With international and interprovincial travel frowned upon this summer was the time to check out your own backyard. With fall quickly approaching you don't need to pack your tent away...the options close to home are endless! Few people can say they have the beautiful Canadian Rockies as their backyard. One of the many ways to experience the Canadian Rockies is by foot, on a backpacking trip.
Here are a few trips on how to set yourself up for success!
Here are a few trips on how to set yourself up for success!
1 – Pick a Date and Book a Backcountry Campsite
Have vacation time coming up? Great! Head on over to the Parks Canada Reservation site. Follow the steps; select backcountry camping, the date you plan to spend the night, and fill in the remaining prompts. The site provides you with an interactive map showing you the location of the campsites. It even provides rough hiking distances.
Have vacation time coming up? Great! Head on over to the Parks Canada Reservation site. Follow the steps; select backcountry camping, the date you plan to spend the night, and fill in the remaining prompts. The site provides you with an interactive map showing you the location of the campsites. It even provides rough hiking distances.
2 – Plan Your Meals and Get Cooking
Sure, MEC and other outdoor stores provide many "food in a bag" options. But, you're on vacation! Treat yourself to food that is delicious and nutritious! For a small investment in time you can create amazing and lightweight meals. All you need to do is go to the grocery store! Staples to look for
- Dehydrated veggie flakes
- 10 minute brown rice
- Dehydrated soup packages - a great appetizer after a long day of sweating and hiking
- An assortment of spices
Two of our go-to meals are Spicy Peanut Noodles and TVP Tacos.
Sure, MEC and other outdoor stores provide many "food in a bag" options. But, you're on vacation! Treat yourself to food that is delicious and nutritious! For a small investment in time you can create amazing and lightweight meals. All you need to do is go to the grocery store! Staples to look for
- Dehydrated veggie flakes
- 10 minute brown rice
- Dehydrated soup packages - a great appetizer after a long day of sweating and hiking
- An assortment of spices
Two of our go-to meals are Spicy Peanut Noodles and TVP Tacos.
3 – What To Bring With You
Dress in layers. I cannot repeat this enough. When looking at your clothing think about how each item compliments the other. It's like lego blocks, they should stack on top of one another. Short sleeve, long sleeve, soft shell jacket, puffy jacket, rain jacket. With this combination you'll have everything for all weather situations.
Here is a gear list you can follow for your summer hiking adventures.
Dress in layers. I cannot repeat this enough. When looking at your clothing think about how each item compliments the other. It's like lego blocks, they should stack on top of one another. Short sleeve, long sleeve, soft shell jacket, puffy jacket, rain jacket. With this combination you'll have everything for all weather situations.
Here is a gear list you can follow for your summer hiking adventures.
4 – Check The Weather
Nothing sucks more than getting to the trailhead in the pouring rain. Leading into your trip you'll want to check the weather to ensure it's safe. Calling for lightning storms? Heading into the alpine is not a good choice. Adjust your plans to stay low in the trees is the better option. High temps and sunshine? Wahoo!! You'll want to pack extra water!
Spot Wx and Mountain Forecast are great resources for weather forecasts. Spot Wx allows you to drop a pin exactly in the region you will be exploring. Mountain Forecast allows you to pull the forecast from a nearby mountain. You can see the freezing level and the weather for various elevation points on the mountain. The freezing level is great for shoulder season adventures, helping to determine if you'll get rained or snowed on.
Nothing sucks more than getting to the trailhead in the pouring rain. Leading into your trip you'll want to check the weather to ensure it's safe. Calling for lightning storms? Heading into the alpine is not a good choice. Adjust your plans to stay low in the trees is the better option. High temps and sunshine? Wahoo!! You'll want to pack extra water!
Spot Wx and Mountain Forecast are great resources for weather forecasts. Spot Wx allows you to drop a pin exactly in the region you will be exploring. Mountain Forecast allows you to pull the forecast from a nearby mountain. You can see the freezing level and the weather for various elevation points on the mountain. The freezing level is great for shoulder season adventures, helping to determine if you'll get rained or snowed on.
5 – Check Trail Reports
Wondering if bears were reported in the area? Is there still snow? So many questions! Parks Canada uses reports from volunteers and other trail users to update this site. It's a great resource for determining the current state of a trail.
Wondering if bears were reported in the area? Is there still snow? So many questions! Parks Canada uses reports from volunteers and other trail users to update this site. It's a great resource for determining the current state of a trail.
6 – Plan for the "What If'
Before heading out let someone you trust know where you are going and when to expect you back. Provide instructions on how long overdue you should be before they contact authorities. Know how to reach local authorities. We are very lucky with the rescue infrastructure we have in place. Yet, they are only useful if you know how to reach them. Here is a list of the emergency contact numbers.
Finally, it's a good idea to invest in some form of an emergency device. Inreach and Spot are the two most common. Get one and know how to use it!
Before heading out let someone you trust know where you are going and when to expect you back. Provide instructions on how long overdue you should be before they contact authorities. Know how to reach local authorities. We are very lucky with the rescue infrastructure we have in place. Yet, they are only useful if you know how to reach them. Here is a list of the emergency contact numbers.
Finally, it's a good idea to invest in some form of an emergency device. Inreach and Spot are the two most common. Get one and know how to use it!
These are some of the resources that will help you prepare for a backcountry outing. Still uncertain if this is for you? Check out our Women’s Intro to Backpacking. Or gather a group together (any gender) and we will plan a custom trip for you.
Looking for other information? Check out the resource page on our webpage. It’s a great spot to refer to when planning any future trip. Set yourself up for success. Prepare your body with the hiking fitness program, reward your muscles after a hard days hike, and check the weather before you head out. These are some small steps to ensure you have a successful hike. Have fun!
Looking for other information? Check out the resource page on our webpage. It’s a great spot to refer to when planning any future trip. Set yourself up for success. Prepare your body with the hiking fitness program, reward your muscles after a hard days hike, and check the weather before you head out. These are some small steps to ensure you have a successful hike. Have fun!
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