The hiking season is about to begin, are you ready?

This is something I always ask myself when the weather finally looks like it's going to turn for the better and winter will disappear. I figure now is a good time to begin the conversation, preparing for the hiking season. First though, I think it's appropriate to discuss the off season since that really is where most of my time is spent anyway being that winter is so long. College also keeps me fairly locked into the off season since it's hard to get away being where I am in the Midwest. Anyway, the point is that for a lot of backpackers, hikers, paddlers etc, there's a lot of time spent not focusing on the activity. This down time can really be beneficial for a variety of reasons:

• Educating yourself
• Physical training
• Organizing 

These are just the top reason I am going to discuss, I understand there are many, but it's easier to keep it light here.

Educating yourself
This should be fairly easy to understand, researching whats new in your field whether it be a change in regulation, new equipment out there, or health concerns to be aware of; things are always changing so it's good to stay up to date on important issues.

Know the rules to stay out of trouble...

A great example would be fire danger warnings issued by the state, dry times of the year there can be fire bans in certain areas. I've never depended on a campfire or wood-stove for cooking while backpacking but some people do, so planning ahead and knowing if there is a fire ban is important. Fishing regulations are another good example; sometimes they can change year to year and often times do, so knowing what the current years regulations are could keep you out of trouble.

This also can come back to equipment choice, if something new comes out it might be time to upgrade so staying informed helps. You can never have enough skills, so picking up a few in the off season is a great use of your time. Personally I don't really have any winter hobbies like skating or skiing, so I need to keep busy this way to prevent seasonal depression. I try my best to keep my skills sharp so I am ready to get out there when the time arises. Winter is really my best time for DIY projects since I'm inside most of the time, and it's a great time to re-evaluate gear as well.

Physical training
Now I am no fitness junkie, or an athlete, but I do try to stay fit and for me that means cardio and legs. I don't enjoy the gym one bit, I feel like a hamster running in a wheel, but it's important to stay in shape for certain activities. Fishing doesn't require much cardio, or strength really unless you take fishing to the extreme, but it's important to stay healthy to keep enjoying the sport. Hiking and other sports do require a bit of physical conditioning; hiking up steep inclines is not something you do right after spending six months glued to a couch. I don't mean to disrespect anyone, or demean anyone, but I will say some outdoor sports are physically demanding, and winter shouldn't be an excuse not to stay in shape if you want to enjoy the activity. I learned the hard way that certain sections of the Superior Hiking Trail are steep, so my couch potato life-style changed a bit after that.

I simply recommend maintaining a certain level of fitness that's appropriate to the activity, for me I run and use elliptical machines as well as stair steppers. Going on walks in nicer weather is a great way to keep up leg strength as well as staying heart healthy. Outdoor exercise is immensely better for your health than simply being in a gym, vitamin-D is very important, and just being outside is great for your well-being.

Organizing
For me this is kind of hard, living in a dorm on my college campus I can't really store all of my hiking and backpacking equipment with me. So alas, it is stored in my room at my parents house carefully packed into totes. I cannot say that these totes are organized by any means, but I have a rough idea of what I have. I do plan on attaching new labels to each tote with an inventory list of what I have, this will make packing for trips a bit faster.

Down sleeping bag stored properly, in a roomy dry tote.

Fishing for example requires keeping the ol' tackle box organized which can seem like a daunting task, but fear not it is possible. I personally prefer catching panfish, they're abundant, easy to catch, and taste good. That being said, I know what lures and hooks work best so something I haven't used can be stored elsewhere. I enjoy digging out my tackle box each spring because it marks the beginning of spring for me, which lifts my spirits and excites me for opener.

Preparing trips during this time is also great because it gets you excited about the season. I have had my trip planned for a few months now and I have tried learning everything about the area as possible. Several maps are in my possession as well as weather data, not to mention I've read up on species of trees and animals in the area.

Spring time as well as winter can provide ample time to prepare for the upcoming hiking season, or fishing season if that's your preferred sport. Sometimes people wait till the last minute to get ready for the season to begin which results in scrambling and a lot of missed opportunities. I've always got a project in mind and working on them not only keeps me busy, but it also makes sure I'm ready when the weather is right.  

Lightweight backpacking- It's a Mentality

Having been on some backpacking trips, I can say that experience makes a difference. My very first trip I of course got outfitted in a store that sells the big name brand gear, North Face, MSR, Duetur, and so on. The sales associates were very knowledgeable, and being interested in gear like most hikers are, it didn't take much to sell me equipment. Impressionable me thought the biggest piece of gear meant it was the best, 75 liter pack, fully inflatable air pad, 10 degree mummy bag, you name it I probably bought it. My hard earned money going towards outdoor gear that I did a lot of research on, I knew which brands had the better reviews, those that had the better quality or design, all things the advertising told me. They were the "best".