|
Planning an extended backpacking trip requires careful planning. The nature of an extended backpacking trip forces you to prepare much more than for a weekend trip, for example. Careful planning will ensure that you not only have an enjoyable trip, but that your trip is safe. Below are three top tips for successfully planning an extended backpacking trip. Tip #1: Details, Details, Details Before you even gather any gear to pack in your bag, you need to lay out all the nitty gritty details of your trip. Start by planning your party, the route, the duration of your trip, each day’s length, and exactly where you will be camping each night. Utilize topographical maps for this step, and if you don't know how to read them, learn today. Along with learning how to read these maps, learn how to use a compass. You might be telling yourself that you own a GPS. Well, GPS devices are awesome, but technology has a way of failing right when you need it. Learn to navigate with a map and compass to ensure you won't get lost. Next, make sure everyone in your party is on the same page. Go over the plans together, and make sure everyone is in concordance. Leave a copy of your itinerary with a friend or family member that is not going on the trip. This itinerary can be used to rescue you from the wild in case you get stuck in the outdoors. Knowing the intricate details of your trip will make it infinitely easier to gather the right gear. Tip #2: Gear Up For Your Hike Once you have established the details of your trip, it is time to assemble the necessary gear. It is a great idea to make this a group activity, so have everyone bring their gear and discuss what each member is packing and the reasons why. Group gear items, like tents and cooking gear, can easily be distributed throughout the group in this type of setting. Use this meeting to double-check each other's loadouts. This will help prevent someone from starting the trip without, say, a sleeping bag. More experienced hikers can help less experienced hikers pack their gear at a gear up party like this as well. Remember that ounces add up quickly to pounds, and too many pounds can de-rail the comfort on the trail. Tip #3: Trim The Excess Fat Fact: The heavier your backpack, the more uncomfortable you will be on the trail. Fact: The lighter your pack, the more enjoyable your outdoor experience will be. These two facts cannot be stressed enough. One challenge here is that extended backpacking trips necessitate that you pack tons of gear, especially food. This is a major hurdle to packing light, and it is where trimming excess ounces can really lighten your load. To trim excess weight from your pack, bring a scale to the gear up party. Weigh each item you plan on taking with you, and ask yourself ‘do I absolutely need this?’ If it is something you absolutely need, find a lightweight alternative. If the answer is no, leave it home. This is mostly the case for comfort items, such as extra shoes and camp furniture (chairs, thick sleeping pads, etc). While it might be nice to have a camp chair once you establish your camp for the night, that extra pound of weight might better be used on other more essential gear, or that extra pound could be trimmed altogether. These are three simple, yet important tips for planning an extended backpacking trip, and if you follow them, your back, legs, and feet will thank you later. For more information on preparing for an extended backpacking trip, and specifically gear tips and ideas, go to Backpacking Samurai.
Related Articles -
backpacking, hiking, camping, outdoors, backpacking trip,
|
