FAQs

What happens if there is a medical emergency?

The first goal is to prevent medical emergencies in the backcountry. It begins by drinking enough water to avoid dehydration, eating enough calories to maintain energy, and wearing broken-in footwear to prevent blisters. Also, knowing your limits and your ability is essential in staying safe. Informing your guide before your trip of any past or current injuries, illnesses, or limitations, as well as any medications you take for treatment, is key. 

The most common injuries in the backcountry are sprained ankles, knee sprains, strains or tendonitis, blisters, shin splints, dehydration, sunburn or heatstroke, insect bites or stings, overexertion, falls and cuts, and poison ivy or poison oak. Being intentional and aware of these common injuries can help a hiker avoid a medical emergency. To treat minor issues like blisters, using moleskin or other methods as soon as a hotspot occurs is the best way to ensure a less painful hike. Wrapping an ankle or knee with ACE wrap for support will be a treatment for sprains or strains

Severe medical emergencies are rare in the backcountry. Still, in the case of a medical emergency, I will assess the injuries and symptoms and treat them to the best of my abilities using the training I have received in Wilderness First Aid.  If the injury or illness limits the hiker’s ability to walk or is life-threatening, contact will be made via cell phone or satellite to the nearest ranger station. An able body will report the situation, location, and the patient’s needs to the Rangers for directions and guidance.  Wilderness First Responders will arrive to treat the patient and help transport them out of the backcountry and to a hospital for treatment. 

Is prior experience necessary?

No, prior experience backpacking or hiking is not necessary.  Knowing your physical abilities plays an  important role in choosing which trip is best suited for you. Backpacking is an endurance activity that requires physical and mental fortitude.  Most trips you will be hiking several hours and miles per day with a 20-30 pound pack carrying all your gear.  To have the best experience, it is recommended that you walk 2-3 miles at a time, several days per week leading up to your trip.  

Am I responsible for my own transportation?

  • Yes, participants are responsible for transportation to the trailhead.  Participants may be coming from many locations and there is no transportation offered by FTSE.  
  • Please contact your guide if you are going to be more than 30 minutes late to the trailhead.  Please be considerate of all participants and do your best to be punctual.  Arriving on time is important in ensuring that there is adequate time to hike the miles needed to reach camp and have daylight hours to set up campsites and make dinner.  

What items do I need to bring?

Gear –  

It is important that if you bring your own gear, you know that all of your items fit into your pack and you are capable of carrying the weight.  Most packs loaded with all gear, clothing, food and water will weigh anywhere between 25-35 lbs.
*If you do not have some or all of these items, I offer rental gear.  

  • Backpack
  • Sleeping bag & sleeping pad
  • Tent/shelter
  • Trekking poles
  • Camp stove & fuel
  • Camp pot
  • Spork or eating utensil(s)
  • Water filter
  • Headlamp 

Footwear

  • Footwear is of utmost importance.  Knowing that your footwear is comfortable and will not cause blisters cannot be stressed enough.  Please hike/walk in your footwear you plan to use for your trip to ensure you will not get blisters.  Blisters and foot pain can really impact your experience, so use what works best for your feet. 
  • 2-3 pairs of socks.  1-2 pairs of socks to hike in and a clean and dry pair for sleeping. Merino wool is best for regulating temperature and also dry quickly. 
    • Darn Tough, Smartwool and REI have many options.

Clothing

  • Rain gear even if rain is not initially called for
    • In warmer weather, this could be a cheap plastic poncho or a rain jacket
    • In cooler weather, rain gear provides safety from hypothermia
    • Having a reliable rain jacket and rain pants is key to enjoying the hike in less than ideal weather
    • Frogg Toggs offers dependable rain gear at a reasonable price
  • Clothing that is comfortable, moisture wicking and quick drying.  Do not wear cotton as it is not moisture wicking or quick drying
    • Synthetic or wool leggings, lightweight trail pants, or running shorts depending on expected weather.
    • Synthetic or wool long sleeve or short sleeve tops
  • For cooler evenings and mornings, a fleece zip up is a good lightweight and warm layer
  • A lightweight puffy down or synthetic jacket is good for when temperatures dip below 50
  • A knit beanie or hat and gloves for colder weather
  • Sun protection: 
    • Hat
    • Sun hoodie
    • Small travel size bottle of sunscreen
    • Sunglasses

Toiletries

  • A “bathroom” kit.  You will be going pee and poop in the woods.  Having a small ziplock baggie of wipes (usually 2-4 wipes per day) and another ziplock baggie labeled “dirty” for used wipes is recommended. Packing out your dirty wipes and trash is an important practice to keep our natural spaces clean and beautiful. 
  • Medications that you take regularly. Any over the counter medication you take regularly.

