Backpacking trips, like so many other activities in life, are much more fun, successful, and safe when you thoroughly plan all the details. As I begin planning for next summer's adventure, I thought I would share the process with you. Depending on your skill level and amount of experience in the backcountry, some of the information that follows may benefit you greatly, serve as a helpful reminder, or be a total waste of your time; anytime someone offers you advice, it's ultimately your choice to take it or leave it. Regardless, I hope you find the following information useful, as these are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a backpacking destination.
*Please note, the information that follows applies to backpacking within the United States; different continents require different backpacking skills that, at least for now, extend far beyond the scope of our intent for this site.
*Please note, the information that follows applies to backpacking within the United States; different continents require different backpacking skills that, at least for now, extend far beyond the scope of our intent for this site.
STEP 1 - CHOOSING A DESTINATION
If you're a dreamer like me, then you probably really enjoy this step. There's something very exciting about talking to your friends and planning an adventure. Choosing a backpacking destination requires much more than simply deciding where to go and when. The following information is by no means conclusive as there are many things to take into consideration when picking your wilderness playground. Nonetheless, let's start at what feels like the logical beginning...
Budget
The first important aspect to consider when choosing your backpacking destination is budget. Can't do it if you don't have the funds, right? Fortunately, backpacking is a relatively affordable activity; I mean, how much money can you spend in the wilderness? (On a side note, it is always a good idea to bring some cash with you in the backcountry - whether it's reaching a popular summit to discover they sell food, a chance encounter with cowboys that might be willing to sell you some beer, or simply your desire to buy your buddy's camp chair because you were too stupid to bring your own and want to prove to your wife that you can, in fact, still spend money, even while in the woods - money does serve its purpose in the backcountry).
Regardless, the most expensive part of a backpacking trip typically involves the cost of traveling to locations that tend to be more more remote than your Daytona Beaches and Disney Worlds. However, if you're a novice backpacker or even just beginning and you're on a budget, you may be wondering what's absolutely necessary to bring versus what you can save money on (we'll get to gear lists on another day). Because backpacking gear can be expensive, particularly if you need to acquire all of the essentials at once (and let's face it, backpacking essentials like tents, hiking boots, sleeping bags, and backpacks are all expensive items) it's a smart idea to split the costs of several smaller items between the various members of your group. For example, you could buy the camp stove, one member of your group could buy the water filter, and another could buy pots and pans. This way you'll all save some money but still have the necessary gear needed to be safe and have a great time (unless you're new aging it, in which case you'll need to bring tons of things you intend to use but don't for various reasons).
Although these essential items are expensive, once you have them you won't need to buy them again until they need to be replaced years down the line, thereby significantly reducing the cost of each trip over time. In addition, as your level of skill and confidence continues to increase, you may come to realize that you do or do not need certain items, and can upgrade and/or downgrade from there accordingly. In other words, before heading out on your first backpacking trip, don't buy that Arc-teryx Beta AR jacket, regardless of how awesome the REI sales associate tells you it is (and it really is, in case you were wondering). Long story short, when you're just starting out, work with what you have - your pack may be a bit heavier and your clothes less comfortable, but if you enjoy backpacking there will be plenty of time for upgrades in the future, so save your money until you know for sure what what product you would like...and buy extra whiskey for, uhh, starting fires and cleaning wounds and the like.
Finally, before the trip, talk about how your group is planning on distributing the associated costs. This includes things such as food, fuel, first aid supplies, travel expenses, and whiskey. You know, the essentials. Unless you have established a routine with your hiking group, discussing these budgetary details prior to hitting the trail will save you a lot of grief while on the trail.
Skill Level
Skill level, in my opinion, is the most important aspect to consider when choosing a backpacking destination. What is your skill level? Are you novice hiker with little knowledge of safety or navigation that may or may not be able to set up your tent in the dark? Or are you an experienced ultralight trekker that bags 20+ mile days, drinks unfiltered water directly from the source, and builds your own shelter nightly from nature's bounty? Realistically, you're probably somewhere in the middle, but regardless of who you are, skill level is a very important consideration when choosing a backpacking destination.
No matter who you are hiking with, the members of your group will undoubtedly possess varying levels of experience and skill. There certainly are specific skills that people need will need to know before a trip begins (i.e. how to pack a backpack) but there are also some skills that can be learned during a trip (i.e. how to set up camp). As a result, it may be beneficial to perform a formal skills assessment of the members of your group before finalizing a destination. For example, if the destination you choose requires glacier travel, do the members of your group have experience traveling on snow, handling an ice ax, and being roped up? If the destination you choose requires bushwhacking, do the members of your group know how to use a compass, possess the mental acuity, physical strength and footwork skills necessary to safely navigate mountainous terrain through thick brush? These questions, and others like them, all require answers before officially determining a backpacking location.
