Spring is on its way, slowly but surely. To be honest, spring hiking is not my favorite but is essential as preparation for my solo-backpacking trips. The trails usually are in that in-between spot of snowy and muddy. If you know me well, you might know I absolutely hate getting muddy. Now, I know what you’re thinking, how can you love the outdoors and hate getting muddy. I cringe every time my hiking boots get covered in mud or how I manage to get mud in my hair. Springtime trails are usually a little overgrown. Typically, fallen trees from the winter months barricade trails which makes maneuvering around them quite challenging. When the snow starts melting off the trails it creates lots of snow runoff making streams harder to cross.

There are many different obstacles that I have had to face on my own while solo backpacking and spring hiking is essential in helping me get ready for these challenges. These challenges include but are not limited to: weather changes, strenuous trails, getting lost, unexpected obstacles, river crossings, bouldering up rock scrambles and animal encounters. Spring hiking has helped me to prepare myself for anything that could potentially happen during my backpacking trips.

Spring hiking around the Pacific Northwest has unexpected weather changes. Many times, I have started a hike with clear skies and then ended the hike with windy or rainy conditions. It’s important to practice hiking in lots of different weather climates so that I can be well equipped for any kind of weather. The trails I choose for my solo backpacking trips are usually new trails to me, so I don’t know what the trail will look like or what the weather will do while in the new area.

Solo-Backpacking as the name suggests, means I’m out on these trails by myself so it’s important to make sure I have the strength and agility to complete the trial without needing help.  I don’t usually know ahead of time if there will be anyone on the trail, so I need to be able to overcome different obstacles by myself (maybe that’s why I’m such an independent gal). Spring hiking, workouts, and training are so important to help me be prepared for anything. My backpacking pack is usually around 37-38lbs and that kind of weight can cause a lot of pain to my back, shoulders, hips, knees and legs if I don’t train those areas of my body before my long trip. I’m not saying if you don’t train before a long hike or even a backpacking trip that you won’t make it. But believe me when I say you will not be able to walk for the first few days after your trip if you don’t train beforehand. Hint, Hint, I might’ve learned this the hard way. As I prepare my body for the trails, I also prepare myself for when I get lost.

Getting lost is terrifying (not going to lie) especially in the snow. Spring hiking season is a great way to make sure to have a plan to navigate through snow.  On my first solo-backpacking trip I got lost in the snow not just once but twice and was wandering around for about an hour until I finally found the trail with the help of my Garmin. Quick tip: when lost, the best thing to do is mark where you currently are so you don’t hike in circles. If all else fails, I’ve ended up bushwhacking towards the direction of my destination and have eventually made it back to a trail.  No matter how much I plan, things are going to happen that are out of my control.

Unexpected obstacles on the trail are bound to happen. On that same solo-backpacking trip I met a family who hiked this trail every year. They showed me a waterfall that they usually hike down leading back to the lake we both had stayed at the previous night. I wasn’t paying much attention when they went down it so, when I attempted to go down it the next morning, I almost had to turn around. I unexpectedly came to a rock cliff where I needed to jump from one cliff to another with what I thought was a one-foot gap. It took me five minutes to decide to jump (I was scared spitless), but once I did I looked behind me and was surprised to see a three-foot gap not a one foot gap like I originally thought. Scenes from the film 127 Hours flashed in my mind as I kept moving to get down from the waterfall to follow the rushing stream back to the lake.

River crossings in the spring/summer can be very intense because of the fast currants and the fullness of the rivers depending on the current season. In the Sawtooth mountains this past summer, the rivers were dangerously full and very fast because of the snow accumulation and wet spring. Thankfully, I convinced myself to bring my trekking poles before leaving my car. They were essential when crossing knee and hip deep rivers that were flowing uncontrollably fast. Quick tip: while crossing rivers or any body of water always make sure to unbuckle your pack straps. If you happen to slip and fall into the river let go of your pack otherwise you could potentially drown from being weighed down. The weight of your pack not only can pull you under the water but it can cause challenges to other parts of the trail as well.

Pack weight plays a big role in ascending to a mountain summit. Rock scrambles and bouldering up to summits are very intense because I could easily slip and fall all the way down the side of a mountain. The ascent becomes mentally challenging since I’m usually pretty tired and hurting from the weight of my pack with all of the elevation gain. Preparing in the spring can help to make the summit climbs more manageable.

Animal encounters are intimidating. I have encountered snakes, cougars, deer, moose and other small animals like rabbits and chipmunks. When encountering my first bull snake, I jumped because I immediately thought it was a rattle snake since both snakes make rattling noises. I stopped dead in my tracks and waited until it had slithered away. Quick tip: the difference between bull and rattle snakes is that of their tails. A bull snake’s tail will lay flat on the ground in order to create a vibrating sound off the ground which results in the rattling sound. Rather, a rattle snake’s tail will be up in the air because they have a rattle in their tail itself. Deer and moose encounters are similar and typically aren’t super dangerous. Most female animals are only violent when they are protecting their babes or trying to get food left out. Cougar encounters are eerie. Cougars will stalk you while out hiking. During spring hiking in 2021, I turned around on a trail quick enough to see a cougar roughly 30ish yards away. I was stunned and shocked it was there. I didn’t move a muscle but calmly started talking to it and slowing backing away. The cougar also slowly backed away as well and I was able to finish the hike and get back to my car.

All in All, these are all obstacles I was able to face head-on because I felt prepared by the challenges of spring hiking. Even though it’s not my favorite time of season to hike and am sometimes miserable in the rain, spring hiking as you now have read has prepared me for lots of challenges. My hope is that this advice/stories will help you as you get ready for your own summer adventures.