The first issue of "Backpacker" appeared in the spring of 1973. The first editor's note written by William Kemsley, the founding editor, explains, "It took us three years to put together the first issue of "Backpacker". In that time, we debated some serious questions among ourselves." The note describes the founding editors' worries that America in the early 1970s did not contain a backpacking community large enough to support a magazine. It also expresses Kemsley's goal to support the magazine primarily through subscriptions rather than advertising.