Backpacking Tips
On this page, I will give you some backpacking tips that you will find very useful. As tempting as it would be to tell you that all you need to do for backpacking is throw some gear in your car and hit the road, in reality it does take a bit of planning. You do need to have a general idea of where you are going, what you are doing, and for how long, before you hit the trail. Then you can throw all your gear in the car and take off!
Backpacking Guide
I'll first start off with some backpacking tips on picking your trail. This will require some research on your part. There are many excellent backpacking trail guides available, and the internet is also a great resource. My husband and I are fortunate enough to live in central California, which has great backpacking opportunities in whatever direction we happen to drive in. Most of our trips have been into the gorgeous backcountry of Yosemite, and Suzanne Swedo’s Hiking Yosemite National Park has been worth its weight in gold for us.
You see, not only do you have to pick a trail; you need to find out as much about that trail as possible. Here are some of the things you need to consider:
First of all, is overnight camping even allowed on the trail? On many “day hike” trails, it is not, and those that do allow overnight camping often require a wilderness permit. This will be discussed in more detail below.
How long is the trail, and how far do you intend to follow it? Going the entire length of the trail is hardly necessary. For example, the Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico to Canada along the California Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. While many experienced backpackers do hike the entire length of the trail (or at least attempt to do so), there is no need to go on a four-to-six month excursion to enjoy its beauty. One can easily hike a small section of the trail: in fact, we did a day hike on snowshoes on a short section near Lake Tahoe.
What is the topography of the trail? You need to know this in order to estimate the miles for your total trip. Five miles of steep uphill climbing may take as much time and energy as twice that distance on more moderate terrain. Especially if you’re carrying twenty or more pounds on your back!
More backpacking tips - When is the best time of year to go? Weather makes a huge difference. Nobody wants to hike in the rain, and some higher-elevation trails are inaccessible most of the year due to snow. We can’t even begin planning many our Yosemite backpacking trips until Tioga Road opens, which is usually not until May or even June. Conversely, in warmer areas, it may not be wise to plan your trip for mid-summer, especially if the water sources dry up outside the rainy season. Also, many trails are just more scenic during certain times of the year. One trail may be known for its display of wildflowers in early spring, while another might display incredible fall foliage.
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