Pre-trip worries can affect even the most seasoned tramper. Here are some tips to manage them.
I love tramping, so why do I often feel a sense of unease or nerves before a trip?
I’ve done plenty of tramps over the years, but like most people it isn’t something I do every weekend. It can be months between trips. The longer the gap or the more ambitious the plan, the more those uneasy thoughts seem to grow. Am I fit enough? What if the weather turns? Have I forgotten something important? What if something goes wrong?
I suspect I’m not alone in this. Tramping involves genuine uncertainty, so a degree of apprehension is understandable. The key is to learn how to manage those thoughts so they don’t overwhelm the experience.
Over time I’ve noticed that most of my pre-trip worries fall into four categories. Having strategies for each helps me keep the nerves manageable.
Packing: the fear of forgetting something
When on a multi-day trip, forgetting something can range from mildly inconvenient to potentially dangerous.
My solution is simple: lists. I have a packing list on my phone and update it over time as I learn from experience. Before a trip, I lay everything out at least a day in advance rather than packing at the last minute. Seeing the gear spread out gives me the chance to double-check things against the list and catch any missing items. I also have a list of what to pack on the day of travel, a lesson learnt after once leaving my lunch in the fridge.
Fitness: the reality of carrying a pack
Tramping uses muscles we may not have used in a while. Before a trip, I try to incorporate exercises into my regular routine that strengthen my core and legs. When I head out for my daily walk I add up to 3kg to my day pack, and if I’m feeling energetic I’ll add enough books to bring it close to the weight of a multi-day tramping pack.
My goal isn’t elite athleticism; it’s simply to arrive at the start of a track knowing my body is capable of doing what I’m asking of it.
Weather: the great variable
Weather is one of the biggest variables in tramping. A fine spell can make even a demanding route feel magical, while days of heavy rain can turn the same track into a slog.
Checking the forecast is an obvious step, but understanding what it means for your specific trip is just as important. A forecast might look manageable in general terms but have particular implications for river crossings, exposed ridges or slippery terrain. The local DOC visitor centre can help with understanding how a particular forecast may impact your plans. It also pays to check multiple forecasts, and for longer trips consider a satellite-enabled device to get updated forecasts while in the bush.
It can be tempting to forge ahead regardless, particularly if travel plans are booked and time off work arranged. But sometimes it’s better to cancel or adapt your plans – do an easier or safer tramp, or head to an area with a better forecast.
4. Catastrophising the unknown
It’s easy to catastrophise. Thoughts spiral toward worst-case scenarios: dangerous river crossings, falls, injuries or getting lost.
Part of the problem is that it can be difficult to judge what a particular route will actually involve.
Gathering information, such as avalanche zones or when rivers may be impassable, from multiple reputable sources like DOC and the Mountain Safety Council can help you understand how the risks of a particular route vary throughout the year.
Tramping club and blog trip reports and online communities can also be useful; however, these should be read with caution, as everyone’s abilities and perceptions differ. One person’s ‘easy river crossing’ might feel very different to someone else’s.
Consider joining a tramping club and doing courses in backcountry skills, such as river crossing and navigation, to help develop your confidence and experience.
The goal is to replace vague worries with more concrete expectations.
It’s easy to assume that experienced trampers feel completely confident all the time. In reality, uncertainty is built into the activity, and a degree of unease can actually be useful if it encourages preparation, careful planning and respect for the environment. It can become a problem when those worries become overwhelming or prevent people from heading out at all.
Each time I return from a trip I’m reminded of something simple: the worries beforehand rarely match the experience of actually being out there.
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When nerves get in the way
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July/August 2026
Pre-trip worries can affect even the most seasoned tramper. Here are some tips to manage them.
I love tramping, so why do I often feel a sense of unease or nerves before a trip?
I’ve done plenty of tramps over the years, but like most people it isn’t something I do every weekend. It can be months between trips. The longer the gap or the more ambitious the plan, the more those uneasy thoughts seem to grow. Am I fit enough? What if the weather turns? Have I forgotten something important? What if something goes wrong?
I suspect I’m not alone in this. Tramping involves genuine uncertainty, so a degree of apprehension is understandable. The key is to learn how to manage those thoughts so they don’t overwhelm the experience.
Over time I’ve noticed that most of my pre-trip worries fall into four categories. Having strategies for each helps me keep the nerves manageable.
Packing: the fear of forgetting something
When on a multi-day trip, forgetting something can range from mildly inconvenient to potentially dangerous.
My solution is simple: lists. I have a packing list on my phone and update it over time as I learn from experience. Before a trip, I lay everything out at least a day in advance rather than packing at the last minute. Seeing the gear spread out gives me the chance to double-check things against the list and catch any missing items. I also have a list of what to pack on the day of travel, a lesson learnt after once leaving my lunch in the fridge.
Fitness: the reality of carrying a pack
Tramping uses muscles we may not have used in a while. Before a trip, I try to incorporate exercises into my regular routine that strengthen my core and legs. When I head out for my daily walk I add up to 3kg to my day pack, and if I’m feeling energetic I’ll add enough books to bring it close to the weight of a multi-day tramping pack.
My goal isn’t elite athleticism; it’s simply to arrive at the start of a track knowing my body is capable of doing what I’m asking of it.
Weather: the great variable
Weather is one of the biggest variables in tramping. A fine spell can make even a demanding route feel magical, while days of heavy rain can turn the same track into a slog.
Checking the forecast is an obvious step, but understanding what it means for your specific trip is just as important. A forecast might look manageable in general terms but have particular implications for river crossings, exposed ridges or slippery terrain. The local DOC visitor centre can help with understanding how a particular forecast may impact your plans. It also pays to check multiple forecasts, and for longer trips consider a satellite-enabled device to get updated forecasts while in the bush.
It can be tempting to forge ahead regardless, particularly if travel plans are booked and time off work arranged. But sometimes it’s better to cancel or adapt your plans – do an easier or safer tramp, or head to an area with a better forecast.
4. Catastrophising the unknown
It’s easy to catastrophise. Thoughts spiral toward worst-case scenarios: dangerous river crossings, falls, injuries or getting lost.
Part of the problem is that it can be difficult to judge what a particular route will actually involve.
Gathering information, such as avalanche zones or when rivers may be impassable, from multiple reputable sources like DOC and the Mountain Safety Council can help you understand how the risks of a particular route vary throughout the year.
Tramping club and blog trip reports and online communities can also be useful; however, these should be read with caution, as everyone’s abilities and perceptions differ. One person’s ‘easy river crossing’ might feel very different to someone else’s.
Consider joining a tramping club and doing courses in backcountry skills, such as river crossing and navigation, to help develop your confidence and experience.
The goal is to replace vague worries with more concrete expectations.
It’s easy to assume that experienced trampers feel completely confident all the time. In reality, uncertainty is built into the activity, and a degree of unease can actually be useful if it encourages preparation, careful planning and respect for the environment. It can become a problem when those worries become overwhelming or prevent people from heading out at all.
Each time I return from a trip I’m reminded of something simple: the worries beforehand rarely match the experience of actually being out there.
About the author
Jonty Crane
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