Camping is an amazing way to enjoy the boundless riches of nature. There are options to camp at drive up locations where recreational vehicles and car-side tents can occupy small reserved spaces, and these can be great options if you are just seeking to be outside for a few days. However, backpacking down a trail to a camping location is a better way to enjoy natural settings and a bit of isolation. The only obstacle is knowing what to take along when you head out.
The first thing to be sure to have is a permit. This is a small record that will confirm for rangers who you are and where you are expecting to be. In case something goes wrong, a permit is the only way the officials will even know to start looking for you.
Think about water, food and shelter. You want to make sure that you have each, but these things can involve different amounts of weight. For example, avoid carrying can food because it lasts long but is quite heavy and requires that you carry the can the whole time even after eating the contents. Try to limit your total pack weight to 38 pounds.