Any experience with guided backpacking trips?
June 10, 2010 1:14 PM Subscribe
Backcountry camping question: Anyone have experience with commerical guided backpacking trips in the U.S., or have any suggestions for increasing backpacking skills and confidence when you don't know any experienced backpackers?
My wife and want to increase our backpacking confidence so that we are motivated to take some adventurous, multi-night trips on our own. We have done a fair amount of day hiking and two short backpacking trips on our own so far (one night in Haleakala National Park and two nights in Grand Teton National Park), but we always get the feeling while we're out there that we're not prepared for emergencies and other unexpected occurrences. We don't have friends or family who backpack, so we don't have anyone to learn from. All our learning has been through books and the internet.
We think that signing up for a guided trip -- like the ones REI offers -- might help, but we don't know anyone who has done one, so we're not quite sure what these trips are like or whether we'll actually learn anything. Thus, my questions: (a) Are these trips a good way to increase skills and confidence? (If not, do you have any other suggestions?), and (b) Can anyone recommend any specific trips or companies?
I have seen these related questions: 1, 2.
My wife and want to increase our backpacking confidence so that we are motivated to take some adventurous, multi-night trips on our own. We have done a fair amount of day hiking and two short backpacking trips on our own so far (one night in Haleakala National Park and two nights in Grand Teton National Park), but we always get the feeling while we're out there that we're not prepared for emergencies and other unexpected occurrences. We don't have friends or family who backpack, so we don't have anyone to learn from. All our learning has been through books and the internet.
We think that signing up for a guided trip -- like the ones REI offers -- might help, but we don't know anyone who has done one, so we're not quite sure what these trips are like or whether we'll actually learn anything. Thus, my questions: (a) Are these trips a good way to increase skills and confidence? (If not, do you have any other suggestions?), and (b) Can anyone recommend any specific trips or companies?
I have seen these related questions: 1, 2.
I actually would encourage you to find a group to go with, but mostly I've learned my backpacking skills from friends, or from outdoors clubs that were attached to various universities. Are you near any universities? Cities which might have active clubs that you could go to/ rent gear from?
posted by nat at 1:17 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by nat at 1:17 PM on June 10, 2010
Pick up a boy scout manual and the backpacking merit badge booklet. You'll be able to learn and reinforce fundamentals in a really accessible way.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 1:22 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by lockestockbarrel at 1:22 PM on June 10, 2010
How much time and money are you budgeting for this project?
If you have 2 weeks, I highly recommend NOLS:
http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/rockymtn/windriverwilderness.shtml
NOLS trips are emphatically not the traditional guided trip. The whole focus is on teaching you how to lead your own trip, and all the skills needed to do so safely. I took a 30 day course from them when I was 14, and it was fantastic. It culminated in a 3-day hike without any instructors - they'd taught us enough that a group of 14&15 year olds were perfectly capable of navigating and handling everything on our own. I loved it so much that I went back for a semester course, which introduced me to many different environments/skills.
posted by Metasyntactic at 1:25 PM on June 10, 2010
If you have 2 weeks, I highly recommend NOLS:
http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/rockymtn/windriverwilderness.shtml
NOLS trips are emphatically not the traditional guided trip. The whole focus is on teaching you how to lead your own trip, and all the skills needed to do so safely. I took a 30 day course from them when I was 14, and it was fantastic. It culminated in a 3-day hike without any instructors - they'd taught us enough that a group of 14&15 year olds were perfectly capable of navigating and handling everything on our own. I loved it so much that I went back for a semester course, which introduced me to many different environments/skills.
posted by Metasyntactic at 1:25 PM on June 10, 2010
Get in touch with your local Sierra Club. In my area that have both a backpacking training course that runs for 12 weeks which includes 4 guides trips for only $100. Additionally, they have cheap trips running almost every weekend for Sierra Club members which offer anything from basic car camp to 7 days or more treks through the Sierra's.
posted by ShootTheMoon at 1:26 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by ShootTheMoon at 1:26 PM on June 10, 2010
I'd second taking a Wilderness First Aid class. I think that if you've done some overnights, you have a good base and should just try to push yourselves gradually out of your comfort zone (ie. three night/long weekend or full week in a park where you establish a base camp and then just do day hikes from your base, but still be near services\camp-entrance in case you need to go to a store and buy extra food or batteries)
I've done some guided trips (ie. five day Kilimanjaro summit climb, weeklong backpacks in Vancouver Island) and generally have found that the guides can teach you some lessons about getting on in the wild, but the mere presence of a guide will prevent you from building the self confidence in knowing that you will survive if left to your own devices.
