A quick reminder before you read this article, I am in no way an expert and what worked for me may not work for you.
When I planned my Yosemite trip last year, it took more work than I had originally thought it would, and I spent months trying to tie up all of my loose ends. Now I have taken what I have learned, used it to plan my next long camping trip (I define long as more than a single weekend), and I now want to share my process with the community. Keep in mind, I am in no way an expert and this is a suggestion, not an end all be all of the trip planning, and my process might not work for you. But, if you are curious or just looking for suggestions, I have broken down my process into a few steps to aid in the planning of your next adventure.
The first, and most simple step of planning any camping trip, not just a longer one, is finding the spark that initiates the urge to venture out into the wilderness and embark on the trip in the first place. This is where the idea for the trip begins to form, and it can come from any number of sources that one may find during any part of their daily life. In my own experience, ideas for my camping trips have come from conversations about beautiful places to experience and memories from camping in my own childhood. While engaging others in conversation, I have learned that other common ways people come up with an idea are google, happening upon a news article featuring a lovely place, online forums, books, and bucket lists. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and inspiration for a trip can come from any place and may strike at any moment. It is impossible to prepare for the random obsession that can get its claws into the mind and begin the mental itch necessary to undertake the rest of the process of planning a camping trip.
Tunnel View. It was definitely worth the crowd.
Once the idea is formed, and the urge to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is no longer bearable, it is time to begin the second step in the camping trip planning process. This step is perhaps the most daunting step for anyone who is not a nerd that loves to disappear down the research rabbit hole for hours on end, but it is necessary to gather all of the information to ensure a safe and comfortable trip. When beginning the research, I suggest starting with the broadest topics then narrowing down into the more in-depth parts that will lay the foundation for later steps in the planning process. To begin this research, simply hit the internet and find a site that can provide basic information about your destination of choice. For example, I utilized Yosemite’s page on the National Park Service website for a large portion of my trip into the mountains.
First, I suggest looking up the most popular places and activities available to visitors in the area you are planning to visit on your trip. Keep in mind that these places will be busy during peak seasons, but they are often some of the most iconic scenes associated with places. For example, Tunnel View was packed while I was in Yosemite, but the experience was well worth the stop. Besides being iconic, many popular sites tend to be hubs where hiking trails meet and are convenient places to park a vehicle or stop for lunch while spending the day exploring the wilderness on foot. Pinpointing these locations structures the research process and naturally organizes possible hikes that may be of interest by their proximity to one another, and may help begin to narrow down the things that are important for you to see and do on your trip.
taken from nps.gov
Once a basic list of activities that you find enticing is made, I highly suggest researching the average weather trends during the part of the year you intend to visit the great outdoors. This is especially important in regions that experience extreme weather such as deserts and mountains where certain activities are not possible during parts of the year. Knowing what weather to expect will help to narrow down what activities can be done and what gear should make it onto the essentials list. While the basic necessities of camping and hiking remain the same no matter what time of year it is, snow will require vastly different supplies than extreme heat and it is important to be prepared for the correct scenario to ensure a safe adventure.
The next step in the planning process is to figure out what your lodging options will be and how to secure a place to call your home away from home. Assuming you are in fact planning on camping in a campground, it will be necessary to find out if you need a reservation and if so, how far in advance you will need to secure that reservation. At this stage, it is also a good idea to find a backup campground just in case it is not possible to secure a spot at your first choice. I had to learn this the hard way when an especially stormy winter created a snowpack that made my original campground choice in Yosemite inaccessible, and I was forced to scramble to find a backup since I did not have the foresight to seek out an alternate. In the end, everything turned out alright, and now I can use my mistake to stress the importance of always having a backup plan for camp.
Once the basics are out of the way, it is time to determine what can reasonably be accomplished on your adventure. Not only do you need to take the time frame into account, but you will also need to be realistic about your own physical limitations and the difficulty of any hikes that you would like to attempt. To do this, look up the hikes on multiple sites to get the full picture of what to expect for mileage and changes in altitude, I used the NPS website and a couple of hiking apps for most of the trails that I hiked. While studying the trails you intend to tackle you should also note if they require any special permits and how to obtain them in advance to avoid any long lines at wilderness centers or ranger stations the day of your hike. The final thing you should note during this research is if there are any recommendations for supplies that you should carry in your pack on more strenuous hikes. When all else fails, the hiker community can be the most helpful resource that you can have while planning your trip. Online forums and Facebook groups can connect you with those who have already hiked a trail that you are planning, and provide you with hidden knowledge that is not reported in a guidebook or official website. These groups can also provide you with other resources such as in-depth blog posts and videos that will help you paint the most complete picture of your future trip.
Now that the research is out of the way, a campsite has been chosen, and the list of must-do activities has been finalized, it is time to put together a list of gear that will be needed for the trip. When you first make this list, put absolutely everything you need on it and do not try to omit anything that you may already own. Once the list is complete, it is time to sort through your supplies and cross anything off the list that you own that is still in good working condition. This will ensure that you do not miss something essential for your journey. When I made my supply list, I organized it into sections so that nothing would be forgotten. After all, it is easy to forget to bring a small first aid kit for hiking when you already have a large one for the campsite.
As your trip draws near and you ready the gear you will need, you will want to finalize your itinerary and put an emergency plan into place. Although this may seem like it is a waste of time that will prevent any spontaneity, it is important to have a record of what you were supposed to be doing each day just in case you do not make it back to camp. In the event that you do not make it back to camp, it is important to have an emergency contact in possession of your itinerary that can contact the proper agency and provide them with an idea of what trail you were last on so they can narrow down a search and rescue radius. At its core, the itinerary is really more of a guide to keep you safe and keep your body and group in check, so you do not have to omit plans due to muscle fatigue. Remember that spontaneity is okay, and you can stray from the itinerary, just make sure to clue in your emergency contact to keep everyone on the same page.
The final part of planning a long camping trip is mapping out your menu and planning the grocery list so that you do not starve in the wilderness. Making a menu will not only aid in making your grocery list but also help you save the energy that it would take to decide on dinner after a long day of activity. Like the itinerary, the menu is more of a suggestion and does not need to be followed no matter what, but it will help you ensure you are getting the proper nutrition and eating enough calories while adventuring. Taking in enough calories is especially important while camping because you will burn more calories than you normally would in everyday life. If you are constantly out on the trail, you will need to eat more calorie-packed foods than what may be considered normal. Remember that your body will not be able to properly function if you are not replenishing the calories that you burn, so eating enough will help you stay safe, healthy, and fuel your body on your adventures.
Adventuring out into the great outdoors can build treasured memories and give you exciting stories to tell for the rest of your life. Even if this trip planning suggestion doesn’t work for you, you can still answer the call of the wild and follow it into the unknown. When it is all said and done, what really matters when you embark on your own camping trip is that you stay safe, and most importantly, have fun.