Food & Drink

  • 2 liters of water unless specified otherwise in your trip description
    • Filled Nalgene bottles or store bought liter bottles of water. 
  • Electrolyte packets to mix into water will help with hydration, are recommended
    • LMNT and Liquid IV are two types I have used and liked.  
  • Backpacking meals.
    • These are meals that you just add cold or heated water, let sit, and then enjoy out of the bag making cleanup easy
    • Readily available for purchase at REI or Amazon, such as Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry, or Peak Refuel. 
  • Breakfast, an instant oat packet or two is great, but you can also purchase backpacking meals for breakfast. 
  • Snacks that have protein and carbohydrates to keep you fueled throughout the day. 
    • Things like granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, or other snacks you might want to eat on trail
    • It is important to eat about 150-200 calories every 2 hours while hiking.  
  • Instant coffee, tea or hot cocoa to have in the mornings or evenings 
  • Bring a metal tumbler with a lid for coffee, tea or hot cocoa.

Other

  • Cell service can be spotty depending on location.  I recommend hiking with your phone off or on airplane mode to save battery.  There are portable batteries you can bring to charge your device if need be.  

I don’t have equipment, do you offer rentals?

YES! I started FTSE to help new and novice backpackers get outside and enjoy the trails.  Buying all the gear needed to backpack is expensive, so I offer rentals on the larger items needed to get started.  I am happy to offer rentals for backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, stoves, cookpots, sporks, fuel, trekking poles and headlamps.  

These items are the basic gear needed to get you started on your backpacking adventure.

What type of payments do you accept?

Credit or debit cards.

Do I have to pay in full, or can I pay a deposit?

A charge of $150 for deposit on all trips to reserve a spot, 4+ weeks prior to the chosen trip. Balance payment must be made in full 2 weeks prior to the trip.  If gear is rented, 50% of the gear rental cost is to be paid at the time of booking deposit, and the balance paid 2 weeks prior to the trip.  

What is the refund policy?

  • If the trip is cancelled and/or rescheduled by FTSE due to illness of guide, inclement weather, such as, high winds, thunderstorms, flooding, tornado warnings, or blizzard, or in the event of trailhead/trail closures, or pandemic, money will be refunded in full or can be credited towards another trip. A refund or payment of new balance may be required if the secondary trip price is less or more than the original trip.   
  • If the participant cancels the reservation for a trip within 31+ days of the trip,  a 100% refund of trip payment minus the $150 deposit will be refunded.
    • Example: $500 trip cost-$150 deposit, $350 refund.  If a participant cancels within 15-30 days of their trip, there will be a 50% refund minus the $150 deposit. 
  • If a participant cancels within 15-30 days of their trip, there will be a 50% refund minus the $150 deposit. 
    • Example: The total trip cost is $500, 50% refund $250 minus the $150 deposit = $100 refund. 
  • If the participant cancels 0-14 days prior to the trip, no refund will be granted.  
    • Example: The total trip cost is $500, 50% refund $250 minus the $150 deposit = $100 refund.  If the participant cancels 0-14 days prior to the trip, no refund will be granted.  

When signing up for a trip, it is important to make sure your work and personal schedule is cleared of conflicts. Be fully committed to the trip and have time off cleared with your work and family before you sign up and submit a deposit payment for a trip.  

See the requirements for insurance

Do I need insurance?

  • Yes, it is required that all participants purchase travel insurance and have medical insurance. 
  • Please submit proof of travel and medical insurance to FTSE 14+ days prior to the trip.  Travel insurance will protect you from the most common causes for cancellation, such as illness, injury, death of you or a family member or travel companion. Travel insurance should also cover emergency medical costs or if emergency rescue in the backcountry. 
  • Suggested travel insurance companies are Travel Guard, Travelex, Faye, and Global Rescue. Please purchase your travel insurance within 15 days of booking your trip to obtain the best coverage.  

What do I need to bring my own food?

  • Pre-packaged backpacking meals are the most convenient and easiest to clean up.
    • Breakfast and Main meals are available.
      • Brands like Mountain House, Peak Refuel, Good To Go, Backpacker’s Pantry, and many more are available at REI, Amazon and other outdoor supply stores.  Most of these pre-packaged meals are labeled as 2 servings, but usually each pouch is perfect for a dinner after a long day of hiking miles. 
    • Instant oatmeal (1-2 packets per morning) is a good place to start. 
  • Drink Mixes: Instant coffee, hot cocoa, tea and electrolytes
  • Snacks:
    • Beef jerky or any jerky that does NOT need refrigeration, meat sticks such as Slim Jims or Chomps
    • Granola bars such as Clif Bars, Kind bars, Larabars, etc that are high calorie and high protein are all great things to help you refuel when you are expending a lot of calories. 
    • Nuts, dried fruit, M&M’s, parmesan or cheddar cheese crisps, a can of Pringles, Oreos, etc,  really anything that does NOT require refrigeration and you enjoy.
    • You will need to have 150-250 calories approximately every 2 hours/4 miles to replenish your energy. 

It is important to note that food will take up a lot of space in your pack and also be a large portion of your weight, so choose high calorie, high protein foods that you will enjoy and that are compact.  Example: If you want to bring Oreos, take a snack bag or smaller plastic zip bag with the amount of Oreos you want to have for your trip, you will not want to carry the entire package of Oreos. 