Taking Wilderness First Aid will give you some concrete skills that you can use in the wild and can also quell some niggling anxiety over what to do if, say, you cut your hand open with your Swiss army knife when you're ten miles from civilization.
posted by bl1nk at 1:35 PM on June 10, 2010
I've done some guided trips (ie. five day Kilimanjaro summit climb, weeklong backpacks in Vancouver Island) and generally have found that the guides can teach you some lessons about getting on in the wild, but the mere presence of a guide will prevent you from building the self confidence in knowing that you will survive if left to your own devices.
Taking Wilderness First Aid will give you some concrete skills that you can use in the wild and can also quell some niggling anxiety over what to do if, say, you cut your hand open with your Swiss army knife when you're ten miles from civilization.
posted by bl1nk at 1:35 PM on June 10, 2010
Try searching for a backpack group in your area at meetup.com. Use the forums at backpacker.com and thebackpacker.com (weirdly enough, two different sites). These different avenues have lots of small groups making trips that you can join for a small fee. You will likely meet experienced backpackers and learn a lot from them.
posted by TrarNoir at 1:43 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by TrarNoir at 1:43 PM on June 10, 2010
Best answer: The trouble with guides is they often assume their clients want to be babysat and not actually do anything. You would want to talk to a guide beforehand and go with the specific intention of learning the ropes, rather than "Take me out into the woods and back without dying." You'd probably want a private trip, as opposed to being part of a larger group and be very firm about pulling your own weight. Not all guides will let you do this but it's possible to find one that will. You might enjoy being babysat but you sure as hell won't learn much.
My only experience with a guide was on a five-day guided mountaineering workshop and climb. Even though they did teach us some glacier travel skills they pretty much took care of all our camping needs. They cooked dinner, melted snow for water, and basically let us lounge around the camp. They even literally carried our shit down the mountain. I was there for the glacier skills, since we don't have those out this way, so I didn't mind. But if I wasn't already familiar with backcountry and winter camping skills I would have come away from those trips with no further knowledge than when I started.
If you've camped, hiked, and done some basic backpacking you're most of the way there. If you're concerned about skills you can find map & compass classes and (probably) wilderness first aid at REI. Make sure you take "wilderness" first aid rather than standard first aid. Big difference.
If you can set up a tent and cook a meal there isn't much more to know. Just start going a bit further out each trip. I don't know where you are but if there's a local area popular with backpacking (such as New Hampshire's White Mountains), just go a few weekends in the spring, summer and fall and learn the area. Learn about issues unique to that area, such as bears, streams, and regulations. Once you're comfortable with your local area, start planning trips elsewhere around the country.
Knowing what to do in an emergency is about basic first aid skills, scene management, common sense, and keeping a cool head. It's about always being aware of where you are and the quickest way to get out and/or send for assistance. It's about being self-sufficient, never putting yourself in a situation where you're going to die because you can't summon a helicopter with your cell phone.
If you absolutely want to find a group, looking into clubs like the AMC (East Coast) or Sierra Club (West Coast). There are others. The problem with these groups (at least the AMC) is that they're really starting to act more like professional guide services (and in the AMC's case Inn Keepers in the mountains) than the volunteer-led groups they once were. The AMC still has volunteer-led trips (which is where I learned some of my chops, and eventually taught others), including backpacking trips.
My local AMC chapter runs and intro to hiking and backpacking workshop every spring. There might be something like that where you are.
There are hiking groups on Meetup.org, though I'm not sure about backpacking groups. The trouble is there's no telling who is qualified and who isn't. This includes the leaders and the participants. I haven't done any of these trips, nor would I really want to.