Even if your destination of choice does not require advanced-level skills, novice backpackers may also want to avoid destinations that present other challenges, such as difficult river crossings or significant amounts of elevation change. Even as an experienced hiker I sometimes lose the mental battle that accompanies a strenuous hike to the point where I have to remind myself to enjoy the experience and appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. Understanding the difficulty associated with a potential destination and the skill level and experience needed to be successful under those circumstances are important considerations when choosing a backpacking destination: if your destination is of low to moderate difficulty and stays relatively close to civilization, you'll have greater resources to turn to in the case of a problem, which is an appropriate destination choice for beginner/novice backpackers. If your destination is more difficult or ventures into remote locations with limited access for evacuation or medical care, you'll want your group members to possess stronger skills and more experience. Remember, the goal of any backpacking trip is for people to experience the outdoors and have fun, so it's important to understand the limitations and experience of every member of your group.
Interests/Preferences
So far we've discussed the budget (the means to get there and do it) and the appropriate levels of skill and experience for determining a destination (the know-how to have a fun, yet safe time ). So what else is there? Oh, I don't know, just the small details regarding your personal preferences and interests! You know, the things you like and stuff?
You'll be amazed how much easier choosing a backpacking destination becomes when you clearly know your personal preferences and the things about hiking that excite you. For example, after years of backpacking, and while it is still nice on occasion, I get tired of walking in trees all day long with nothing to look at besides, well, trees. So when choosing a destination and, more specifically a route, I tend to look for areas with open meadows and water sources. Regardless, when determining the type of destination you would like to backpack in, ask yourself the following questions:
- What level of hiking difficulty do you want to subject yourself to? (Easy; Easy/Moderate; Moderate; Moderate/Difficult; Difficult). Difficulty rating system listed below...
- What kind of scenery do you enjoy? (Thick, forested areas following meandering streams; gentle, rolling mountains with sporadic tree cover; rugged, exposed alpine peaks at higher elevations).
- What kind of equipment do you own? In other words, do you have the necessary gear to comfortably hike in the destination of your choosing? (i.e., some higher elevation routes may require ice axes, crampons, and other items, even in the summer).
- What activities do you want to do on your backpacking trip? (Swimming, peak climbing, glacier travel).
- Do you prefer a National Park where there will likely be more people in the backcountry, or do you prefer the solitude of a wilderness area where encounters with others are less frequent?
- Do you prefer a more traditional backpacking approach (longer hiking days, going to bed/getting up early, extreme mileage and elevation change) or do you prefer a more alternative, new age-style of backpacking (shorter hiking days, staying up late drinking whiskey/getting up early but hanging out in camp for awhile, less overall mileage/base camps)?
Again, this list is not conclusive, but it does cover a variety of questions you should ask yourself before choosing a backpacking destination. And with that, this post has come to an end. Hopefully you found something is this post that will be of us to you. Up next will be Step 2, in which I'll cover planning a route in your chosen destination. Until next time!
HIKE DIFFICULTY RATING SYSTEM:
Please note - the definitions of hiking trail difficulties that follow is based on typical summer conditions. These definitions do not reflect the changes in difficulty due to winter conditions, such as snow, ice, extreme temperatures, etc., nor do they reflect spring conditions, when hikes may be complicated by high water flow and difficult or impossible river crossings. Remember, it's best to begin with easier hikes if you are unsure where your comfort and fitness levels fall within these ratings.
EASY: Describes hiking conditions that contain flat and easy walking. The hike will be rated easy in spite of a longer distance if it remains flat. Generally suitable for anyone that enjoys walking longer distances.
EASY/MODERATE: Describes hiking conditions that are not always flat but whose elevation gain is less than 500 feet per mile. Expect uphill walking conditions which will be gentle overall but may contain some steeper sections.
MODERATE: Describes hiking conditions that gain approximately 500-800 feet per mile. Expect hills to ascend steadily at an incline that would be difficult for an unconditioned person to handle with comfort. May include limited challenging terrain, particularly in regards to difficult footing.
MODERATE/DIFFICULT: Describes hiking conditions that fall between a moderate and difficult rating; expect the average elevation gain to fall within the moderate rating, but there may be numerous steep or difficult segments that warrant a more challenging rating. This rating may also describe hikes that are shorter in distance but are quite steep, which in turn may feel less difficult. Finally, hikes with this rating may include some challenging terrain, including occasional rock scrambles, stream crossings, and limited exposure.
