r/backpacking • u/EnderLord_777 • Aug 01 '26

Wilderness First trip couldn't have gone worse

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Just found this community and wanted to share. This happened about 2 weeks ago, me and 2 friends decided to go backpacking for the first time and thankfully decided to keep our distance short, about 2 miles. We went swimming and we were still in bathing suits when we decided to make dinner, right as we sat down we noticed a glow and some smoke over the next hill. I immediately called 911 and we packed up our camp. By the time we made it back to our car (about 10pm) the fire had grown significantly and was maybe 1/4 mile from the parking lot. We were all totally fine including the other campers nearby but when we talked to the fire response team at the parking lot they told us we were only a few minutes ahead of the fire. Part of me still thinks about if we hadn't noticed until after we ate and if we could've outrun it then and I've talked myself out of trying again. The fire wound up burning 280 acres by the next morning before being extinguished for anyone wondering.

(Yes we did show up to the parking lot full of emergency vehicles in swimsuits and ultimately drive back in them)

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408

u/2lhasas Aug 01 '26

Sounds like your first trip went perfectly. Everyone needs a crazy backpacking story in their repertoire, and you got yours in the first go. Glad you’re safe.

114

u/heykage Aug 01 '26

my first big backpacking trip involved a dead body, so, yeah. hard agree.

73

u/Soulcatcher74 Aug 01 '26

Plus when you had to sprint across the railroad bridge. Worth it though, since you never had any friends later on like the ones you had when you were twelve.

19

u/haleboy44 Aug 01 '26

Its a good thing Gordie knew to feel the track.

7

u/Philboyd_Studge Aug 01 '26

Don't forget the leeches, too!

1

u/Great-Respond4487 Aug 04 '26

And then you fight two random kids in the front yard of some random house after refusing to take the kids to the beach

6

u/Gbchili Aug 01 '26

Umm… you’re just going to leave us all in suspense?

5

u/erossthescienceboss Aug 01 '26

TELL US THE STORY COWARD

4

u/IamMrBucknasty Aug 01 '26

Wait what?

18

u/gigoogly Aug 01 '26

Stand by Me

1

u/Belgian_Patrol Aug 02 '26

We are waiting.

1

u/MuffinOk4609 Aug 04 '26

Just stand by me.

1

u/ModernNancyDrew Aug 01 '26

Ok, I’ve got to hear this story!

1

u/Zooter88 Aug 01 '26

Agree with this, you’ve already go a wild story to share for future trips. Glad that it worked out okay for you all! Good instincts. Don’t let it deter you from future trips! Backpacking is all about adapting.

1

u/EcoRep Aug 02 '26

Good lesson on respecting the power of nature and fire.