Trip Planning Tools Every Backpacker Should Know
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Tips On How To Plan, Route, & Navigate Your First Backpacking Trip!
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Routing and trip planning seems to fall through the cracks - everyone is hyper focused on gear. This tutorial is fantastic, especially for folks just getting into the outdoors. Cheers!
this tutorial is actually extremely helpful… I always feel like starting with a google search is inadequate or not “legit” enough. The step by step narrowing down the itinerary was neat to see. Validating and helpful!
Glad it helped!
to of my favorites, Darwin and Dan in one video , makes me smile
All that planning...plus how to keep Dan from dying! Very helpful video, always wondered how to obtain permits ahead of time at different national parks, thanks!
Haha, on the Dan comment. Glad he's ok.
Glad Dan is OK too, TH-cam would not be the same without him!@@CLH126
Wonder if Dan’s gonna give us a review on near death experiences
This was awesome!!! I’ve just started backpacking again (64 year old here) and this made my anxiety drop , so thanks again. and thanks for looking after Dan. Hope Emmit got better.
😂 1980 5 days, 4 nights, 32 miles. 1) purchase trail book from backpack store 2) determine Topo maps needed 3) use water proof ink to mark maps 4) waterproof maps 5) create notes for each day re: distances and elevation changes 6) waterproof notes 7) time: 3 - 4 weeks. Summary - one of the best trips of my life!
Doing the same for a 350 mile bicycle trip this fall. Well, no waterproofing needed. I have a laminator.
Thanks for making an old guy smile.
Great advice...thanks for the tips. It's great seeing you and Dan on a hike together.
Yeah… he’s alright I guess 😂
@DarwinOnthetrail Seeing your different perspectives is fun since you are so different...dad bod short trip hiker and triathlete thru hiker...
Yay! Another Darwin Vid on TH-cam. Great to have you back on the platform!!!!
Thanks! Good to be back!
As a European hiker its interesting to see how wildly different route planning approaches can/need to be.
Permits aren't a thing here and information is much less centralized and often only available in the national language (and you need to find out where thats available). So for planning for a trip outside of your own country can be much more involved besides a couple of well known trails in any given country. Some countries, like France and Spain have long distance trail networks (GR trails) which are well known and comparatively accessible but you still need to KNOW about them. For long distance stuff I will often end up relying on trip reports from others, at least as a starting point, Google Earth and online image search is also invaluable given the higher population densities and comparative difficulty to find and stay in nature.
Interesting. It really does depend on where you are here in the US as far as whether it’s a national park, national forest, BLM land or state land. Typically the national parks are the ones that require permits because of the amount and variety of traffic from around the world. It also depends on the state you are in. For example, in certain parts of Montana, besides the National parks, it is a lot more old school like you guys. We do rely on paper maps and word of mouth more because there are fewer people and it’s just more remote. There are certainly spots that show up on apps, but there are many more that don’t. We like it that way. The only permits you really need for a trip here are for hunting and fishing.
I really appreciate this walk-through, especially dealing with planning for trips with the NPS, because I solo hike and do all the planning on my own. It's been rough at times and I've had to push through the stress of figuring out how the system works 1) trusting I haven't set myself up for something ridiculous, and 2) each park has its own quirks for their permit rules. So, watching you go through the same sort of process I go through was nice reassurance that I'm doing it alright. :)
Weather and water supply also important to plan for. Gaia GPS has been excellent for my trip planning and navigation.
That's why you are the hiking guru Darwin! TY
Darwin does it again! Everyone has made a load out video; everyone has done product reviews; but few have divulged the details on how to organize a long hike.
Right on!
Great tutorial on On X BC to get me started planning some hikes in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness this summer. A few more On X BC tutorials would be nice.
I did that trail about a year ago in October and it was really nice. We didn't really hit many people, other than guided groups, until the Gardens and then heading back up to the top. Great information here. In the GC, I now know that I can put in two or three alternative itineraries and just be flexible. They are great to work with.
Good idea on "alternative itineraries." thanks. :)
I just started backpacking. My first backpacking was not far from the parking lot, on the second one my phone died due to very humid environment, the 3 rd one was okay (rain gloves failed). And this video is very helpful. I used alltrails before and I usually print offline map in case my phone dies again but I wasn't sure about how the whole planning should be. Thanks to Darwin we know step by step instructions now. Great vid!
Reason why many call it Allfails.. don't rely 100% on them
Expect gear failures (and hopefully no injuries). STUDY your gear and think of any failure that could end your trip - either have repair options (usually just tape, needle and thread, a spare hip belt buckle) or backup so that you can have a much better chance to stay on trail. For navigation, I do carry both an InReach GPS unit with a paper map & small compass as backup. A phone goes through its charge too fast for my preference.
