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Join Us Backpacking!

What is backpacking? Backpacking is a fantastic way to get outside! Carrying all the items on your back and traveling by foot in the woods gives you the opportunity to travel and see new areas intimately, plus get in some great views. Naturally, backpacking is also a great way to get in shape (or stay in shape)! Even more than that, though, you can learn about yourself while you challenge yourself, find your own limits, become more self-reliant, and disconnect from the world outside. It's also a fantastic way to meet other like-minded people, maybe your new best friends!

Who can join and succeed? Backpacking trails generally can offer a range of levels of difficulty, you can find trails that are very hard or less hard (none are usually easy!). However, we purposefully plan our OAP weekend trips to be appropriate for beginner-level backpackers, with enjoyment for intermediate backpackers, as well! The most important thing to have is a good attitude, being ready for a little physicality and challenge.

What does a backpacking trip look like? Each morning, we will pack up backpacks, distributing group gear amongst everyone's packs (pots, stoves, tents, etc.), then hike on the trail for the day. Trails vary, but generally in the northeast, we'll see plenty of trees, maybe some ponds, and occasional views at the tops of various look-outs. You can expect that trails go up, down, and some are gentle. The Northeast is known for a lot of trails that go straight up an incline, rather than zig-zagging. This means the hill may be steep, but it doesn't last forever. We hope to arrive to camp by mid to late afternoon. Once we arrive at camp, we will set up the sleeping areas (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), and use our cooking set-up to make tasty meals. If the weather cooperates, we may enjoy an evening around the campfire before hitting the hay.

How many miles will we do? In the UML Outdoor Adventure Program, we usually limit mileage to about 8 miles per day maximum, so the trip is attainable even for beginners. If terrain is uphill, we will generally choose trails with shorter mileage. For comparison, intermediate hikers may work up to hiking 10-12 miles in a day. Extremely fit thru-hikers (those who are hiking a long trail for months at a time) can sometimes do 18-25 miles or more in a day -- please note, this would NOT be expected for occasional hikers, but it can inspire you if you'd like to get more into hiking!

With the Outdoor Adventure Program, we will give you the knowledge to succeed on the trip you've signed up for, as well as give you tools to do more hiking and backpacking on your own in the future.

Two women smile wearing backpacking in the woods Image by Justin Yung

Long Trail, Vermont

The Long Trail runs length of the Green Mountains for 272 miles through the scenic State of Vermont from Massachusetts to Quebec, Canada. The Appalachian Trail shares the path for the southern portion of the Long Trail. Along the trail one finds peaks, meadows, rivers and lakes between hiking shelters, small towns and rural roads. On this trip we will hike a small section of the Long Trail during the most colorful time of year! The trip is designed for beginner backpackers with lots of instruction in basic backpacking skills and Leave No Trace principles. This can also be a great trip for the experienced backpacker.

For the Vermont trip in the fall of 2024, we will be heading towards Stratton Mountain area. The group will drive most of the way on Friday night and camp by the van overnight. On Saturday, we will drive the last 45 minutes, pack packs and start hiking! The total mileage for this trip is approximately 22 miles, with each day planned for about 7-8 miles. The first day on the Stratton Pond Trail and Lye Brook Trail will be quite gentle and an easy introduction to backpacking. Day two will see the group walking north on the Branch Pond Trail and then coming back south on the Appalachian Trail to the Stratton Pond Shelter, again a fairly gentle day. The last day will be an ascent up to the summit of Stratton Mountain, where you'll enjoy the views, then hike back down to the van, and drive back to Lowell. 

a group of nine stands with backpacking on in front of a shelter, ready to hike

Mount Greylock

The Appalachian Trail passes over Mount (Mt.) Greylock, which, as the highest point in Massachusetts, offers awesome views from the top! Mt. Greylock is an approachable mountain, and even has is a monument up on top to appreciate some Massachusetts history. The trails are very welcoming for all backpackers, including beginner backpackers. We'll provide lots of instruction in basic backpacking skills and Leave No Trace principles.

