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How to Plan the Best Hike Ever Or at least a pretty darn good one By Craig Romano, Mountaineers Books Guidebook Author
Hiker Ted Evans enjoys a beautiful sunset at Blue Lake from his campsite. Photos courtesy of Craig Romano.
I
’ve been hiking and backpacking for more than 40 years now. Along the way I’ve learned a few things from research, the guidance of others, the trials of my own errors, and random luck. It’s not only helped make me a successful guidebook author, but a confident hiker, backpacker, and trail runner. Below are a few of my hard-earned, trail-tested tips on how to have a pretty darn good hiking adventure.
Seek trusted sources Start with planning. Sure, spontaneous can be fun - but it can also be a waste of time, a big disappointment, or a disaster. As a result always research, and always consult trusted sources. I seek out information from respected guidebook authors, knowledgeable seasoned hikers, and experienced backcountry rangers. Aside from good guidebooks, I also consult experts from area hiking groups and clubs. I visit the official websites of the managing agencies for the trails I’m interested in checking out. And I purchase and study real maps! I rely on maps from respected sources like Green Trails and the Appalachian Mountain Club, not crowd-sourced map apps which are often
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rife with errors and misinformation including unofficial trails, routes, and paths through private lands.
Rules and regulations In my pre-hike fact finding missions, I gather information on fees and permits needed. I annually buy both a Discover Pass and an America the Beautiful Pass, which gets me into every national park and wildlife refuge, and allows me to park at national forest trailheads from coast to coast. But when visiting other states’ parks or national and provincial parks in Canada, I like to know ahead of time what passes are needed, how to get them, and if I should get an annual rather than a daily pass. I also consult my trusted sources for seasonal closures and rules and regulations. Hikers with dogs will want to pay close attention to those rules related to their four-legged companions. Overnighters will want to know all of the special rules pertaining to backpacking. Check for quotas and park closing info, too. You don’t want to be turned away because you arrived too late - or forced to spend the night in the parking lot behind a locked gate because you came back to the trailhead too late! And be aware of whether the place you’re planning
