About Into the Backcountry

Welcome to Into the Backcountry!

My name is Justin Lightcap and in 2017 I created this site as a resource for backpackers who were looking for in-depth trail guides, ways to improve their wilderness skills, and a place to find information on the latest hiking gear.

A big reason why I started this site was that whenever I wanted to plan a backpacking trip I noticed there wasn’t a lot of good information out there. I had to piece things together from different websites.

My goal with Into the Backcountry is to provide a complete resource you can go to for your backpacking needs and not have to bounce around from website to website with incomplete information.

Over the years, it’s been quite rewarding to help people grow in their outdoor knowledge and help them plan their best backpacking trips. I look forward to continuing to assist people in any way I can through this website.

My Backstory

I’ve had a love for the great outdoors ever since I was young. Growing up, we would go camping every year as a family. I remember those days fondly.

When my little brother and I got older, my dad wanted us to experience a very fun adventure, so he took us backpacking. Our first trip was hiking a small section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, our home state.

Fresh air, beautiful surroundings, only carrying what you need on your back - I loved it. We even had a few interesting conversations with some thru-hikers! That first trip was all it took to stoke an adventurous spirit inside me.

Since then, I have hiked hundreds of miles all over the east coast, from North Carolina to New Hampshire. I have even gotten the chance to hike out west and experience more wild areas like the Rocky Mountains.

When I’m not backpacking, you can usually find me spending time with my wife or hiking local trails with our two Siberian Huskies.

Current Gear List (2023)

• Osprey Exos 48L backpack

• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 tent

• Sea to Summit Spark 2 sleeping bag

• Nemo Tensor regular wide sleeping pad

• DIY alcohol stove

• Platypus QuickDraw water filter

• Leki trekking poles

• Altra Lone Peak 5 shoes

• Nitecore nu25 headlamp

Contact Me

Do you have questions about backpacking gear, skills, one of my guides, or business inquiries? Fill out the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.