How to Lead a Backpack Trip

Your friends must have a lot of faith in you if they choose you to lead them into the wilderness. Squash the drill sergeant fantasy, and take into consideration the needs and wants of the entire group.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Poll the group: Do they want to fish, hike or just read and relax? Groups that want to cover lots of miles might take a long loop trail. Less ambitious groups can set up a single base camp at a beautiful mountain lake and take day hikes.
2. Research potential destinations keeping the abilities of your group in mind. Beginners carrying a moderately heavy pack for 5 miles will have plenty of hiking--and altitude will definitely have an effect as well. Most outdoor stores have a variety of maps and guidebooks for popular areas.
3. Be aware that in the mountains, elevation change (climbing) is more relevant than distance in terms of the effort required. Using a topographical map, add up the distance you will have to climb on your route. For example, if your route traverses three 500-foot tall hills, total climbing for the day is 1,500 feet. Most novices would consider 2,000 feet of elevation change a full day.
4. Review water availability along your route: The more water along the route, the less people have to carry. Campsites must have water access. Purchase a bottle of water purification tablets at a sporting goods store or online at one such as REI.com.
5. Select a destination with the group's input. Use their feedback to make adjustments to your trip plan, making it either more or less ambitious. Let members review your choice of backpacking trails with copies of the maps and guidebooks in hand. The more information they have, the happier they will be.
6. Be sure you have enough tent space for everyone and a way to keep gear out of the rain. If the group is inexperienced, throw an equipment party--one week before the trip, have everyone bring their gear to your house. Practice setting up the tents, packing packs and lighting camp stoves.
7. Review necessary gear. Each person should bring and carry a sleeping bag and pad, eating utensils, headlamp, matches, GPS, whistle, duct tape, knife, compass, map, toilet paper and water. Communal equipment, including tents, stove and pots, food and first-aid gear should be distributed among the group.
8. Leave clear instructions with a responsible person about your route, trip plan and expected return time. Instruct this person to notify authorities promptly if you don't return by a specified time.
9. Check weather reports. If conditions aren't good, postpone the trip unless your group is hardy, seasoned, prepared and game.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan on averaging about 2 miles per hour across hilly terrain, less if the trail is steep or difficult.
• Always include destinations (mountaintop, waterfall, lake) in your route and as much scenery as possible. Dense forest is beautiful, but most people want the visual relief of an open vista at some point.
• Plan for at least 5 liters of drinking water per day per person, more in hot or humid weather or during strenuous climbs.
• Review 449 Pack for a Camping Trip.
• In the wilderness, expect to be a long way from medical care. Get as much first aid training as possible.
• See 474 Survive Being Lost and 475 Conduct a Search and Rescue Operation.