3 mindset tips to make the most of your pack trip

If you’re new to pack trips, your attitude is as important as the gear you bring. Below are three mindset tips to get the most out of your time on the trail.

1) Long hours in the saddle – embrace it!

You will be in the saddle for hours moving an average of 3 miles per hour. Time will feel different. 

Notice the landscape shifting around you. Look for wildlife tracks as you pass over dried puddles. Don’t be afraid to get off and hike for a bit to stretch your legs. Enjoy the silence or let the conversation flow.

You’re playing the long game here and as you relish the time crossing epic terrain on horseback, you will discover a deep appreciation for the land, your companions, and your horse. Which leads to the next tip….

2) Get a feel for your horse

It’s the two of you together on the trail. Figure out their quirks and personality. They almost always have snack preferences – maybe a deep love of purple thistles or wild sunflowers. You will also have to trust them as you navigate steep or uneven terrain. The more you know them, the easier this trust will be. 

3) Lean into camp life

The beauty of a pack trip is the 24/7 nature of it. You will get to see your horse simply being a horse, grazing and happy beneath a golden sunset. At camp, whether it’s moving tack, bringing your horse to drink, pitching a tent, gathering for a meal – these tasks reflect the special, self-contained feeling of a pack trip. One team, moving together. Not to mention some of the best bathroom views around!

It feels different than the constant buzz of daily life and is one of the most liberating ways to ground yourself in the experience.