How to play Hike It! The Backpacking board game

About Hike It!: The Backpacking Board Game, from BoardGameGeek:

Hike It! is a highly thematic mid-weight board game that puts you deep into the Great Smoky Mountains with just your backpack and your wits. Choose your gear, plan your route, and learn skills while avoiding injuries, dehydration, bad weather, and pesky bears. At the start of the game, players choose a trailhead and three scenic locations to visit during their trek through picturesque Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the amount of gear and water they want to lug along. A lighter pack mean faster travel, but less capacity to deal with unforeseen events. Players must cope with inclement weather and obstacles that present themselves while hiking toward their destinations. Along the way, they can stop at campsites and water sources to pick up more gear and water, build skills sets that make it easier to overcome challenges, and take side hikes and visit scenic spots for additional points. And when a player is finished hiking, they return to the game as an aggressive bear to chase down any lollygagging hikers still in the park! The hiker who had the best experience (most victory points) wins the game.