So this is a new world for me, writing about my adventures. Usually, I just tell the stories to my friends and family. It was just such an occasion that led me here. I was telling a friend of mine about the first backpacking trip I ever took in the Grand Canyon, among other stories. Once I was done he informed me, “You should write a book!” I’m pretty sure he was drunk off his gluteus maximus but the idea stuck with me.
However, what would I write about? The stories are great but would they transfer over to written word and actually have people enjoy them? Even more important, can I write well enough that people can understand what I’m saying?*
I started playing around with different formats and couldn’t really find a great way to write a book with what I had. Stories about camping are great, if you can toss in a little horror, hiking is wonderful but after the first ten subheadings all beginning with “I hiked (blank) trail and saw this…” Long story short, I bored myself.
So I started reading about people in the outdoors. I got my first taste of writing about hiking and backpacking from Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods; I tried to channel Bill in my writings but I just didn’t have his humor. Cheryl Strayed was an informative book, but not really where I was going. Then I stumbled onto blogs; I honestly never thought I would wind up here.
A blog would give me the freedom to pass on my thoughts, rambles, and stories without having to write a “book.” It will also let me see if people are interested, because who knows maybe someday I’ll turn this rambling mess into that book. However, there are a lot of outdoor writers out there; would I just get lost in the shuffle? Would I be like the plants I hiked through in the canyon; “grow by the inch and die by the foot?”
But then I had an idea; I’m still getting into the world of backpacking. Sure I’ve done a lot of hiking, camping, and kayak camping, etc. but never actually took a “pure” backpacking trip. Although, the Grand Canyon trip would be my introduction to the world of backpacking it was only an overnight; but it got me interested. It was also the story that got me interested in doing a blog. So why not base the blog around my wannabe hobby? Because I’ve been saying I would try this out since I was in high school, I’m now 29. I just never had the time (was always my excuse) “I’ve got to work.” “I’ve got classes to finish.” “I’ve got to get my EMT license, I don’t have time for it right now.”
The list goes on but now that I’ve gotten that taste of the adventure that is backpacking and have a bee in my bonnet to write about it. I’m going to commit to becoming a backpacker. Maybe someday I’ll be doing a thru hike somewhere; instead of just a wannabe backpacker doing a day hike.
*Please leave feedback about spelling, grammar, or other glaring flaws I might have missed during editing. Thanks
The Wannabe Backpacker 
Now you have to tell me the story.
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I will the next time I see you! Or if you stay tune you will be able to read it over the coming week!
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The Nike slogan is the key! Just do it. I spent years living in the mountains in Korea with hiking trails right out my back door, but it was only in my third year that I managed to break that wall between thinking about it and actually doing it. My advice? Set an easily trackable goal, like hiking the tallest mountain in all 50 states, or completing the Appalachian Trail, or whatever. Once you have that goal that you can track by the numbers (be it peaks or miles or sections of trail) and before you know it, you’ll be addicted! And keep writing so people know about it. That’s half the fun for me is sharing the stories. Try different styles. Eventually you’ll find what works for you. And, once you find your style, you can go back and re-edit your blog posts and term them into a book!
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Thanks! I have a “bucket list” of nearby places to go backpacking and I fully intend to keep sharing the stories. Love the advice, stay tuned!
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