Planning a Backpacking Trip:
Got Your Checklists Handy?

By Diane Spicer

Before I say anything at all about the best tips for planning a backpacking trip, let me say this:

• Be sure you have a lot of enthusiasm for this task.

Planning a hiking trip is not the time to be disorganized or use wishful thinking.

If you're tempted to cut corners, leave the planning to someone else.

Or maybe you should just stay at home.

I am so serious about this!

Why?

Because your life may literally depend upon the strength of your plan and the details of your backpacking packing list.

I'm not talking about a quick overnight trip to a heavily populated camping spot on an easy trail, where there's a large margin for error, plentiful food AND nearby people to bail you out if things go wrong.

Although I can make an argument that I might be talking about this very scenario!

Things can go wrong under Mother Nature's immense roof regardless of where you find yourself or how carefully you make your hiking plans.

It's one thing to spend a cold, wet night in misery and be able to hike back to the car in the morning. Makes a great story over a cup of coffee a few weeks later, right?

But it's quite another thing to watch a friend slip into hypothermia because you didn't plan ahead with adequate shelter and enough clothing for unexpectedly wet or cold weather. (take those links seriously)

Seriously!

So I counsel you to take your responsibilities for planning a backpacking trip seriously.

Devote time to crafting a thorough backpacking list, and just like Santa, make that list and check it twice before you leave for the trail head.

And to make your task easier, especially if this is your first time, consider these tips on planning a safe, enjoyable backpacking trip.

 A backpacking trip planning overview

Here's what you need as you plan a backpacking trip:

• A detailed timeline, counting down from today to the first day of your backpacking trip
• An itinerary plus backup plans, filed with the appropriate people
  
• Checklists to avoid errors or omissions as you pack your hiking clothing and gear
  
• A food plan tailor made for yourself and your hiking companions (allergies, preferences, portions)
  
• The right backpacking gear to hit the trail (or at least a shopping/rental/borrow list)
• Gear and supplies to create a safe, comfortable home each night at camp
  
• A relaxed, confident mindset, knowing the trip is planned to the best of your ability
  

Planning a backpacking trip: Phase 1

We'll assume you've already selected the best hiking trail for your trip.

So let's get right to planning your trip.

First, read through my best hiking tips. These are general tips for hikers, and if you're familiar with all of them, you're good to go for the first part of your backpacking trip plan. Make note of where you might be a bit weak: navigation, water purification methods, or what have you.

Then spend some time with my best backpacking tips. These take you through the what being a backpacker means, the types of backpacking, possible trails and destinations, hiking resources and lots more.

Nitty gritty of backpacking gear

Now it's time to make detailed notes about the gear you have, and the gear you'll need. Avoid bright shiny objects here and concentrate on what other backpackers recommend and know to be solid choices.

There are discount hiking gear and used gear options, along with backpacking essentials, to consider.

Another question to be really honest about: Do you know how to use and maintain all of this gear?

Please don't leave home without being deeply familiar with setting up your tent in the dark! Know how to repair or clean your water filter, and what you need to do that maintenance. Etcetera....

Food = fuel so plan wisely

Then, carefully consider your backpacking menus and trail snacks.

An example of questions to consider:

• Will you be working hard in cool weather? For instance, a fall trip with a lot of elevation gain requires lots of calories, spaced out over the length of each day's trail time.
• You will also have to take in enough calories at dinner to maintain your core body temperature through a chilly night.
• Backpacking food options include dehydrated or freeze dried entrees and organic selections, along with gluten free food.
  
• Want to get really specific and calculate how much food you need? You should! I've laid it all out here.

Contrast this with relatively flat travel in the warmth of summer. You don't need to pack as much food, but you do need to pay careful attention to your water supply and hydration status.

Home away from home on a backpacking trip

What about shelter for your backpacking trip?

It may be even more important than food in certain scenarios.

• Do you intend to go fast and light? Then your shelter will need to be minimalist.
  
• Ultralight backpacking gear is a long term monetary investment, so be prepared for a bit of sticker shock with the trade off of lightening your load.
• Bringing just a tarp could be an option, depending on the terrain and season.
  