DIFFICULT: Describes hiking conditions that gain approximately 800-1000 feet per square mile, but sometimes exceeds 1000 feet per square mile. Expect difficult hiking conditions and very steep inclines. Challenging terrain, including rock scrambles, river crossings, significant exposure, and route-finding should be expected.
If you're a dreamer like me, then you probably really enjoy this step. There's something very exciting about talking to your friends and planning an adventure. Choosing a backpacking destination requires much more than simply deciding where to go and when. The following information is by no means conclusive as there are many things to take into consideration when picking your wilderness playground. Nonetheless, let's start at what feels like the logical beginning...
Budget
The first important aspect to consider when choosing your backpacking destination is budget. Can't do it if you don't have the funds, right? Fortunately, backpacking is a relatively affordable activity; I mean, how much money can you spend in the wilderness? (On a side note, it is always a good idea to bring some cash with you in the backcountry - whether it's reaching a popular summit to discover they sell food, a chance encounter with cowboys that might be willing to sell you some beer, or simply your desire to buy your buddy's camp chair because you were too stupid to bring your own and want to prove to your wife that you can, in fact, still spend money, even while in the woods - money does serve its purpose in the backcountry).
Regardless, the most expensive part of a backpacking trip typically involves the cost of traveling to locations that tend to be more more remote than your Daytona Beaches and Disney Worlds. However, if you're a novice backpacker or even just beginning and you're on a budget, you may be wondering what's absolutely necessary to bring versus what you can save money on (we'll get to gear lists on another day). Because backpacking gear can be expensive, particularly if you need to acquire all of the essentials at once (and let's face it, backpacking essentials like tents, hiking boots, sleeping bags, and backpacks are all expensive items) it's a smart idea to split the costs of several smaller items between the various members of your group. For example, you could buy the camp stove, one member of your group could buy the water filter, and another could buy pots and pans. This way you'll all save some money but still have the necessary gear needed to be safe and have a great time (unless you're new aging it, in which case you'll need to bring tons of things you intend to use but don't for various reasons).
Although these essential items are expensive, once you have them you won't need to buy them again until they need to be replaced years down the line, thereby significantly reducing the cost of each trip over time. In addition, as your level of skill and confidence continues to increase, you may come to realize that you do or do not need certain items, and can upgrade and/or downgrade from there accordingly. In other words, before heading out on your first backpacking trip, don't buy that Arc-teryx Beta AR jacket, regardless of how awesome the REI sales associate tells you it is (and it really is, in case you were wondering). Long story short, when you're just starting out, work with what you have - your pack may be a bit heavier and your clothes less comfortable, but if you enjoy backpacking there will be plenty of time for upgrades in the future, so save your money until you know for sure what what product you would like...and buy extra whiskey for, uhh, starting fires and cleaning wounds and the like.
Finally, before the trip, talk about how your group is planning on distributing the associated costs. This includes things such as food, fuel, first aid supplies, travel expenses, and whiskey. You know, the essentials. Unless you have established a routine with your hiking group, discussing these budgetary details prior to hitting the trail will save you a lot of grief while on the trail.
Skill Level
Skill level, in my opinion, is the most important aspect to consider when choosing a backpacking destination. What is your skill level? Are you novice hiker with little knowledge of safety or navigation that may or may not be able to set up your tent in the dark? Or are you an experienced ultralight trekker that bags 20+ mile days, drinks unfiltered water directly from the source, and builds your own shelter nightly from nature's bounty? Realistically, you're probably somewhere in the middle, but regardless of who you are, skill level is a very important consideration when choosing a backpacking destination.
No matter who you are hiking with, the members of your group will undoubtedly possess varying levels of experience and skill. There certainly are specific skills that people need will need to know before a trip begins (i.e. how to pack a backpack) but there are also some skills that can be learned during a trip (i.e. how to set up camp). As a result, it may be beneficial to perform a formal skills assessment of the members of your group before finalizing a destination. For example, if the destination you choose requires glacier travel, do the members of your group have experience traveling on snow, handling an ice ax, and being roped up? If the destination you choose requires bushwhacking, do the members of your group know how to use a compass, possess the mental acuity, physical strength and footwork skills necessary to safely navigate mountainous terrain through thick brush? These questions, and others like them, all require answers before officially determining a backpacking location.
