It's a great idea to go on a trip with a short hike when testing out new gear, too - not just when you're testing out your own abilities! New tent, new shoes, new backpacks -- you don't want to be too far from home when you find out it's not good. You found that out with the air mattress!

I read in a hiking book that the author never hiked more than 5 miles on her first day. She didn't explain why, though, just said that she liked to take it easy and enjoy the trip. But this is why - if your gear fails, you're only a couple hours away from the car.

I know this from experience. I have been 2 hours away from the car when I realized it was too darn cold for the stuff I brought and hypothermia was a definite possibility if we stayed the night. I have also hiked 6 hours and found out that we didn't bring tent poles.

Yeah.

It rained, too. Our tent was held together with branches, scrunchies, and shoelaces.