause struggles if you do not do it properly. Balancing everything out is the key. You only pack the essentials to make sure your load is light enough for you to carry. Pack food, clothes, and cooking supplies. Pack your heaviest gear closest to your back. This will help for support and won’t put as much strain on your back. If you have hard cornered supplies in your pack, put a shirt or piece of clothing between your back and the supplies. Place other items of lesser weight around the

Emily Flory

Born and raised in Iowa, I have been an enthusiastic outdoors woman from a very young age. From the very beginning my dad had me throwing a line in the water and following him out into the woods to sit and wait for that big Iowa buck to walk by. By doing all of this, I was raised country and always will be.

With my home being positioned literally in the boondocks surrounded by timberland and no one else around, I had a pretty good opportunity to make the best out of my resources and my love for the outdoors came when I scored my first whitetail from my backyard. Seeing that 8 point buck come hiking up the path from the riverbed, this little girl’s life was changed forever. Since then, I've had the chance to score some nice whitetail and have also developed a love for bird hunting as well. If it flies, it dies in my case. I love the challenge and will continue broadening my trophy room around the United States.

If it wasn't enough to grow up in an area of heaven like this, we of course needed to put some of our experiences on TV as well. Starting in November of 2010 my family aired the first episode of Outdoors on the Farm, a Farm Journal production. Hosted by Chip Flory, aka the wonderful dad who is the reason why I am the way I am, my family along with our pro staff have been able to put a unique twist on the usual hunting show. OOTF brings farmers and hunters together to maximize their habitat by explaining and teaching what they can do around the farm to increase their profits and quality of their land and even more importantly, how they can have more fun outdoors on the farm. The most important people in my life are my family and to be able to experience this with them is more than I could ask for.

Outdoors on the Farm airs every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. (central time) and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on RFD TV. You can also view any of our episodes on our website at outdoorsonthefarm.com at any time. Be looking out for our 2nd season to start in Fall of 2011 and check out our blogs to keep up with the Flory family and our pro staff!