• If you can share the weight of a shelter with another hiker or two, you can have the luxury of a floor, walls, ceiling, and a little leg room! Ah, the wonders of your best backpacking tent!

And then there's the option of a backpacking hammock...

Although that wouldn't work in the Alaska ANWR terrain pictured above, now would it?

But along the Appalachian Trail, there are hiker wooden shelters every so often. Do you plan to use them and skip the tent?

The take home message here is to be sure you know the lay of the land where you're headed to avoid being caught off guard with your shelter plans. You don't want to carry too much, or be stuck in poor conditions without shelter.

Phase 2 planning details

Now that you've meticulously sorted out your gear after knowing what you'll need for your specific backpacking plans, you need to get even more specific about your itinerary (a day by day plan with built in error margins and Plan B's).

Guesstimate your daily mileage, based on previous hiking you've done. Use the appropriate maps to select surface water spots, camp sites and potential bail out points within the right mileage ranges.

Keep these things in mind:

• If the terrain is rough, you might only accomplish single digit mileage unless you have plenty of daylight, and energy.
  
• If you're intent on studying the geology or botany in an area, you might only want to move a few miles each day.
• If time is of the essence, you'll have to divide the total trip mileage by the number of daylight hours you want to spend hiking, and make a plan that gets you onto, and off, the trail in the right time span.
• Your daily mileage may improve as you get conditioned to the trail. Or may decrease with injuries or weather delays. Are you flexible in your camping plans?
  

Always have a Plan B in case your intended camp site is occupied, washed out, or taken over by a bear.

A Plan C never hurt either, in case of injury or gear failures.

• By the way, can you do field repairs on broken backpacking gear?
  

Paperwork needed for your backpacking trip

If you need permits or passes, apply for them in plenty of time to avoid delaying, or cancelling, your backpacking trip.

Line up transportation to and from trailheads, if that's an issue.

If you need gear and food resupplies, figure out how, when and where those will occur.

If you need prescription refills, get those lined up.

Decide if you will carry a personal locator beacon (an essential if hiking solo) or a satellite communication device. Some of these will need to be activated ahead of time, so add it to your paperwork to do list.

Do not skip this step in your backpacking plans

This is important: Leave your detailed itinerary with a trusted person back home.

• Carry that person's phone number and email contacts with you in case you need to change that itinerary.

File a copy with the authorities (park ranger, field office, etc.) if you're entering areas that are monitored or controlled by lottery. Don't make them guess your whereabouts!

If you're doing a short backpacking trip along a known route, it might make sense to leave a copy of your backpacking itinerary in the vehicle you parked at the trailhead.

• Be sure your trusted person knows that! It can save a lot of time for Search And Rescue teams.

Staying safe on your backpacking trip

Planning a backpacking trip includes knowing how to stay safe.

Have you considered how to stay safe in all kinds of trail conditions?

How's your first aid comfort level?

• If you're squeamish or allergic, tell your trail buddies that way in advance of trouble. Have a plan!
  

Spend some time getting trained, or at least reading about how to meet medical challenges.

This ultralight kit covers the basics for hikers, but be sure to add your personal medications, vitamins and other necessities.

You're just getting started
planning a backpacking trip

These ideas are just to get you started thinking about the essential features of planning a backpacking trip.

Read the plethora of information on this site to fill in your plan until you are completely confident that it will work, and that you will stay safe.

One more word to the wise:

• Start a spread sheet with all of the gear and clothing you HAVE -versus- NEED -vs- WANT, and update it when you get back home.

• Ditto for the backpacking menus that WORKED -vs- DEFINITELY NOT AGAIN.

This is the fastest way to shorten up the learning curve out on the trail, and create an historical record you can refer back to when planning your next backpacking trip.

More backpacking planning resources from Hiking For Her

Shorten your learning curve and to do lists with these detailed, trail tested backpacking resources:

• Backpacking and hiking equipment
• Best backpacking gear
• Backpacking gear list
  
• Backpacking food ABCs
• High calorie backpacking food
• Backpacking essentials for beginners
• Backpacking tips for intermediate hikers
• Backpacking comfort ideas
• Backpacking hygiene kit for women 
• An example of my backcountry gear list
  

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Planning a Backpacking Trip