I'm currently planning and preparing for some big trips this Fall, so I thought why not share what that planning process looks like. WELCOME to the first in a series of posts about how I plan my backpacking trips. Today we're talking about 5 awesome resources I utilize whenever I'm planning a trip. You don't have to utilize each and every one to plan a successful backpacking trip. These are just what I like to use to helps me cover all my bases and feel as informed and prepared as possible beforehand.
#1 Paper Maps
You can't go wrong with a good old paper map. One of many reasons I love having a hard copy of the route I'm planning is it shows me the BIG picture. Rather than seeing just the info that can fit on the screen, I can get a larger scale view of the wilderness area/trail system I'll be hiking in. It's also great having a visual representation of the trails to complement the next resource on the list. Best of all, you don't have to keep a paper map charged to view the info on it throughout the trip ;)
Here are some of my favorite companies and Conservancies to get paper maps from for hiking trails across the Southeast:
Pisgah Map Company - They have a variety of maps covering the WNC area. Because they focus more on specific areas (Districts vs. entire National Forests) I can usually gather more details from their maps than others. Plus, they're always coming out with new ones. They may not have a map for that area YET, but chances are they will down the road.
Nat Geo Trails Illustrated - You name it, Nat Geo probably has a map for it. While this company's maps tend to be of areas on a larger scale, the great thing about that is many of their maps overlap
Foothills Trail Conservancy - Every year or so, a revised version of the map for this 76 mile trail is released. You can order a paper copy directly from the Conservancy's online store OR pick one up in the gift shop of many Upstate SC State Parks.
#2 Trail Guides
Next on the list are guidebooks. This resources more often than not complements the visual representations of an area. I really appreciate the level of detail the authors go into. Their goal is to provide valuable information about the trail you probably won't find just looking at a map. Not every longer distance trail has a guide though. So, if a trip I'm considering doesn't have an official guide I turn to the plethora of blog post, trip reports, and outdoor magazine article out there. I can usually find detailed breakdown or description on sites like Hiking Upward or Hiking Project . Hiking Upward does an especially great job of providing valuable info and details in an easy to follow format.
Similar to Hiking Project, this app was intended to be by hikers for hikers. Unfortunately, it's hit or miss. The reviews section for more popular routes is treated more like a Facebook comments section than a way to provide helpful insight about trail conditions. Certain features such are route tracking, placement of waypoints, and mileage estimations can be inaccurate at times as well. Despite its flaws, the pictures and waypoints provided by other hikers are a great way to verify details like where campsite and water sources are. I personally use this resource during the planning and info gathering stage only and not as a real-time reference during on trail navigation. Every once in a while, hikers post full length trip reports in the reviews. While they may be from months or even years ago, they can still be of value. If you're willing to do a little extra homework by compiling and comparing what's shared in those reviews, you may be able to track patterns for that area. Weather events, wildlife activity, stuff like that. Unlike a single blog post which was written during a specific season, reports left on AllTrails can give you a picture of trail conditions year-round, and all on one site.
This is another app and web-based resource for hikers. Gaia GPS is what I use to plot my rout and navigate in real-time while on the trail. It's excellent for tracking daily mileage as well as mileage for potential spur trips located along the route. After doing research and compiling all the info I need for to execute a trip, I pull up the desktop version of Gaia to create a prospective route. I also plot important waypoints like campsites, water sources, junctions, etc. The best part about Gaia is I can then pull up the route I created and all the waypoints I placed on my phone when I hit the trail. The key thing to remember is synching all that info to your account on both the desktop and mobile version beforehand.
#5 Itinerary Sheet
This doesn't have to be anything fancy. It can be a sheet of notebook paper! I find writing out my trip details in one coherent plan is a helpful organization strategy. It's also an extra safety measure. By leaving a copy of your itinerary with your people back home, you're ensuring someone knows where you will be and where to send help should you need it. I leave both a paper copy as well as a digital copy (via email) of my itinerary with my husband before every trip. On it I include:
the parking / trailhead location
the general areas I plan to camp in each night
an overview of the trails I'll be taking
and any other important information related to the trip i.e. ranger station or state park office numbers, names and numbers of shuttle drivers, names and numbers of campgrounds or hostels etc.
Here's a 3 day itinerary template:
Heading into the backcountry can be overwhelming, especially if you're not sure what to expect. That's why I put together itineraries from some of my favorite trips. Written by someone who's been there and done it, my hope is they take some of the guesswork out of planning your own backpacking trips. You can find those full length itineraries over on my support page.
I hope you found the first post in this Trip Planning Series helpful. Next time, we'll be taking a look at the actual planning process I go through when putting together a route.