It is possible to cook food in a titanium cookpot. Some backpackers use Knorr pasta or rice meals, instant mashed potatoes, or ramen.  Adding tuna or chicken pouches to these meals increases the protein and adds some calories.  The downside to preparing meals in a cookpot is the mess it creates and it is difficult to wash the pot thoroughly in the backcountry.  Each option has its benefits and drawbacks so choose what works best for you, or choose a few different methods to try on your trip to see what works best for you.  

For more backpacking meal ideas, check out the sample recipes on backcountryfoodie.com. andrewskurka.com, and www.freshoffthegrid.com .  

What is the age limits on the trips?

Unless stated, all backpacking trips are for women 18 + years of age.

Can I bring my dog?

No pets, therapy animals, or emotional support animals are allowed for many reasons. 

  • Dogs will complicate your trip and considerations must be made for dogs, as they too require water, food, and shelter
  • This adds to the weight you carry unless you are having your dog wear a pack made specifically for them and they carry their food, water, etc. 
  • Many trails are not dog friendly, meaning dogs are not allowed on certain trails
  • Consideration of others in the group is also a concern as some are allergic to dogs, or have past traumatic experiences with a dog

** If you have a service dog that has certification and you provide information on the tasks your service dog is trained to perform, your dog is welcome to join the trip.  It is imperative that service dogs/handler teams use their discretion to know if they are capable of completing specific trips.  Please be prepared to carry the extra food, water and supplies that your dog will need. Things to consider before bringing your service dog. Is your service dog in shape to hike the amount of miles required per day?  Have you hiked long distances on trails with your dog? FTSE retains the right to turn away service dogs/handler teams if the dog is being unruly and/or if the team is not following ADA guidelines, or for the health and safety of other participants such as allergies or aggression. The laws of Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky all require dogs to be leashed, with a leash no longer than 6 feet, when in public places. West Virginia does not have specific leash laws for dogs, but it does require dog owners to pay for any damage cause by a dog. On the trail you must keep your dog leashed at all times.  At camp, service dogs will sleep in your tent with you. To protect FTSE rental gear from damage, a participant bringing a service dog must have their own gear, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, backpack, etc. FTSE is not responsible for lost dogs.  It is not uncommon for dogs to run off when an owner removes a leash or opens the tent door. Dogs are at risk of loss and also pose a risk to the group by causing delays. Please consider all the factors before signing up and choosing to bring a service dog.  

Are the trips women only?

Yes. One of the goals of FTSE is to create a community of women who are working together towards a goal and deepening their love of the outdoors. Having a group of women facilitates a culture of respect and encouragement for one another with no risk of judgment.   Many women battle fear of being alone in the outdoors and doing outdoor activities.  With FTSE we help support women in the outdoors while offering a safe space to learn and grow with a group of like minded women.  

How many people will be there?

Each trip group will be a different size.  Some areas will accommodate a larger group where some other locations will need to have smaller groups.  Campsites are taken into consideration when planning a group trip and the amount of space available for tents will determine how many participants will be in the group.  Each trip description will have a group number limit listed.  

How do I choose a trip that is right for me?

  • Beginner trips will typically be one overnight and two days of hiking. These trips will be lower miles per day that range from 2.5-7.5 miles per day depending on the trail.  
  • Intermediate trips will be one or more overnights with 2 or more days of hiking. Mileage will range from 5-10 miles per day and terrain will be a little more technical with moderate elevation gain.
  • Advanced trips will be challenging trail conditions such as rocks, roots, boulders, and possible rock scrambling. More elevation gain and longer mileage days ranging from 7-15 miles per day.  
  • Each trip with have number of days/nights and average mileage per day with a rating provided to best assist you in picking the right trip for your adventure.  

It is important to access your abilities and sign up for a trip that is challenging, but not overwhelming.   

How do I prepare for my trip?

  • Walking every other day 3+ miles a day and working up to 3+ miles everyday is a great place to start. 
  • Doing a shakedown hike with your backpack loaded and doing more miles is a good way to find out if your shoes/boots are working well for you and if your pack needs adjusting. 
  • While carrying a 25-35 lb. backpack, the average beginner/intermediate speed is about 2 miles per hour.  You should work towards 3 miles per hour unweighted or you can train with a weighted vest if you would like.
  • If you don’t use a hip belt, the weight will sit more on your shoulders and spine whereas a backpacking pack should carry most of your weight on your hips which is much more comfortable.  If you have a hip belt or can purchase one for your weighted vest or Rucksack, I highly recommend doing so as it will feel more like a backpacking pack and better for your shoulders and spine. 
  • Know your fitness level and your abilities before signing up for a trip.  Backpacking requires endurance.
  • Please start drinking 2+ liters of water per day for the 2+ weeks leading up to your trip.  It is imperative to be well hydrated and that starts before your trip begins. Electrolytes help with this as well, so consider adding them to your daily routine. 
  • Fueling your body well pre and post trip is essential in giving you energy before your trip and to help aid in muscle recovery after your trip. 

What is your policy on alcohol and drug use during trips?

For your safety and the safety of all participants and guides, no alcohol or mind altering drugs of any kind are tolerated on FTSE trips.  Having a clear mind with no outside substances clouding judgement and/or physical function is required. The addition of drugs or alcohol increases risk of injury to self or others, increases your risk of getting lost in the woods, and other negative consequences.