No one wants to hug or shake hands with a backpacker anyway . . .

We've all been told in the past few weeks to keep away from others, avoid indoor crowds , and wash up after every door knob and gas pump handle you encounter.  Wilderness backpacking trip?  Check, check and check.

Sure, you might run into another person out there, but look at that guy - you wouldn't have much inclination to shake his hand or give him a hug in the best of times.  And guess what, he's thinking the same thing about you.

One of the "charms" of backpacking is the slightly less than normal-urban hygiene practices endured while you're out there.    If there's a worse smell than 4 backpackers crammed into a car after a few days of trekking, I don't know what that is.  Hugs are few.   On the other hand, viruses aren't very prevalent in the wild, with few hosts, fresh air and sunlight working against them.

So the moral of the story is now is a great time to rent or buy some backpacking gear and get out there where it's safe.  And if you meet someone on the trail, just do the normal grunt greeting and keep trekking up the hill.  Check out our camping and backpacking gear rental offerings, or stop by our camping store in Tempe anytime!