Outdoors

Backpacking Trip Prep

Permits, the Big 3 gear decisions, water treatment, food planning, navigation, and safety before your first night on the trail.

16 steps · ~240 min

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Permits & Planning

Reserve your permits as early as the permit window opens — Yosemite, Zion Narrows, and John Muir Trail permits release months in advance and sell out within minutes
Register a trip plan with a trusted contact at home: trailhead, route, campsites, and expected return time
Download offline maps of your route using Gaia GPS or Caltopo before leaving cell range — screenshot your route as a backup
Check trail and weather conditions within 72 hours of your start date on the ranger district website and Gaia GPS trail reports

Pack (backpack): size in liters should be your trip length in days times 10, plus 15 for frame and accessories; a 3-day trip fits a 45–50L pack
Shelter: a 3-season single-wall tent (Big Agnes, Nemo) or a tarp/bivy for ultralight setups — ensure the footprint or bathtub floor matches your anticipated weather
Sleep system: sleeping bag rated to 15–20°F below the expected overnight low, plus an R-3.5 or higher sleeping pad for ground insulation
Weigh your pack before leaving — a loaded backpacking pack should be no more than 20–25% of your body weight; over 30% causes fatigue and injury

Carry a primary filter (Sawyer Squeeze or Katadyn BeFree) and a chemical backup (Aquatabs) — never rely on a single water treatment method
Plan 2–2.5 pounds of food per person per day; target calorie-dense foods with 100+ calories per ounce (nuts, olive oil, nut butter packets)
Bear canister use is required in most Sierra Nevada wilderness areas — check regulations by ranger district, not just by park
Hang food in areas where canisters are not required using the PCT hang method — 12 feet off the ground, 6 feet from the trunk, 6 feet below the branch

Carry a paper topo map and compass in addition to digital navigation — GPS batteries die
Pack a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator (Garmin inReach Mini) on any multi-day trip in remote terrain
Learn the ten essentials: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first-aid, fire, repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter
Blister prevention: break in new boots before the trip; tape hot spots with Leukotape at the first sign of friction, not after the blister forms

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