So, how do long distance hikers find the motivation to hike through the hard times? Because let’s be real sometimes, Backpacking is hard!

I’m a firm believer that your level of motivation is linked to your why. Why are you out there in the first place? 

Why do you want go backpacking or long distance hiking?

If the first thing that came to mind is – because you like hiking, I hate to break it to you, but your ‘like’ of hiking isn’t going to keep you going through days of rain, and freezing rain, and blisters, and then you get sick, and then you realize you left your trekking poles in the back of the truck you hitched a ride in…. There will be times when you do not like hiking.

Don’t get me wrong, even after all that, it is still totally worth it to get out there and go backpacking and the phenomenal times far outweigh the bad. But it is going to be so easy to quit and turn around during those tough times.

So when I ask you why, dig deep here, what do you get out of these backpacking or camping trips? How do they Benefit you?

Let’s narrow it down with a short exercise, you might want to grab a paper and pen to make some notes.

First, ask yourself – what is the benefit of hiking or backpacking or camping?

There are no right or wrong answers, but an example might be that it’s good exercise.

Well, now ask again, what is the benefit of exercising {or insert whatever your answer to the last question was}?

These answers may be different for everyone, for example some people exercise for heart health, some for weight loss, some to feel good, some do it to meet other people, or maybe even use it as an excuse to get away from certain people and get out of the house! Ha!

Now ask again, what is the benefit of {whatever your answer to the last question was}?

Keep asking that question until you get to your real why.

For example, the benefit of a healthier heart might be to hike farther and longer. And the benefit of hiking farther and longer gives you a sense of accomplishment. And that sense of accomplishment raises your self esteem and makes you more confident, on and off trail.

There! That! That is a solid reason that you can look back on when life on the trail gets tough and you need to drum up some more will power to keep going. Think about all the benefits you’ll be getting after pushing through and consider how you will feel if you end early and miss out on those benefits.

Sometimes, the benefits of hiking don’t outweigh all the trouble you’re going through on the trail, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But more often than not, I think that you’ll find that focusing on your why will bring you the motivation you need to push through the short, hard times, to be able to enjoy all the awesomeness that’s waiting for you down the trail.

Let us know why you want to go backpacking in the comments below!

For more hiking tips and how-to’s check out these posts:

• How to stay healthy while backpacking
• How much first aid training do you need as a hiker?
• 5 Thing you can do today to kickstart your thru hike
• Gear I wish I had with me on the Appalachian Trail

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