For the Fall 2024 backpacking trip, we will drive most of the way and camp overnight with the van on Friday just on the east side of the park. The next morning, we will drive approximately a half hour to the west side of the park, pack up packs, and start hiking. The total mileage of this trip is under 12 miles, so each day will no more than about 5 miles of hiking, a very reasonable and attainable distance. The first day will be the hardest with more uphill. The group will head uphill on the Money Brook Trail near a lovely waterfall and towards the Old Summit Road where the group will stay overnight. On our middle day, we will pack up tents and hop on the Appalachian Trail to head up to the summit of Greylock with a possible trail over Mt Williams on the way. Note that there is a road to the top along with a statuesque obelisk, so you may see non-hikers. After taking in the views from the summit, the group will follow the AT and Hopper Trail down and camp near Deer Hill. Our last day, we will will hike along the side of the ridge on the Hopper Trail back down to the van, before returning back to Lowell.

Backpackers atop a rocky summit with mist and fog surrounding them.

Pemigewasset Wilderness, New Hampshire

The Pemigewasset Wilderness is New Hampshire’s largest Wilderness Area, and includes over 45,000 acres of protected land in the heart of the White Mountains. Ringed by impressive peaks, the wilderness forms the upper watershed for the Pemigewasset River, providing lush valleys accessed only by hiking trails. The trip is designed for beginner backpackers with lots of instruction in basic backpacking skills and Leave No Trace principles. This can also be a great trip for the experienced backpacker.

Skill Level

No previous backpacking experience necessary. Each person should have a fitness level suitable for carrying a backpack with personal gear and some group gear. Short days may be just one mile or so of backpacking, while full days will average between 5 and 8 miles per day, comprising approximately 5-7 hours of backpacking (with breaks).

Three people on the ledge of a mountain leaning strongly into the wind.

Weather

Many of our backpacking trips happen in fall or spring. Generally you can expect New England evenings to be surprisingly cool. Some days may be warm or may be cool. Most weather is perfectly great weather for backpacking, even rain. The only weather that will cause us to pause while on the trail is thunderstorms/lightning. Ridgelines or summits of mountains are likely to be quite chilly. If it very windy and/or cool, we may limit the time we spend on various high points, or potentially re-route to avoid if necessary. Be prepared for backpacking in fall or spring by bringing warm layers and rain layers, and carefully review the packing list below.

Food

We will be packing and carrying all meals for the trip, including snacks stops on the trail. Your trip leaders will be reaching out to each participant for any dietary restrictions before we do food packing. Depending on the group's allergy restrictions, you may be welcome to bring a few extra snacks with you, though please remember that everything we bring will need to be carried.

Group on Summit in White Mountains NH

Overnight Shelter

Participants should expect that they will be sharing tents or lean-tos with others. Outdoor Adventure Program tents hold up to 4 people. so everyone should expect to share a tent with 1-3 other people. Tent-mates may be determined by trip leaders and by participant comfort and preference. Mixed sex/gender tents are permitted. (However, any sexual activity is never appropriate in a group camping/lodging context and will not be permitted.) 

If you wish to bring your own sleeping bag, tent or other shelter, we will verify that it is appropriate and in good order before leaving, as well as determine the amount of space available at our various campsites. 

Tentative itinerary for a typical weekend trip

Due to the nature of outdoor trips and uncontrollable variables, all itineraries are subject to change.

Pre-Trip Meeting

  • Meet at the Outdoor Adventure Center & Bike Shop, talk over the plan, distribute borrowed personal gear (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacks, etc.)
  • Scheduled for the week before the trip.
Friday
  • Meet at the Outdoor Adventure Center & Bike Shop
    • Meeting time determined at the pre-trip meeting
    • 5 Lawrence Drive, Lowell, MA 01854
    • Distribute group gear for packing in backpacks
  • Drive to Trailhead
  • Possible Short Hike
  • Set Up Camp
Saturday and Sunday
  • 7 a.m. Cook Breakfast, Eat, Packing Instruction, Get Geared Up
  • 9 a.m. Hike Throughout the Day, Lessons on Backpacking Skills, Relax, Explore, Possibly Summit a Peak, Enjoy Snacks!
  • Midday Lunch
  • 5 p.m. Make Camp, Eat Dinner, Relax
Monday
  • 7 a.m. Cook Breakfast, Eat, & Pack Up
  • 9 a.m. Hike Throughout the Day, Lessons on Backpacking Skills, Relax, Explore, Possibly Summit a Peak
  • Midday Lunch
  • 12-3 p.m. Arrive at Trailhead, Head Back to Campus
  • 3-5 p.m. Debrief
    • Arrive back at the at the Outdoor Adventure Center/Bike Shop, clean up, review course content/answer any remaining question, etc.
  • 6 p.m. Dismissal
    • This should be determined based off of participants needs and the intended goals of this trip. Speak to your trip leader

Possible Curriculum Topics

  • Leave No Trace
  • Trail Etiquette
  • Packing and Pack Fit
  • Food Preparation
  • Cooking
  • Thermoregulation
  • Campsite Selection
  • Weather and Environmental Awareness
  • Navigation
  • First Aid
  • Gear Maintenance & Repair

Packing List

The items on this list are strongly recommended for your trip. The weather forecast and your thermal perception (i.e. if you generally feel cold easily or often feel hot) should be considered when packing.