Also, if nothing else, learn how to tie a taut line hitch. This is the single most useful knot in the backcountry and it's quite impressive when people see it in action. It would be on my top ten list of backcountry skills.
posted by bondcliff at 1:52 PM on June 10, 2010
My only experience with a guide was on a five-day guided mountaineering workshop and climb. Even though they did teach us some glacier travel skills they pretty much took care of all our camping needs. They cooked dinner, melted snow for water, and basically let us lounge around the camp. They even literally carried our shit down the mountain. I was there for the glacier skills, since we don't have those out this way, so I didn't mind. But if I wasn't already familiar with backcountry and winter camping skills I would have come away from those trips with no further knowledge than when I started.
If you've camped, hiked, and done some basic backpacking you're most of the way there. If you're concerned about skills you can find map & compass classes and (probably) wilderness first aid at REI. Make sure you take "wilderness" first aid rather than standard first aid. Big difference.
If you can set up a tent and cook a meal there isn't much more to know. Just start going a bit further out each trip. I don't know where you are but if there's a local area popular with backpacking (such as New Hampshire's White Mountains), just go a few weekends in the spring, summer and fall and learn the area. Learn about issues unique to that area, such as bears, streams, and regulations. Once you're comfortable with your local area, start planning trips elsewhere around the country.
Knowing what to do in an emergency is about basic first aid skills, scene management, common sense, and keeping a cool head. It's about always being aware of where you are and the quickest way to get out and/or send for assistance. It's about being self-sufficient, never putting yourself in a situation where you're going to die because you can't summon a helicopter with your cell phone.
If you absolutely want to find a group, looking into clubs like the AMC (East Coast) or Sierra Club (West Coast). There are others. The problem with these groups (at least the AMC) is that they're really starting to act more like professional guide services (and in the AMC's case Inn Keepers in the mountains) than the volunteer-led groups they once were. The AMC still has volunteer-led trips (which is where I learned some of my chops, and eventually taught others), including backpacking trips.
My local AMC chapter runs and intro to hiking and backpacking workshop every spring. There might be something like that where you are.
There are hiking groups on Meetup.org, though I'm not sure about backpacking groups. The trouble is there's no telling who is qualified and who isn't. This includes the leaders and the participants. I haven't done any of these trips, nor would I really want to.
Also, if nothing else, learn how to tie a taut line hitch. This is the single most useful knot in the backcountry and it's quite impressive when people see it in action. It would be on my top ten list of backcountry skills.
posted by bondcliff at 1:52 PM on June 10, 2010
Awesome, I'd check out American Alpine Institute if I were you. They are fantastic! They have everything you could ever want from guided trips to teaching courses and leadership programs. Their guides are fantastic. I will be taking an advanced technical leadership program next summer and am very excited about it.
They also have private instruction for, I think, $250 per person per day for 2 people. If you have a group of a couple of people that are interested, the price goes down.
They offer all levels and are very accommodating.
posted by TheBones at 2:06 PM on June 10, 2010
They also have private instruction for, I think, $250 per person per day for 2 people. If you have a group of a couple of people that are interested, the price goes down.
They offer all levels and are very accommodating.
posted by TheBones at 2:06 PM on June 10, 2010
Response by poster: Great suggestions so far.
Some further info: I live in Milwaukee, where there isn't a lot of backpacking nearby. We have some, but it's not particularly challenging. I will look into local clubs and things like that, but I suspect we don't have much. Wilderness First Aid seems like a great suggestion, though.
As for time and money, they're not unlimited. A two week trip is probably pushing it, but not out of the question. Ideally, I'm looking for shorter trips - probably a few days to a week.
posted by crLLC at 2:13 PM on June 10, 2010
Some further info: I live in Milwaukee, where there isn't a lot of backpacking nearby. We have some, but it's not particularly challenging. I will look into local clubs and things like that, but I suspect we don't have much. Wilderness First Aid seems like a great suggestion, though.
As for time and money, they're not unlimited. A two week trip is probably pushing it, but not out of the question. Ideally, I'm looking for shorter trips - probably a few days to a week.
posted by crLLC at 2:13 PM on June 10, 2010
I would like to underline ShootTheMoon's suggestion to check out the Sierra Club, whose chapters frequently organize group backpacking trips. I'm sure there's a range of approaches depending on the chapter, but I've done this four times and learned a lot. There was no instruction, really, just a culture of the more experienced accepting the role of showing the less experienced how it's done.
