Although backcountry expeditions aren’t for everyone, they are incredibly beneficial experiences. You will journey into remote areas without the comforts of advanced medical care, bathrooms, running water, technology, and so on. This type of trek can have a large impact on the individuals participating, and this often comes from a range of benefits.
There are plenty of benefits to take advantage of if you choose to complete a backcountry expedition. These benefits will not only change who you are as a person, but they could also change how you view the world around you. To learn more, you should read this post, which outlines three of the best and biggest benefits of backcountry expeditions.
Improve Physical and Mental Health
One of the most obvious benefits of completing an expedition relates to your physical and mental health. As many people understand, regular exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy weight and ensure your joints and muscles are kept in good condition. Backcountry expeditions often involve lots of physical challenges, such as carrying heavy equipment, hiking for several hours each day, or paddling. All of this movement will lead to increased caloric expenditure as well as metabolic benefits.
The benefits for your health don’t end with the physical, though; you will also reap mental benefits. In fact, a study found that spending time in the backcountry improved mental well-being by 12.7%. This might be a surprise, especially as the focus is usually on the physical side of this type of trip. However, expeditions allow you to spend time in nature, which can lead to reduced anxiety and stress, improved mood, and a greater sense of overall well-being.
Not only will this make you feel good, but you will be much more mentally and physically resilient going forward. These challenges will be tough on your body and mind, but getting through them will allow you to grow, as explained in the next point.
Expand Personal Growth and Skill Development
Backcountry expeditions are the perfect opportunity to improve yourself in various ways. This type of experience provides you with the chance to push yourself physically and mentally, and this will result in you building resilience. You might experience failure or unexpected setbacks, and it is important to keep moving forward during these moments instead of giving up. Difficult terrain and unpredictable weather, for example, will force you to persevere.
These expeditions also teach you numerous skills that can be useful in the future. You might find that you survive using your primal nature on a backcountry expedition, especially when problems arise and resources become scarce. The survival techniques and navigation skills that you learn will help you prioritize needs over wants and solve problems, like finding a water source or repairing equipment, and all skills can be adapted for use in everyday life, too.
By completing a backcountry expedition, you will be given the opportunity to grow as a person. This is often helped along by being in a relatively unfamiliar area, but the nature surrounding you is a benefit in itself.
Connect with Nature
As a backcountry expedition will take place in remote areas, you can expect to be living in nature for the duration of the trek. This can be a big change for some participants, especially if they are more familiar with city life. They might find that their connection with nature is significantly enhanced during the expedition due to the multi-day immersion.
But this can offer a range of benefits in itself. Being closer to nature can improve your appreciation and understanding of your surroundings. You might also experience heightened sensory awareness because of the isolated nature of these treks and the reduced distractions.
To conclude, if you are going to complete a backcountry expedition, you will likely experience a variety of benefits throughout the trek. These will include improving your physical and mental health, expanding your personal growth and skill development, and connecting with nature.