Really great tutorial Darwin!! Love OnX maps👍🏻
Thank You!
Great to see Dan out in the Grand Canyon again! One topic I'd like to see that's related to this one ... what info do you leave behind in an email or document for a loved one/significant other/emergency contact? I have a template document that I customize for each trip and send to my wife and kids. It has my route plan, dates, alternate routes, a link to my Garmin tracking page, phone numbers for local sheriff/S&R, and pictures of my car, tent, and backpack, and importantly -- when to call for help. Lately I've added a writeup about what happens if I press my SOS button on the Garmin, and how they will be contacted (thanks to Dixie at Homemade Wanderlust). What would you suggest?
Great vid for people new to this! I end up doing a lot of trip selection by perusing satellite imagery and finding natural features to explore that are in the direction of where I would like to hike. I end up finding a ton of things of the beaten path and sometimes forging my own routes while avoiding crowds with this method. It definitely takes longer, but that's just one method. A second method is word of mouth, or talking to locals. I've been given tips to all sorts of cool trails just by talking to people as I'm travelling.
I have checked out that app but had not cared for it as much as Gaia which I look at all the time and use the web version and larger monitor for planning. I subscribe to that and love all the different forms of maps. This interests me in On X again because of the 3d. My favorite maps are the sheets of plastic molded to have the mountains physically raised and I have a collection of those.
nice yall beat the snow storm
Thanks for this video. Looking at doing the Ouachita trail this coming spring and that app will be great.
Great overview of how to plan a bkpkg trip. Really glad Dan got back on the horse in the GC. 😅
When I did my first trip in 2016 I would've killed for a video like this. One tip I'll add, when using a website for trail information/conditions, try to verify the date of that info. Some state parks and national forest sites don't stay updated as often as others and conditions can change quickly. When I'm a day or two out from a trip I'll call the park information office or trail association to try to verify my condition info is correct, especially regarding water availability and potential closures. Great job Darwin!
Since day one I started following you, I always, always learn something new from you and your amazing and very helpful content. Thanks!! 😊
❤️❤️❤️
Super helpful- thank you
Always love when you post!! Hope all is well
Likewise!
Hey Darwin, Thank you for the information! Your a great inspiration!
My pleasure!
Fantastic advice! It’s a bit of a barrier for even experienced people with planning, especially in a completely new or popular areas. I’m an over planner and a map geek, because a. I’m 60, b. I need to be confident in my ability for the route, and c. I want to know water sources. There’s more, but those are my big 3 for trail planning. 😊 glad Dan’s ok.
Thank you!
Great helpful info.
This is great, I just booked my flights to go to the Grand Canyon, literally 3 days ago!! Not doing a RIm to Rim but trying to navigate the website and plan my days hikes. So funny to see a video about everything I just looked up myself! Great advice :)
Nice! Have a great hike!
Thank you SO much for this thorough tutorial! As a newer backpacker, the logistics part always stresses me out. Nicely done! 👍
I took my first backpacking trip last year. I'm really excited to go again, but I haven't planned a trip before and was feeling a bit daunted by the process. This video was really helpful - thanks for posting!
Excellent. Useful. Good teaching. Thank you.
Love this!! You shared very valuable information which will make all of our hiking adventures more safe and enjoyable.
This was a great video…. couple of ideas never thought of….. thanks Darwin
Fun and informative. I liked that you went out with Dan and Emmet. I sti5use Gaia, guess I should at least give OnX a try.
Loved this video: extremely informative, well edited, good cinematography
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good info. Happy to see you back.
OnX is amazing. I also use it multiple times-day river trips
I just upgraded my OnX to premium, so I can plan my trips in more detail. Thank you!
What a great app and helpful video. Is this app usable for finding water sources and informal campsites? (Thinking of non-NPS areas, e.g., Oregon Coast Trail, random Cascades trails, etc.) This process is so similar to using a map, but with a digital advantage-I might actually use this!
I just watched Dan's return video moments ago and saw you onscreen, so I immediately looked at your page to find this video. Nice that you both casually referred to one another without making s big deal about it. Thanks, Nick, I hope to see you at PCT Days again this year.
Thank You. This is sooooo helpful. And for the onX info.
I've had onX backcountry since last year, but have not quite figured out how to use it until watching this video. Thank you.
Curiously, The timing of this video coincides with some persona plans. A couple friends and I have been considering the hermits rest hike since doing a rim to River last year.
Seems like I am always picking up something from you. Preciate your effort. Great presentation
great info, thanks Darwin!
Hey thanks great info
Great video. I would also take a quick pic of the permit to keep in your phone as a back-up. Cheers!
