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BACKPACKING
Events
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General Backpacking Information
What is Backpacking?
Backpacking is the art of carrying everything you need — shelter, food, water, and clothing — on your back as you venture into the wilderness for one or more nights. It’s one of the most immersive ways to experience the natural world, trading the noise of everyday life for the quiet of mountain trails, alpine lakes, and star-filled skies. Unlike a day hike, backpacking invites you to truly live outside — making camp, filtering water from streams, cooking under open skies, and waking up somewhere breathtaking. It’s a skill, a practice, and for many people, a life-changing experience.
Our Backpacking Program
Blackpackers provides economic equity in outdoor education and recreation through professionally guided, curriculum-based, and fully outfitted programming — and our backpacking program is the heart of that mission
Blackpackers offers curriculum-based, professionally guided, and fully outfitted outdoor experiences — for free or at subsidized cost to those at the intersection of underrepresentation and economic vulnerability. Every detail is taken care of so that the only thing participants need to bring is a willingness to explore.
Led by Experts
Our program is led by founder and Executive Director Patricia Cameron, a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT), Wilderness First Responder instructor, certified interpretive guide, Leave No Trace Master Educator, outdoor education adjunct professor, five time NOLS graduate (with a seat on the NOLS advisory board.) With thousands of miles and multiple thru-hikes under her belt (or in her pack), participants are in experienced, credentialed hands every step of the way.
The nonprofit also offers professionally taught classes where participants can learn all about adventuring and surviving in the wilderness. Safety, risk management, and wilderness medicine are woven into every outing, not treated as an afterthought. KRDO
A School in the Wilderness
Blackpackers is a school. “We try to find people who historically have not seen themselves outdoors and give them gear, risk management education, and wilderness medicine.” The goal isn’t just a great trip — it’s lasting empowerment. “I want to get people doing this on their own. So they’re not just hanging out at Blackpackers events — I want to see people do this on their own.”
Fully Outfitted — No Gear? No Problem.
One of the biggest barriers to backpacking is the cost of gear. Blackpackers removes that obstacle entirely. Through partnerships and grants, Blackpackers provides free gear, and their gear locker allows people the opportunity to try equipment before making their own investment into a lifetime outdoors. The Trek
Beyond the Trail
Blackpackers also aims to connect participants with volunteer opportunities, internships, jobs, and post-secondary education resources to create a pipeline from outdoor recreation to outdoor industry careers. As Patricia explains, “If I can get people professional certifications, if I can get them the knowledge that somebody who was born and raised here has or grew up doing it, maybe we can attack some of that wealth gap by getting them participating in one of the biggest industries in the country, and certainly in Colorado.”
Is this really free?
Yes, most of our programs are free or of little cost. If there is a fee or deposit associated with a particular program, it will be detailed in the registration.
Do I need to buy anything before the trip?
No. Only if you’d like.
What gear will be provided?
We provide everything you need for the trail — backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles, cooking equipment, and more. You show up, we outfit you.
What if my gear doesn't fit right or I'm uncomfortable with something?
Our guides are on-site before and during the trip to make sure everything fits properly and feels right. No one hits the trail uncomfortable.
Can I borrow gear again for a future trip on my own?
If you have attended an equal event and have been approved by the team, you are able to access our gear locker at the level of gear that reflects your ability based on the event(s) you attended.
What if I'm not in shape or athletic enough?
Our trips are designed to be accessible regardless of fitness level. Various trips are open to participants of various levels. Trail length and details are provided during registration. If you have any questions about ability or fitness for a trail, please reach out to our team prior to registration.
What if I get scared out there?
That’s normal and valid. You will never be alone. Our professional Blackpacker guides are with you the entire time, and you’ll be surrounded by a community of people having the same experience together.
What if I need to turn back or can't finish?
Your safety and comfort always come first. We will never pressure anyone to push beyond their limits, and we have plans in place for any situation.
What if something goes wrong medically?
Our trips are led by Wilderness Emergency Medical Technicians (WEMTs) and Wilderness First Responder-certified professionals. We are trained and equipped to handle medical situations in the backcountry. You are in safe, credentialed hands.
How far do we actually hike?
That depends on the trip, but most of our programs are designed with beginners in mind. Some trips have been as short as 1.5 miles for beginners and longer for more experienced Blackpackers who want more of a remote experience.
Where will we sleep?
In backpacking tents (which are a little different than car camping tents) We will teach you how to get them set-up before and during the trip.
What do we eat out there?
A lot of our meal choices depends on location, fire restrictions, and length of the trip. Sometimes we have dehydrated backpacking meals, and sometimes we break out backpacking stoves for a more robust camp kitchen experience.
Where do we go to the bathroom?
We teach Leave No Trace principles, which includes how to safely and respectfully use the outdoors as a restroom. It sounds intimidating, but it’s simpler than you think, and our guides will walk you through it without judgment. Blackpackers believes in packing waste out, but we also dig cat holes and occasionally have access to vault toilets when we are in state parks.
What do I wear? What should I bring?
We’ll send you a detailed packing list of personal items to bring (clothing, toiletries, medications, etc.) once you register. Think comfort over style, and layers for changing mountain weather.
What about wildlife — bears, snakes, mountain lions?
Colorado is home to incredible wildlife. Part of our curriculum covers wildlife awareness and how to store food safely. Encounters are rare, and knowing what to do makes all the difference. Our guides are trained for this and can’t wait to share that info with you!
What's the weather like?
Mountain weather in Colorado can change quickly. We teach participants how to layer, how to read conditions, and how to stay safe. All of this is part of our pre-trip orientation.
Is the outdoors actually safe for someone like me?
We take this question seriously. Our guides are trained not just in wilderness medicine, but in creating culturally competent, affirming spaces. We go together, we look out for each other, and we’ve been doing this since 2019.
I have a disability or health condition. Can I still participate?
Each participant fills out a medical information form that is protected by HIPAA. Our goal is to use these forms to include participants and not exclude participants. If you have any specific concerns about a specific condition please reach out to our team prior to registration.
What if I love it and want to keep going?
That’s the goal. We’ll connect you with gear resources, future trips, and a community of people who have been exactly where you are.
Blackpackers
Upcoming Backpacking Events
Events
Calendar of Events
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The 2019 OIA Participation Report shows that Black Americans hike and camp less than any other race. Only 5.9% of Black people said that they camped or backpacked. (Source: Outside Magazine)
We have partnered with REI, Katabatic Quilt, and Six Gear Designs. They donate gear for this Blackpackers program. The Backpacking program has a 6 person limit for wilderness first response purposes. We assign gear and teach participants how to properly pack for a trek! As we hike, we do a Leave no trace awareness workshop. We talk about the environment and history behind the land we traverse; focusing on BIPOC folk and their impact. We take required safety measures to ensure everyone is taught how to rehydrate, refuel, and how to make and store food in safe conditions.
From Rahawa Haile to Akuna, backpacking is a pleasure that we all can partake in! Join Blackpackers in learning how to have a safe and fun time when trekking short and long distances!