CLOTHING

  • Long underwear shirt/base layer Recommend 1 long-sleeve and 1 short-sleeve, quick-dry, lightweight, non-cotton, no sweatshirts
  • *Insulating upper layer Recommend 1-2 layers fleece, wool, or puffy top layer, should be compact
  • *Rain jacket/shell Used for both rain and wind.
  • Underwear Quick-dry (non-cotton) preferable
  • Long underwear bottoms/lower base layer Recommend 1-2 pairs, quick-drying material such as nylon or polyester required
  • Pants/Shorts/Hiking Skirt Recommend 2 pairs quick-dry, non-cotton, no jeans
  • *Rain Pants Used for both rain and wind. Bottoms are a must, as weather in mountains can change suddenly
  • Socks Hiking socks should be a wool mid-weight hiking style are required, especially for wet conditions and blister prevention; 2-3 pairs is ideal. Socks for wearing at camp may be any material, 1 pair.
  • Hiking Shoes or Boots with good tread, and ideally with ankle support
  • Camp Shoes Worn around camp or in the van; very lightweight athletic shoes or sport sandals are ideal—no flip flops or open-toed sandals
  • Optional: *Gaiters lightweight ankle protection to keep debris out of shoes, especially pebbles & mud. Necessary in winter weather.
  • Optional: Pajamas if desired
  • Sunglasses Recommend with leash
  • *Warm Hat Sun and/or cold protection, depending on season
  • *Gloves
  • Scarf/Neck Gaiter optional
  • Baseball hat or sun hat
  • Swimsuit if your trip has a swimming possibility

PERSONAL

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
  • Feminine hygiene supplies plus toiletries disposal bag, pee rag
  • Personal environmental supplies Sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray
  • If needed: Hair ties
  • If needed: Contacts/contact solution
  • Small pack towel and/or Bandana Washcloth is a perfect size. Versatile: use as sweat rag, hanky, napkin, etc.
  • Personal Medications
  • Medical Insurance Card
  • Optional: Hand sanitizer Small bottle

EQUIPMENT

  • *HeadlampYou must provide 3AAA batteries if borrowing one of ours
  • *Sleeping bag Proper temperature rating for the season necessary; we use 0 or 20 degree bags
  • *Sleeping pad
  • *Trekking poles
  • *Backpack 40+L required. We provide 65 L backpacks.

FOOD AND WATER

  • *Bowl recommend a small plastic Tupperware-type bowl. No plate needed.
  • *Mug or cup lightweight plastic for warm drinks
  • *Utensils
  • *2 Water Bottles Hydration; start hydrating the day before

OPTIONAL

  • Snacks for yourself No more than 1-2 per day
  • Money For food on the road and/or possible souvenirs
  • Camera (or camera phone). A protective case is highly recommended. Turn phone to airplane mode to preserve battery (and enjoy nature)
  • Book or journal or notebook Great for the van or down time on the trip
  • Lightweight rechargeable battery pack & charging cables
  • Multi-tool or pocketknife
  • Binoculars
  • Driving clothes & shoes, etc additional clothes/supplies for a longer drive

*All items with an asterisk are available to check-out and included in the cost of your registration.

You will leave the pre-trip meeting to return to your own residence with your backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, so you can arrive fully packed and ready. Each person should be prepared to add some of the shared group gear to their pack before departure.

If you have any personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag, etc.) that you would like to bring, please bring it to the pre-trip meeting so trip leaders can make sure it is appropriate for the needs of this trip.

OAP will provide all the necessary group items, including tents, cooking supplies, stoves and fuel, all the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the trail) and food storage, water purification, restroom kit (trowel, toilet paper, rest stop bag), hygiene kit (hand sanitizer and biodegradable soap), first aid kit, emergency communication device, and maps. These items will be distributed throughout the group for carrying in backpacks.

Register for upcoming trips on our Trips and Events Calendar webpage

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