HOW TO CHOOSE A BACKPACKING TRIP Planning your first overnight in the wilderness By Dick Lambe, Foothills Backpacking Leader and Super Volunteer
Photo by Tim Nair.
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ou’ve been day hiking and are ready to have your first overnight in the wilderness, but you’re not sure where to start. Below are a few steps to take before you go to maximize your chances of having a fun, successful trip:
Step 1: Gather Resources Many sources of information exist to help with planning. Spend time researching where you want to go, when, and what to expect when you get there. Start with these resources: Guidebooks: Mountaineers Books publishes many guidebooks, and you can never own too many - my shelves include more than 90, starting with my AMC White Mountain Guide purchased in 1966. Plus, Mountaineers members save 20%. Maps: Both paper maps and mapping apps like Gaia and Caltopo can are useful sources of information, and are important resources to bring with you to ensure you don’t get lost. Public agency websites: Sites like the National Park Service website for Mount Rainier National Park include useful trail and road condition reports. Crowd sourcing: Websites like WTA.org, Mountaineers Trip Reports, and NWHikers.net include information and recent updates from individuals who have backpacked the trail. These days you can also find information on social media. Facebook has a lot of groups that share recent conditions and trip ideas.
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mountaineer | summer 2021
Step 2: Research Once you’ve gathered your resources and figured out where you want to go, use them to plan your trip by considering the following factors: Trail: What are the trail conditions like? Is it rocky, steep, brushy, or exposed? Are there any unabridged stream crossings? Do you have distance options based on possible campsites? How many feet of climbing and descending are required? Remember, hiking with a full backpack is more difficult than hiking with a daypack. Road: How far a trailhead is from where you are and the road conditions getting there are important to keep in mind. Do you need a high-clearance or 4WD vehicle? Is the 5 miles of access road rough washboard, taking you 45 minutes to drive rather than the hoped-for 15? Are there washouts or blow downs? Knowing these things can help prevent mishaps and delays. Location: When planning campsite locations, guidebooks are a good resource, and maps provide information on possible off-trail campsites. When figuring out where to camp, your proximity to water is important - each gallon you have to carry is an additional 8 pounds in your backpack. Also consider the views from the trail and at the campsites. Since I enjoy star viewing, I look for a campsite with a clear unobstructed view of the sky. I love to swim in alpine lakes, so swimmable lakes is another factor for me in route and campsite selection. What
