State forest and Forest Service campgrounds are friendly havens, but their locations are fixed. Backpacking campers can set their own destinations to fit their outdoor interests.

In this time of rising gasoline prices, costs for outdoor-related travel may put a dent in your recreational budget.

But there is a way to beat the higher costs of transportation. It’s called using your feet. “Shank’s mare” costs only your time, energy, and a willingness to step away from the roadways and enter the off-the-beaten-track world of backcountry discoveries.

Wait – there’s even more savings. Backpacking campers, who take to undeveloped areas of state or national forests with room and board on their backs, are able to set up camp in remote areas away from the hustle-bustle of summer throngs in wooded sites.

With a backpack, you can carry your sleeping bag, pack tent, cook gear, food and water with you and pick your own place to enjoy an overnight adventure in the backcountry. In a group, basic gear can be divided up to share the weight among the hikers.

On state forest lands you must post a (free) white camp card, available at DNR offices and at many sports shops. On Forest Service lands, unless posted against camping, you can set up anywhere away from water’s edge, though a camp card is not required on national forest lands.

The only thing that is expected of you is good camp manners. That means responsible use of the forestlands you camp on. Leave your campsite as clean or cleaner than you found it and carry out everything you carried in – that’s a minimum “fee” for such a bargain campout.

While small domestic campfires for cooking are allowed (unless banned in a high fire danger season), pack-in campers are responsible for their use of fire. Large wildfires are often caused by campfires or debris-burning that gets away. If you are careless with your campfire, it can be costly to you in many ways—criminally or civilly.

Campers should consider using one of the small pack stoves available. Fitting in a hand and weighing only a few pounds or less, they can cook foods and heat water quickly and are less likely to cause a fire. They run on a variety of available fuels.

Dinner time finds most experienced backpack campers using “one-pot,” all-in-one-serving meals. These are often dry-mixed; only boiling water needs to be added. There is a large variety of pack meal selections, and you can even make up your own menus by selecting the dried or freeze-dried varieties found on many market shelves.

Pack-in campers also need to carry in their drinking water. Though many small creeks and lakes may be found in the backcountry, these waters are not safe for drinking. Boiling water (high boil) for at least 20 minutes will make it safe for cooking (but a filter used before boiling will make it more palatable).

There are many sports shops that can outfit you for this recreational experience and dispense good advice on getting started.

At this time of the year, you will need to carry bug repellent, sunscreen, and a small first aid kit to handle nicks and scratches you sometimes get in the brush and brambles. Small cuts need to be cleaned and dressed to prevent infection. Insect bites can be treated by several drug store remedies. Inspecting for ticks in this age of tick-borne Lyme disease is a must, and applies to all outdoor activities.

Depending on the type of outdoor activity, you can carry in things to let you enjoy other pursuits while you camp: a camera, a pack rod and small vest-pocket tackle boxes, and pocket guide books on birds or wildflowers.

“Pathways,” state forest trails and Forest Service or Park Service trails and other recreational sites, can be located with a good map book. I am very high on the DeLorme map gazette of Michigan, available at many sports outlets and bookstores. It is easy to read, well-indexed and has more specific site information than any other current map book on the state that I have seen. It can be invaluable in planning for your hikes. Similar DeLorme map books are available for other states, as well.

State geological survey maps can give you even more on-ground details. Used with a good compass, and knowledge of how to read and use both, it will safely navigate you through the backcountry. GPS is catching on as a navigational tool, but a good compass needs no batteries.

Here are a few basic rules to observe, too:

• Do not leave food wrappings, cans or other debris.
• Do not cut any standing, living trees for campfires. Use dead and down-only wood, please.
• Enjoy the wildflowers, but do not pick. Most are protected species.
• Wild fruits and edibles may be picked in season, but be certain of your plant identification – especially mushrooms.
• Bury your human waste. Dig a hole 9 inches deep, and cover it up after disposing of waste. Burn toilet tissues if you have a campfire, or bury them.
• Be absolutely certain that your campfire is out. Stir water in to make sure no coals are left to re-smolder later.
• Never camp within 200 feet of any stream, lake, pond or other water source.

With a little preparation in packing for your campout, and using a checklist to make sure you don’t leave out any essentials, you can enjoy hundreds of miles of trails and millions of acres of Michigan’s state and federal forests. All at the best bargain rate you’ll ever find — free for the hiking.