How to Plan a Backpacking Trip
By Matt Pritchard
Questions you should ask yourself when choosing a location:
What do you want to see?
Here in California, we are blessed with a variety of options - coastline, mountains, river valleys, foothills, and deserts. Your options might not be so broad, but no matter your location, you are likely to have at least some variety from which to choose. You may already have a destination in mind. Check with your group to see if your wishes match theirs.
Are there a variety of routes and activities?
Some parks and forests have more or less well-developed trail systems. An area with extensive trails might offer a wider range of options when it comes time to plan your route. Also consider if the area can accommodate everyone's goals for the trip. Are there enough distractions to keep everyone amused during down time? Juggling everyone's needs can be quite an ordeal, but with some research and planning you can find a place to keep the fisherman, birdwatcher, peak-bagger, and photographer all happy.
What season are you traveling?
Conditions in one area can vary significantly throughout the year. During one of our more infamous trips, we planned a weekend in the Snow Mountain Wilderness, an area that had been recommended to us. We gave no thought to the fact that it was only mid-April. After two and a half hours of driving, we encountered what should have been obvious. The road to the trailhead was buried under three feet of snow. Never again. The single best resource for information about seasonal conditions is a call to the local ranger station. They can usually offer very current information on road and trail conditions throughout their district area.
What is the weather going to be like?
Bad weather shouldn't necessarily be a show stopper for your trip - as long as you are prepared. In fact, it is possible to still have a great trip with rain, snow, wind and the like. It is very difficult to predict from day to day what the weather is going to do. Weather forecasts beyond 3 or 4 days should be considered suspect. More important than an absolute forecast is understanding the variety of weather you are likely to encounter during your trip. The possibilities will not only help you choose the right location, but it will help you prepare your gear for the trip.
What are the annoyances and hazards of the area?
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Hopefully, this isn't much of a limiting factor, but it is important to know what annoyances and hazards you may encounter in a given area. Whether it is swarming mosquitoes, exposed trails, bears, or snowfields, it is better to know ahead of time what you might come across on the trail, so you can be prepared. Guidebooks usually offer some information on this topic - particularly concerning mega-fauna (moose, bear, etc.), but don't let that be your only source. Like most of the questions above, a quick call to the local ranger station can help you understand what you may encounter on the trail and at camp. After you understand the hazards and annoyances, discuss them with your group to be sure everyone is comfortable with the level of risk involved. As you become more familiar with an area, you will build an internal knowledge base to help prepare yourself and your gear for each trip.
Choosing a Route
By deciding on a location and discussing the group's intentions, you have already begun to narrow down your choices for a route. In order to choose a route, you will probably want to consult a map and/or guidebook to help you understand the area and the options that exist. Backpacking routes, like most day-hikes, usually take on one of two shapes.
The out-and-back route follows the same trail or trails in both directions. At one end is the trailhead and at the other is your destination. Out-and-back routes typically aren't the most exciting option, because you have to retrace your steps on the way out. For that same reason, they can be a good option when you are unfamiliar with an area. When hiking out, you will already be familiar with the trail and your expected travel time. Some destinations force you to choose an out-and-back route because they have only one way in and out
The other common choice of routes is some form of loop. In this arrangement, one or more trails interconnect to form a loop where there is little or no need to retrace your steps. Many people prefer this type of route because it allows you to see more of the area.
If you are a beginner, it is probably best not to consider off-trail routes. Without a strong navigation foundation and a lot of experience, off-trail routes a more dangerous and time-consuming options.
When choosing your route, keep these questions in mind:
How far should you plan to travel in one day?
This is an important question to ask yourself before you get too far along. Beginners usually overestimate this critical factor. Aside from your level of relative fitness, your speed is largely dictated by the terrain you encounter and the weight on your back. A reasonably fit person walking down the street at a good clip (with no backpack) is probably traveling between 3 and 4 miles per hour. Add a 40-pound pack and hilly terrain and that pace is nearly cut in half. Our general pace with average packs in hilly terrain usually averages out to 2 miles per hour (including rest stops). Given that pace, most backpackers consider 10-12 miles to be a fairly long day. For your first time out, consider limiting yourself to 6 miles or less per day. It may not sound like much, but it is best to start small until you have established some personal benchmarks for yourself.
What trail conditions will you encounter?
It is important to plan a route that is appropriate for the skill and fitness level of your group. Guidebooks usually offer a system for rating the difficulty of a route. Take these ratings with a grain of salt. Most beginners will feel that guidebooks under-rate their routes. Also important is the condition of the trail (well-maintained or not) and the level of exposure. Is any scrambling or rock hopping involved? Are there stream crossings and what are the water levels like? Some coastal trails require you to time your travel with the tides. Most of these questions can be answered by reviewing the guidebook or map or by calling the ranger station.
At what elevation will you be traveling?
Elevation is an important factor to consider and there are two components here. First, what is the average elevation of the trails? If you are heading to the mountains, it is likely that you will be hiking at an elevation much higher than where you live. Most people will become winded more quickly as elevation increases. At higher elevations, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can become an issue. Every person's body and fitness level is different, so there is no hard and fast rule here. If members of your team have never spent time in the mountains, consider traveling at a lower elevation or limiting the daily mileage and elevation gain. Elevation gain and loss along the trail is an important consideration. This can be a limiting factor for many people - especially when new to carrying a heavy pack. Steep trails have a way to putting you in your place very quickly. Over time, you will gain an understanding of your personal comfort with hiking at higher elevations and what you consider to be a reasonable amount of elevation gain and loss. Guidebooks and maps are your best resource for understanding the elevation along a route or trail. If you can find a guidebook that offers elevation profiles, this is very helpful. Learning to read a topographical map (more on this later) will also allow you to see the base elevation and the gain and loss along a trail.
Are there suitable campsites along the route?
Guidebooks and maps can often recommend the best areas to camp along a specific trail. These are generally impromptu sites chosen for their aesthetic or practical qualities. Many were established long ago and have become well-used over time. Some National Forests and parklands have very specific regulations about where you are and are not allow to set up camp. If you are used to car camping, don't expect to come across a numbered campsite with a picnic table and BBQ pit (although this is the case in some areas). Campsite may be less obvious than that - probably just a clearing in the woods. If established campsites exist, reduce your impact by planning to use them. If your trip will span several nights, consider the distance between campsites. Is it a reasonable distance to travel in one day?
Are there available water sources along the route?
Water is the most critical of all needs while backpacking. Choosing a route that has access to water sources is important. It is unlikely that you will be able to carry enough water for your entire trip (if you think you can, you are severely underestimating your water needs). Creeks, rivers, lakes, and other water sources should be encountered at least once a day during your trip. Because water, like people, follows the path of least resistance, it is generally not too far away in most areas. When reviewing your map, understand the seasonality of the water sources indicated. A raging river in April may be a bone-dry river bed by September. A call to the local ranger district can often give you up-to-date information on water availability.
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