One way we can enjoy our time off from work this year is to spend time outside. That may mean a simple picnic in your local park, or it may mean a backpacking trek to a national park across the country. If your trip lands somewhere on the second part of that spectrum, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your trip to make it the most fun and stress-free.
Plan Ahead
Some of my friends love spontaneity so much that they usually just wing it. That’s a little harder to do with backpacking and hiking trips because you may need different gear, more water, or even a lottery permit depending on what trails you choose.
There are some incredible hikes around the world and if you have any FOMO at all, you should consider taking on one of them. While popularity might be a positive thing in most circumstances, coronavirus may impact which trails you choose. However, you can often still find a way to experience the best views while avoiding crowds.
Did you know that 90 percent of visitors to the Grand Canyon visit from the south rim? The north rim is just as majestic and you can find trails that are completely deserted, especially off-season or early mornings. Even some of the most popular trails may be pretty quiet at 6 a.m. in the middle of the summer. And bonus, you’ll miss the midday heat.
After asking friends and locals, I usually start my research on AllTrails where I can narrow in on a specific geographic area that I plan to visit. You can filter by length, difficulty and more.
Choose a hike
Based on my own fitness level, I try to schedule a big hike no more than every other day. For example for my Southern Utah National Parks trip, we did an eight-mile hike in Bryce Canyon on a Sunday, then waited to do a six-mile river hike in The Narrows in Zion until Tuesday, then waited until Thursday to do another six-miler in Arches. The days in between we hiked only two or three miles each day to rest.
But I’ve also done the backpacking trips where we only did one 22-miler in a weekend and just rested when we returned home.
When you’re thinking about how long you want to hike, you should also think about elevation. Not only the elevation gain throughout the hike, but the starting elevation compared to where you live. For example, you will likely travel much more slowly in Colorado if you live in Los Angeles because your body isn’t used to the altitude in the Rockies. To minimize this effect, you can plan to stay a few days in your destination before beginning your hike.
Fun side note: Ever wonder why so many Olympic training centers are in the mountains? They train at the higher altitude (less oxygen) so their bodies can perform at peak levels in any environment.
A good rule of thumb for the average hiker is no more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile. Any more than that, you’ll want to do a bit of training before your hike.
There may also be different weather to consider on your hike. Checking the forecast for the nearest town often isn’t indicative of the weather on the trail so apps like AllTrails can give you a better sense of what the temperature and precipitation might be at the trail’s elevation.
The location you choose to explore may not have cell service so it’s always a good idea to download an offline map or have a physical one with you to ensure you don’t get lost and can find your way back to civilization. I’ve hiked in a place legitimately called Desolation Wilderness and you better believe it was absolutely off-grid.
Finalize your hike
Always research the hike you are considering on the official webpage, be it the national park or state park website because it will provide details on closures, animals, and more.
You should research not only what animals you may meet on your hike, but also appropriate behaviors in case of an encounter. Some of the smallest, cutest animals can be dangerous, and how you react seeing a grizzly is much different than how you should behave if you run into a black bear.
Many popular hikes have a permit system where you may have to pay a fee to enter a lottery up to a year in advance of your trip. Mount Whitney is one example where almost 17,000 people submitted entries to the lottery and only 5,000 were permitted all summer. Some people enter annually and wait years to get the opportunity to explore that trail.
Certain parks may not allow private vehicle traffic to help with traffic and parking issues. They often offer shuttle services that may need reservations well in advance of your trip as well.
In addition to the trail’s official webpage, reviews on All Trails may also provide insights to any obstacles you may encounter like creek crossings, icy patches, rock scrambling, etc. This can help you pack the appropriate gear.
Pack the right gear
You don’t have to have all the fanciest gear to enjoy nature, however, depending on your dream hike, it may make your experience significantly more enjoyable and less stressful.
For all hikes, you’ll want a pack big enough to carry everything you need. Obviously overnight backpacking trips will need a bigger pack than a short day hike. I’m happy to help with a packing list appropriate for your trip, but here are some basics you may not have thought of:
I always love bringing a fresh change of clothes for when I return to my car. Fresh under things and warm, dry clothes are a luxury that don’t take up any valuable space in my backpack.