Excellent! Thx. FYI: Bought the Senchi sweater, love it, and I let Senchi know I saw it on your Channel! Will do the same w/ OnX. :)
Hope you like it!
This video was fantastic for resources. It feels like every backpacking video is gear and reducing base weight driven. This knocked it out of the park! Thanks for sharing.
In the midst of planning 3 day backpacking trip on the Virginia Triple Crown Loop. Any tips for someone who hasn’t done this trail before?
Great ínfo Darwin, I love using this app
Thank you!!
You Bet!
Hey Darwin. Awesome information for this rookie hiker. Question: Any guidance on finding a place for your car and securing it while out on the trail?
I use Gaia GPS. Worked great when I did the JMT two years ago.
I used to use it, but have really liked Onx’s features more for route planning
I saw you in the Grand Canyon last February, that was some wild weather.
I always bring a paper map with the route and area of my hike. Weigh next to nothing. Phones die or break, redundancy with navigation saves lives. I also took additional training to know how to read it and keep practice orientating to get better at tracking distance and finding where I am at on my map w/o GPS.
I need a how to plan trail meals video! I just did my first 2 night/3 day backpacking trip and packed back out about half my food. How much do I need?? I know this is somewhat individual but what food to bring is my most stressful point.
What about planning water. Especially in desert or alpine regions where it’s not simply identifying a stream on a map? Also, how much water do you carry over a given distance and how does elevation (ascent or descent) and weather impact how much you carry? What else do you need to think about carrying water? I get worried if I don’t know a trail and don’t have enough info about water and this leads me to carry 2 liters most of the time. Water is the heaviest thing I am carrying on many trips because I am always worried about finding it and often carry more than I need out of an abundance of caution.
Thank you! Very much appreciated! I would like to know how to locate water sources on trail. Are they indicated? What if they are seasonal?
These videos are great. I actually watch them to get ideas for running. Especially if I'm training for a longer race and I'm going to be out on course for longer than usual. But I feel hiking is a bit of a different animal, especially when it come to food. So how much food would I need for, say, a typical one day hike?
Everyone is different, but there are a couple food videos on my channel if you search around.
Good Discussion.
Novices may not fully appreciate the value of noting elevation changes along all parts of the planned route - largely defines the difficulty of the trail. Be sure to include physical training well in advance even if moderate difficulty is expected.
Other planning elements that can offer some challenge: water sources on route at the time of the hike; weather conditions to expect, particularly at higher elevations. You may want to call a Ranger station (if available) a week or so in advance.
Meal planning is a particular difficulty for me - finding food that is actually appetizing on trail.
Darwin - thanks for showing the nuts & bolts of On-X. First time I’ve seen that done. NOW I’m interested in it. QUESTION: Have you had any experience with Natural Atlas? How does it compare to On-X? Thank you. Keep on keeping it real!
Hey Darwin, thanks for the tips, bought onx yesterday. Thanks for the discount code. Figured it was time to retire the etrek 20.
What’s your plan for when permits are more limited (summertime) and when you are trying to go somewhere that you can’t get a permit to? And I think a general video on visiting high traffic areas (Olympic National park, Jefferson wilderness area, places like that in OR/WA) would be so great! Thanks Nick 👍🏾 Great stuff.
Be flexible and familiarize yourself with the permitting system ahead of time. I like hiking in the Sierra. Lots of people do, so permits can be hard to get. I always have multiple trip ideas just in case. I also learned how to use Recreation.gov before I actually wanted to reserve a permit, so I could get through the request process fast. This is on top of what Darwin talked about as far as learning about where you want to hike in the first place.
So does the permit system allow for any changes in plans? Say you sprain an ankle and need a rest day in camp instead of hiking to the next campsight? Say there’s a lake where the fishing is great and you decide to stay for one extra day to do some more fishing?
Great video. I downloaded the app.Thanks
❤ from 🇮🇪
woah i just did the same thing a mont ago!
I don't really plan too much but I'm traveling locally in areas I grew up in so I'm pretty familiar with them. There isn't as much camping restrictions on the routes I travel because not a lot of people hike around here. I just try to be hidden and out or people's way especially if it's the weekend. If it is, I'll try to stop before or after touristy areas. But I generally just hike until I'm tired and then look for a spot and camp out. I know it's a different story in the Grand Canyon.
I hiked around Algonquin Park once and there you have to book camp sites a year in advance. I booked three sites for a three day trip. But I was too tired to get past the first camp site. So, I just stayed there two nights. I just slept a lot (like 14 hours strait cause I wasn't feeling well) then I went home back out the way I came. It was fine and no one was around to bother me. The permitts stay on your car and your do a loop, so I'd paid properly so it was all good.