This was years ago, but I know the Sierra Club still organizes these. Maybe I'll check them out again, myself!
posted by gum at 2:19 PM on June 10, 2010
This was years ago, but I know the Sierra Club still organizes these. Maybe I'll check them out again, myself!
posted by gum at 2:19 PM on June 10, 2010
I once took a guided trip with a group of very experienced backpackers with the Grand Canyon Field Institute and it was phenomenal. Like I said, we were experienced backpackers, so our guide essentially just gave us a weeklong course on Grand Canyon geology. I can't even describe how amazing it was. He led us to believe, though, that we were atypical and that most groups got a mix of geology education and backpacking advice from him, so it may be worth your time (plus the scenery was amazing).
I honestly also can't recommend our specific guide enough--Jack definitely made the trip incredible, and you should go on one with him if you can.
Good luck! (I miss backpacking now that I can't get as much time off to do it.)
posted by MidsizeBlowfish at 4:21 PM on June 10, 2010
I honestly also can't recommend our specific guide enough--Jack definitely made the trip incredible, and you should go on one with him if you can.
Good luck! (I miss backpacking now that I can't get as much time off to do it.)
posted by MidsizeBlowfish at 4:21 PM on June 10, 2010
Hearing that you are in Milwaukee, I would recommend Isle Royale as a trip that will feel adventurous but not require expert-level knowledge. Isle Royale is great for a first major backpacking trip because the island is really set up for backpackers. The trails are well-marked, routes are easy to plan, and the staff is more than helpful. There are no bears to worry about, which makes food storage much easier. And, it's beautiful. It takes a bit of doing to get on the island, but the drive to either starting point (Michigan or Minnesota) would be easy from Milwaukee. Do several practice weekends on the Ice Age trail/Kettle Moraine or other nearby spots and you should be pretty ready. If you decide to do Isle Royale, memail me-- I'd love to talk it up.
posted by TrarNoir at 5:39 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by TrarNoir at 5:39 PM on June 10, 2010
Get in touch with your local Sierra Club. In my area that have both a backpacking training course that runs for 12 weeks which includes 4 guides trips for only $100.
Ditto. San Diego's Sierra Club chapter runs a Wilderness Basics course every year with four camping trips:
- a car camp, where you basically get used to setting up a tent and cooking with a stove and stuff without having to carry everything on your back.
- map & compass, which is a short backpack where you learn how to orient yourself and route-find with a map and compass.
- backpack trip, where you hike in a fairly long distance and set up camp, maybe go for a short hike after that, then another short hike the next day before heading out.
- snow camp, where everybody takes a bus to Mammoth and camps in the snow.
I've taken the class twice and had great experiences each time.
posted by LionIndex at 12:01 AM on June 11, 2010
Ditto. San Diego's Sierra Club chapter runs a Wilderness Basics course every year with four camping trips:
- a car camp, where you basically get used to setting up a tent and cooking with a stove and stuff without having to carry everything on your back.
- map & compass, which is a short backpack where you learn how to orient yourself and route-find with a map and compass.
- backpack trip, where you hike in a fairly long distance and set up camp, maybe go for a short hike after that, then another short hike the next day before heading out.
- snow camp, where everybody takes a bus to Mammoth and camps in the snow.
I've taken the class twice and had great experiences each time.
posted by LionIndex at 12:01 AM on June 11, 2010
My husband and I found ourselves in the same predicament you're in. We'd both done tons of day-hiking, car camped and had done some backcountry trips that could loosely be construed as backpacking during our younger years.
We ended up taking a course called "Backpacking 101" through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. The course had three hands-on sessions and a final backpacking trip to test out our new skills.
We actually have our group backpacking trip this weekend. We're really excited to put everything into practice. I feel pretty confident with the new things we learned.
posted by MorningPerson at 7:17 AM on June 11, 2010
We ended up taking a course called "Backpacking 101" through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. The course had three hands-on sessions and a final backpacking trip to test out our new skills.
We actually have our group backpacking trip this weekend. We're really excited to put everything into practice. I feel pretty confident with the new things we learned.
posted by MorningPerson at 7:17 AM on June 11, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ghharr at 1:16 PM on June 10, 2010