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Understanding Back Country Routes and Trip Planning
Welcome to navigating back country routes and trip planning. Selecting the right route is paramount to success; each trail and waterway presents its own set of challenges requiring careful consideration. When planning a hiking adventure, you must consider terrain difficulty, elevation changes, and trail conditions. Similarly, for paddling trips, waterway's currents, wind, obstacles and portage difficulty. Here are a few common challenges with some suggestions to overcome them.
For Step it Up Adventures' back country trip resources click here. https://www.stepitupadventures.ca/waiver
Navigating the Distance Dilemma
Underestimating distances and/or travel time. It's easy to glance at a map and naively assume that a trail or water route is just a stone's throw away. However, reality often proves otherwise, leaving adventurers weary and disheartened as they realize the true extent of their journey.
Tip 1: Hone your map-reading skills and practice judging distances accurately. Familiarize yourself with local trails or water routes, gradually increasing the complexity of your excursions to build confidence and proficiency.
Tip 2: Build extra time into your back country routes and trip plan for a sleep in, scenic detour, challenging terrain/paddling or weather-related delays.
Conquering Campsite Conundrums
Arriving at a designated campsite only to find it elusive in the fading light is every adventurer's nightmare. Failure to make your planned campsite can derail your trip forcing improvisation and potentially compromising safety.
Tip 1: Always have a ‘B’ plan for a campsite when you are not making the miles you had anticipated. Keep your eyes on the map and your surroundings for potential back up campsites along your route. It is always better to stop early than to push into the night and risk getting lost or injured.
Overcoming Packing Predicaments
Packing for a back country trip is an art form unto itself, requiring a delicate balance between essentials and luxuries. Overlooking key necessities can spell disaster in the wilderness, while packing too much can make for a sore body on a hiking trip and needless additional trips at portages slowing your paddling trip.
Tip 1 Create a comprehensive packing list tailored to the specific demands of your adventure and double-check it meticulously before setting out.
Tips 2: If traveling in a group, coordinate packing efforts to minimize redundancies and maximize efficiency. Always, always, always lay out your gear in front of each other before you leave. In the name of saving time, I have neglecting this very important step in the past causing our group to carry unneeded supplies.
MEC is a great place to start when looking for light weight and quality back country gear. https://www.mec.ca/en
Step it Up Adventures Back Country Routes and Trip Planning
At Step it Up Adventures, we understand that mastering the art of choosing back country routes and trip planning requires time and we can help you in this learning process. We offer back country routes and trip planning services to teach you the fundamentals while giving you a peace of mind.
Our experienced guides will collaborate with you to craft the perfect plan, tailored to your preferences. We will provide you with route selection options, food suggestions and a detailed packing list. Before you embark on your trip, we will review the route and plan in detail while pointing out alternate campsite locations and discussing emergency planning.
Step it Up Adventures can help you embark on your next adventure with confidence, ready to conquer the wild and embrace the journey that lies ahead.
Click here to learn more and/or inquire into our back country routes and trip planning services.
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