A water bladder instead of a bottle. It comes with a giant bendy straw that is much more accessible than your bottle, and it can hold way more. I usually share a three liter bladder with my husband and we rarely run out.
Add dry soap sheets to your first aid kit. You usually have plenty of water in your bladder and it’s a tiny addition in case you need it. Obviously we’re all carrying hand sanitizer for coronavirus, but friendly reminder to use that before you break for a snack.
It’s almost always a good idea to opt for hiking boots over hiking shoes. Invest in the comfiest ones you can find and you’ll only need to bring this one pair. I also bring a plastic shower cap that I can put around my dirty boots when I pack my bag so they don’t muck up the rest of my things. A plastic grocery bag works just as well.
No cotton clothing. Look at the tags on your clothing and choose synthetic materials or wool. This is particularly important for your base layers like socks, sports bras, underwear, gloves and a hat because you’ll want these to stay dry or at least dry quickly if they do get wet (with sweat). Smart Wool is my favorite brand for hiking socks.
Avoid anything with a particular smell. Leave the perfume, fragranced deodorant, and hair products at home. You’ll already be piquing the interest of local fauna with your snacks and natural scent. No need to attract bugs any closer with your floral lotion. Another way to deter animals is to make noise along your hike. A simple conversation is enough, but some choose to wear a bell or play music quietly. Most animal encounters happen when you accidentally sneak up on each other.
Build yourself small emergency kit for any weather that includes an emergency blanket, band aids (moleskin works well preventatively), a whistle, a headlamp, and depending on your location bear spray. Keep that last item in an outside pocket of your pack, or even on your belt for easy access. Bear spray can be helpful for animals beyond bears so it’s a must have for me.
Speaking of animals, if you are doing any overnight backpacking, you may need a bear canister to prevent them from getting to your food stash. If you do bring this along, prepare your meals and eat at least 100 feet from where you plan to sleep. Then change your clothes and place them with your bear canister before sliding into your sleeping bag for the night. No one wants to be a human candy bar in your tent when the critters come crawling around.
I usually go on airplane mode to conserve my phone battery while I’m taking a million photos. But I also bring an external battery that will completely charge my phone three more times just to be safe.
Dry sacks are so useful for the obvious use, but sometimes I use them to keep my wet stuff from touching everything else, or even as a cooler with a couple ice packs in them. Take a tip from my friend Shane and bring a hike beer.
For cold weather hiking you may want crampons or snowshoes.
Begin your hike
If you haven’t done much major hiking, there are a few tips that will keep you out of trouble. Most trails are well marked, however you need to know what to look for. You may only find formal signage at major crossroads, so being able to navigate the trail system can be tricky. And sometimes telling the difference between the trail and a wash (where the water flows after rain) can be hard. Firstly, you can watch for natural items that aren’t where they look like they belong. If you get to a point where you see a trail going in two different directions, look for big logs or rocks that block off one of those. It’s usually a cue from the ranger that that’s not the right way. Rangers also use cairns or small stacks of flat rocks to indicate direction of the trail in places without easy natural blockers like in snow or mostly smooth rock trails.
Nature calls
Sure, the great outdoors may tug on your heart strings, but any hike longer than a couple hours may also mean you have to relieve yourself along the trail. First of all, hikers are generally pretty chill about the situation so don’t be shy; we’ve all done it. Try to find a spot with a little privacy and ask your hiking partner to stand guard and ask oncoming hikers to pause a moment while you finish.
It’s usually a better idea to urinate in flowing water or on rocks or dirt, not on vegetation.
You usually have two options for number two unless dictated by the park you’re in. You can bring a small trowel to dig yourself a six-inch hole and bury your waste. Or you can bring a Double Doodie bag that has special chemicals in it to solidify the waste that you carry out with you. In either circumstance you should bring your own toilet paper in two ziploc bags (one for clean TP and one for dirty).
You should always pack out any trash you create while hiking, but you can duct tape that silver poop bag to the outside of your pack and wear it as a badge of honor. You’re officially a hiker after pooping in a bag on a trail!
I’ve hiked hundreds of miles and done a few serious backpacking and camping trips. If you’re looking to stay socially distanced outdoors this year, I’m happy to help you prepare for your trip.