Backpacking according to American Forked
Sound about right? It is. Why do we do it? We at American Forked have found that the modern lifestyle of many middle aged Americans is not conducive to very great mental or physical heath. Hours and hours of sitting in a chair at work followed by more sitting/lying down at home in front of a computer or video games has proven to make our legs, spines and most importantly our hearts, weaker. Hours reading headline news intentionally designed to infuriate, staring at people make cakes or dance on instagram, binging entire seasons of television, or arguing in a public chat about how wrong someone else’s political views are has all up to a lonelier, less happy American.
Remember the movie ‘Fight Club’? Edward Norton plays a beaten down, corporate ant who at the end of his rope, finds incredible joy, relief and release in getting beat-up by often stronger men in a self formed “fight club”. Backpacking is like that. It is intentionally subjecting yourself to heat, wet, cold, and often fear to find that escape to a more primitive time, when humans had to constantly think about their own survival. Backpacking forces you to walk upright, for hours on end, carrying weight on your back, which if done often enough, can improve your posture, strengthen your legs and back, relieve back pain, and help you loose weight. And it’s not just the act of backpacking. Longer backpacking trips covering more miles often motivate the hiker to train harder and more consistently so they don’t crap out after 2 miles. This training is quite simple… It involves, walking…. and then doing some more walking.
The reward? The hiker experiences fresh air, a relief from crowded cities, solitude, and often awe-inspiring views that no instagram post will ever do justice. They become healthier from training, and probably live longer. They experience precious time with fellow friends or family uninterrupted by honking horns, beeping phones, or nagging emails. They experience the raw challenge of being 100% self sustained, relying entirely on their own intellect, instincts, and packing skills to survive for at least a night in raw wilderness. This self reliance can be exhilarating, confidence boosting, and most importantly it can be a reminder that a human was not made to sit in a chair.
They were made to backpack.
Explore our exciting backpacking trips through stunning landscapes and challenging terrains. Click on each image to view detailed galleries, maps and descriptions of our adventures.