Even if your destination of choice does not require advanced-level skills, novice backpackers may also want to avoid destinations that present other challenges, such as difficult river crossings or significant amounts of elevation change. Even as an experienced hiker I sometimes lose the mental battle that accompanies a strenuous hike to the point where I have to remind myself to enjoy the experience and appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. Understanding the difficulty associated with a potential destination and the skill level and experience needed to be successful under those circumstances are important considerations when choosing a backpacking destination: if your destination is of low to moderate difficulty and stays relatively close to civilization, you'll have greater resources to turn to in the case of a problem, which is an appropriate destination choice for beginner/novice backpackers. If your destination is more difficult or ventures into remote locations with limited access for evacuation or medical care, you'll want your group members to possess stronger skills and more experience. Remember, the goal of any backpacking trip is for people to experience the outdoors and have fun, so it's important to understand the limitations and experience of every member of your group.
Interests/Preferences
So far we've discussed the budget (the means to get there and do it) and the appropriate levels of skill and experience for determining a destination (the know-how to have a fun, yet safe time ). So what else is there? Oh, I don't know, just the small details regarding your personal preferences and interests! You know, the things you like and stuff?
You'll be amazed how much easier choosing a backpacking destination becomes when you clearly know your personal preferences and the things about hiking that excite you. For example, after years of backpacking, and while it is still nice on occasion, I get tired of walking in trees all day long with nothing to look at besides, well, trees. So when choosing a destination and, more specifically a route, I tend to look for areas with open meadows and water sources. Regardless, when determining the type of destination you would like to backpack in, ask yourself the following questions:
- What level of hiking difficulty do you want to subject yourself to? (Easy; Easy/Moderate; Moderate; Moderate/Difficult; Difficult). Difficulty rating system listed below...
- What kind of scenery do you enjoy? (Thick, forested areas following meandering streams; gentle, rolling mountains with sporadic tree cover; rugged, exposed alpine peaks at higher elevations).
- What kind of equipment do you own? In other words, do you have the necessary gear to comfortably hike in the destination of your choosing? (i.e., some higher elevation routes may require ice axes, crampons, and other items, even in the summer).
- What activities do you want to do on your backpacking trip? (Swimming, peak climbing, glacier travel).
- Do you prefer a National Park where there will likely be more people in the backcountry, or do you prefer the solitude of a wilderness area where encounters with others are less frequent?
- Do you prefer a more traditional backpacking approach (longer hiking days, going to bed/getting up early, extreme mileage and elevation change) or do you prefer a more alternative, new age-style of backpacking (shorter hiking days, staying up late drinking whiskey/getting up early but hanging out in camp for awhile, less overall mileage/base camps)?
Again, this list is not conclusive, but it does cover a variety of questions you should ask yourself before choosing a backpacking destination. And with that, this post has come to an end. Hopefully you found something is this post that will be of us to you. Up next will be Step 2, in which I'll cover planning a route in your chosen destination. Until next time!
HIKE DIFFICULTY RATING SYSTEM:
Please note - the definitions of hiking trail difficulties that follow is based on typical summer conditions. These definitions do not reflect the changes in difficulty due to winter conditions, such as snow, ice, extreme temperatures, etc., nor do they reflect spring conditions, when hikes may be complicated by high water flow and difficult or impossible river crossings. Remember, it's best to begin with easier hikes if you are unsure where your comfort and fitness levels fall within these ratings.
EASY: Describes hiking conditions that contain flat and easy walking. The hike will be rated easy in spite of a longer distance if it remains flat. Generally suitable for anyone that enjoys walking longer distances.
EASY/MODERATE: Describes hiking conditions that are not always flat but whose elevation gain is less than 500 feet per mile. Expect uphill walking conditions which will be gentle overall but may contain some steeper sections.
MODERATE: Describes hiking conditions that gain approximately 500-800 feet per mile. Expect hills to ascend steadily at an incline that would be difficult for an unconditioned person to handle with comfort. May include limited challenging terrain, particularly in regards to difficult footing.
MODERATE/DIFFICULT: Describes hiking conditions that fall between a moderate and difficult rating; expect the average elevation gain to fall within the moderate rating, but there may be numerous steep or difficult segments that warrant a more challenging rating. This rating may also describe hikes that are shorter in distance but are quite steep, which in turn may feel less difficult. Finally, hikes with this rating may include some challenging terrain, including occasional rock scrambles, stream crossings, and limited exposure.
DIFFICULT: Describes hiking conditions that gain approximately 800-1000 feet per square mile, but sometimes exceeds 1000 feet per square mile. Expect difficult hiking conditions and very steep inclines. Challenging terrain, including rock scrambles, river crossings, significant exposure, and route-finding should be expected.