How to Prepare for a Backpacking Trip

Backpacking in the Rocky Mountains is fun and accessible. Backcountry trails are easy to get to by road, and are usually a short drive from park entrances. But a lot of planning and preparation goes into putting together a backpacking trip.

Bringing the right clothing, shelter, footwear, food and first aid kit can make or break a backpacking trip. It’s essential to be prepared for varying weather conditions. Not having the right gear can endanger backpackers’ safety and lead to backcountry accidents.

Preparing for a trip into the backcountry can seem like a daunting task. But when broken down, it’s fairly simple. There are six keys to preparing for a trip: planning, clothing, food and cookware, shelter and sleeping bags, footwear and first aid.

Planning:

The first step is to plan the trip, starting with the destination. A number of other factors are also taken into consideration.

“One of the first things is the number of days you’re going, and then what altitude and expected terrain you’ll be on,” said Michael Houtzer, an avid outdoorsman and employee at Neptune Mountaineering.

“You start with a basic itinerary, and then you’re going to look for what altitude you’re going to be at,” Houtzer said. The altitude of the backcountry trails determines the gear brought on the trip. At higher altitudes, the temperature is often colder.

Lists are key during this phase, and include everything needed for the trip. The lists reflect what gear is essential, helping backpackers to be fully prepared.

Once the gear is gathered, the amount of food must be determined. The number of days for the trip effects how much food is brought. While camping, food should always be stored in a bear canister. Bear canisters are key in keeping bears out of the food.

“If you’re in Rocky Mountain National Park, a bear canister is required,” Houtzer said.

The next step is fitting everything into the backpack. The clothing and camping gear go in the bottom. On top of the gear goes the bear canister, with the food inside.

The final step in planning the trip is getting a backcountry permit. Backcountry permits are only required in national parks. A backcountry permit isn’t needed when camping in national forests. Permits are issued at the backcountry office, which is located near the park entrance. The permit must be applied for in person.

“They basically are going to ask you where you’re going. They’re going to see that the area is not too crowded. Then you’ll fill out a basic permit paper that you would attach to your pack,” Houtzer said.

A fee is required for purchasing a backcountry permit. The fee for a permit is $10. On top of the initial fee, each person must pay an additional $8 per night.

Clothing:

It’s essential to bring the right clothing when backpacking. In the Rocky Mountains, the weather can change quickly and unexpectedly. The temperature can drop by several degrees in a very short amount of time. Having the right clothing can be the difference between an enjoyable trip and a miserable one.

Multiple layers of clothing are very important in the backcountry.

“It’s not so much about getting gear that’s designed to keep you warm. It’s more about just having multiple layers, because the layers are going to trap pockets of air, and the air in between the layers keeps you warm,” said Eric Jennings, an avid hiker and employee at REI.

When putting together clothing, the time of year should be taken into account. Backpacking in the winter is drastically different than in the summer.

“In the winter you have to bring a heavy coat as well, and maybe a couple pairs of gloves. In the summer, it’s usually only three layers,” Jennings said.

The three layers are typically long underwear, a fleece and a waterproof shell. The base layer is the long underwear. The second layer is the fleece, which goes over the long underwear. The final layer is the waterproof shell. These layers can easily be removed or added, depending on the outside temperature.

“In the middle of summer, you should always have shorts and a down jacket with you, because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Malcolm Daly, an experienced outdoorsman and employee at Neptune Mountaineering.

Food and Cookware:

In the backcountry it’s important to bring foods that are dense in calories. Backpackers burn a lot of calories, due to the up-and-down nature of trails.

“You always bring two or three times more food than you think you’re going to need, just in case something goes wrong, and you get stuck out there for longer. But it’s all pretty lightweight high-density stuff,” Jennings said.

Freeze-dried foods are best the way to go, when it comes to breakfast and dinner.

Lightweight and delicious, freeze-dried foods are easy to cook in the backcountry. Because of their simplicity, they are quite popular among backpackers.

“Most of the ones available these days come in some kind of mylar pouch, and literally all you need to do is pour boiling water on them. Then you let them rehydrate,” Daly said.

For cooking, all that is needed is a simple canister stove. Canister stoves are lightweight, and easy to operate. The stove and canisters can be purchased at any outdoor store. Canister stoves run on butane gas canisters, which can be easily replaced when they run out of fuel.

Shelter and Sleeping Bags:

A tent, sleeping bag and pad are essential when backpacking. A sleeping bag is non-negotiable, regardless of the time of year.

The type of tent brought on a trip depends on the destination and time of year.

“It’s all about what your goals are, and what you want to make out of it. That’s why it’s important to start at ground zero, which is, what is your vision,” Daly said.

A tent is preferred over a tarp, for most overnight backpacking trips.

“When the wind blows, life is going to suck underneath a tarp,” Daly said.

The choice of sleeping bag depends on the time of the year and the expected weather.

“Sleeping bags usually have temperature ratings that tell you what minimum temperature they’re going to keep you warm at. You usually want to add 10 degrees to that, for your own personal comfort. Then you’ll check the weather before you go out, to see how cold it’s going to get at night. You’ll bring a bag that’ll work for that,” Jennings said.

Footwear:

When it comes to backpacking footwear, ankle support is very important. Backcountry trails are often rutted and uneven. A supportive hiking boot can make a huge difference on gnarly hiking trails. It can be key in preventing sprained ankles and foot injuries.

“I like a sturdier waterproof boot, ankle high,” Houtzer said.

When purchasing hiking boots, traction should also be taken into consideration. The rubber soles should have plenty of grip. This is essential on backcountry trails, which are often quite rocky.

Wool socks are also important in the backcountry. They prevent blisters, and keep backpackers’ feet warm and dry. Even in the summer months, light wool socks are an essential part of any backpackers’ gear list.

First Aid:

There’s always the possibility of something going wrong in the backcountry. It’s key to bring a first aid kit, to prepare for accidents and injuries.

“When I teach introductory climbing classes for people going outside, I say with all seriousness, there are four things you need in a first aid kit. One is knowledge, the second is a bandanna, the third is a roll of tape and the fourth is a knife,” Daly said.

“The knowledge of what to do in an emergency is going to do more to save your ass than any piece of gear you can buy,” Daly said.

Sidebar: Trail Running Shoes - A Great Alternative to Hiking Boots

Trail running shoes are a lighter alternative to traditional hiking boots. Despite their smaller size, they still provide ankle support and traction.

“Just this last summer I switched to trail running shoes, which are a lot lighter and have better grip on technical rock,” Jennings said.

Trail running shoes lack the durability of hiking boots, but make up for that with excellent ankle support.

What separates these shoes from regular running shoes is their traction. Trail running shoes usually have grippy rubber soles. This grip is important on backcountry trails, which are often rutted and uneven.

When buying trail running shoes, two things must be taken into account. The shoes should have plenty of grip. They should also provide strong ankle support.

Trail running shoes make a great addition to any backpacker’s gear list. They’re quite reliable, and are a great alternative to heavier hiking boots.

Sources:

1) Neptune Mountaineering Employee: Michael Houtzer

Phone Number: 303-956-2159

2) REI Employee / Avid Hiker: Eric Jennings

Phone Number: 720-335-3045

3) Neptune Mountaineering Employee / Experienced Outdoorsman: Malcolm Daly

Phone Number: 303-909-6067