I'm kind of stressed about the PCT. I'm doing it this year. But I also know that I'll be ok. I know a lot about hiking and my body. The PCT will be my first international hike, my first desert, my first mountain. It'll be fun but I'm also worried. But I think I'll just stop if I want to. I do want to do it all. I think for me cause I'm slow, it'll be more a matter of timing that could be an issue for finishing. So, I'm a little prepared because I'm starting early, at the end of March. And I'm going to go slow and steady at first. And I will get my miles and endurance up before leaving by hiking and biking at home a few hours a day. I'm a bit overweight atm (10-20lb), from my hiking bod but I'm sure it won't be so bad, especially since it's kind of flat at first from what I understand. We'll see.
Hmmm...OnX eh? Might have to give it a try.
A little unrelated, but as a glasses wearer, how do you prevent them from fogging while wearing a balaclava or ski goggles?
We are heading to Flagstaff for the GeoWoodStock...any recommendations for a day hike locally?
Ouch! That pretend permit was $82!!! I remember free permits LOL. Thanks for info. I had that app in the cloud and I got it back out.
For 3 people for 2 nights.
Nice ❤
The only thing I would add, is that I print out maps (using CalTopo as my mapping tool). I've had my phone die while backpacking. I've seen other people have their phones die. Printed maps don't weigh that much, and if your phone dies, you'll be really happy to have them. I also like looking at printed maps instead of using my phone all of the time.
Question: What do you need to consider when you're not US native and want to do a (longer) hike in the US (in general)?
What was the weather like? We are thinking about going in April. But we aren't sure if our 20 f sleeping bags will be good enough . Sounds like it can get well below freezing?
I plan my hikes something like this: Choose a area and then I go... 😆
What happens if you don't meet your hiking expectations and you need to camp sooner or it takes you an extra day to complete? I have found on biking trips that you may not have service to make changes to your reservations.
When I hiked the JMT two years ago, I pulled permits for Yosemite national Park and exited out Mount Whitney. I got stopped and had my permit checked twice without any issues. Mostly I think all they care about is if you enter at the trailhead, you specify on the permit and exit on the trailhead close to the timeframe that you’ve planned. Unexpected things happen on the trail and the Rangers know that.
Somewhat irrelevant to the topic of the video but I noticed that you removed the straps from your hiking poles, may I ask why?
Hey Darwin, just wanted to give you a heads up that your address and phone number info isn’t blocked out correctly. At least on my TV the black boxes are offset
Sweet ad
How do you plan your water sources on different hikes, some trails don’t give as much info on water
Do you need to print the permit out or can you just have a digital version on your phone?
Is there such a thing as navigating on your phone without a signal
How much does the on X app cost?
I love the channel. I could use some advice on transportation on and off the CDT for a section hike trip I'm planning for this spring in Northern NM. I'm planning on hiking NB from Grants and getting off at Ghost Ranch. I'm not driving. So I plan on taking greyhound from ABQ to Grants. I'm having a hard time finding transit resources from Ghost Ranch to Santa Fe or ABQ. Does anybody have any suggestions? Hitching does not appeal to me. Thanks!
How do you manage/find transportation in places that you fly to? It feels bad renting a car for a whole week when you only need to use it 2 days and it sits at the trailhead for 5 days, but you pay for all the days you have it
Where did you get the green shirt?
Appreciate this since I have only used maps
No Prob!
When using without service, like in the Bob Marshall wilderness area where the trails are not marked well, will it show my orientation (which direction I am heading)?
Yep! As long as you have saved the "Offline" map Area. That's one of the reasons I've started using it over other apps
You should have contacted me. Im going in soon. I love the GC. I live in Tucson. A regular stop for me when I'm passing thru. Doing a r2r2r in April after bright angel opens. Appix April 14th
With so many ads, I was confused which was the actual content and which was an advertisement. 😮 I’ve never seen so many ads on a single video
That's crazy, I didn't get a single ad , The algorithm really is weirdlol
Would be great to discuss the issues and planning around places where permits are usually sold out months in advance.
Just walk up to the Backcountry office day of. They typically always have permits. I’ve personally never been turned away. 😉
how do you plan water?
Don't forget your local library! People have been backpacking for a century. There are old guidebooks with long forgotten treasures...shhh! Those books are still there and so are the trails. Nothing new under the sun.
Does it tell you water and views
Those websites for permits and information are good to know as a foreigner. You look on the map for water scources? Hoe do you know they are not dry?
Darwin, at 17:16 you bring up a booking page for your Grand Canyon hike. I hope that’s an address and phone number you don’t mind sharing! Cheers.