Collins Complete Hiking and Camping Manual: The essential guide to comfortable walking, cooking and sleeping

As a risk-management expert I know that traveling in the wilderness can be hazardous. I’ve dealt with group emergencies on the trail and had my own share of close calls. By balancing your skills, experience, and gear with the right trip you can have enjoyable and safe experiences. This book is designed to be a resource to help you on your way. It can’t be a replacement for personal experience and professional training in specialized skills such as first aid and CPR. The author, HarperCollins, and Princeton University assume no liability for any personal injury, illness, or property damage or loss that may arise out of use of this material.

Specific equipment, such as stoves and water filters, is discussed in this book. There are many other products that could have been included but were not due to space considerations. The inclusion of these items does not imply any endorsement of these products.

CHAPTER 1 (#ulink_5b962275-9581-59f7-b326-c423030e6895)

Trip Planning (#ulink_5b962275-9581-59f7-b326-c423030e6895)

BASIC TRIP PLANNING (#ulink_7e084a86-2a34-5d6f-9de1-d2fa7ea75651)

Group Size and Ability (#ulink_2846fbae-8ba3-55ed-973d-7f9cc0934982)

Activities (#ulink_4301037c-979f-5852-8fca-c831c16aaf1a)

Location and Weather (#ulink_2d7cbab9-ac01-5c90-bf44-a64b6710f917)

Expect the Unexpected (#ulink_4c7977a6-24ac-5c42-ad31-8fb47ad04b64)

Equipment (#ulink_1278d6a7-b69b-5302-a88f-d6d55e691b27)

Food (#ulink_441c7a83-9e11-5454-a3a5-7ff9a9a216f4)

Costs (#ulink_937e760c-db34-5883-b015-1c7c9e487551)

Skill Development (#ulink_467829dc-0be4-52e3-9628-eb2c218a5619)

TRIP PREPARATION CHECKLIST (#ulink_b9eb71b6-6661-554e-8cb6-ab0a1b9bc1db)

Pre-Trip (#ulink_7d311ab5-10b6-5d25-8685-06e01fbc2cc7)

During the Trip (#ulink_8426ada8-ed69-58db-baaf-1a573c57a82d)

On Your Return (#ulink_5ecf91cc-d86f-5b3c-b3ac-1079292d06d9)

ROUTE DIFFICULTY (#ulink_4b286c49-de44-54b0-b97b-280642fa93d8)

Trip Difficulty Rating (#ulink_8fc50ae5-eb7b-506b-8453-b446258dbbbe)

PLANNING A ROUTE (#ulink_c80a3d19-f30c-58e8-8f5e-aa6d42f51988)

Guidebooks (#ulink_b0a9f869-9a04-5fb3-8644-f5ecf8a8c226)

Travel Logistics (#ulink_666167d1-4f85-56e7-91ff-630f2c2cce39)

Choosing Campsites (#ulink_ba6ef8bd-ce56-5181-97cc-b7c7ba514d16)

Estimating Travel Times (#ulink_1c9d95f0-aeeb-5a82-a75b-bd6ec42d2e58)

Time Control Plan (#ulink_6c4368aa-7df8-5de8-abaa-9dcbdf5ae169)

LONG-DISTANCE TRIPS (#ulink_4ffb693e-c580-5f68-8f04-3fb0ebb4074b)

Resupply Issues (#ulink_3855a8c0-ee28-5c20-9970-5ebb700890c1)

BASIC TRIP PLANNING (#ulink_cd650f7a-60f6-5004-890c-37a5039b87a4)

Planning a trip requires more than simply deciding where to go and when. Whether it’s a weekend trip with friends, a formal outdoor program, or a major expedition, you need to evaluate your trip across a number of categories and develop a solid plan. One or two people may take on the role of planner, or the process of planning can be spread out among the entire group. After planning and running trips for thousands of people both around the United States and around the world, I can tell you that these are the elements you should keep in mind when planning any trip.

GROUP SIZE AND ABILITY (#ulink_d9856904-4793-5a98-ab51-006d9d3b38e5)

Whenever you’re planning a trip, you need to determine if the route should fit the group or the group fit the route. The group may have a range of experience levels, physical conditions, and goals, in which case, your goal should be to plan a trip that is appropriate for everyone. Other times, you may have a specific trip you want to do that may be challenging or require special skills. For this kind of trip, you need to select a group that has the right qualifications to participate. Here’s a checklist of questions to ask when planning a group trip:

What kind of group is it? Is it an informal group of friends or a formal group like an outdoor education program? Are the participants friends, students, volunteers, or paying customers? Formal groups may have specific policies and protocols that must be followed.

What are the goals of each group member? Are people required to attend? (This factor can have a significant impact on how committed or not the group is to the wilderness experience.) Does the group have collective goals?

What is the experience level of each member? What is the average experience level?

Are there people in the group with the necessary skills to lead and manage the group, or do you need to find other people to provide leadership? (See “Outdoor Leadership (#litres_trial_promo).”)

How big is the group?

What is the age range of group members?

What is the physical condition of each member? What is the average physical condition of the group?

Do people have particular health issues that could impact their participation?

Determine the level of experience, physical ability, etc., as much as possible before you set out. This will enable you to plan a smoother and more successful trip. More important, it will diminish the potential for dangerous situations. (See “Safety and Emergency Procedures (#litres_trial_promo).”) Keep the group’s parameters in mind as you evaluate the other categories, thinking in terms of both optimal challenge and safety. Be aware that you will often have a great range of experience levels and physical abilities, so plan the trip at a level that will be fun, educational, challenging, and safe for everyone. Think about the high end and the low end of the experience level and physical condition, and err in the direction of the low end. Gathering physical fitness and basic health information will help you determine different abilities and experience levels (for a sample form, see page (#litres_trial_promo)).

Group Dynamics

How are costs going to be handled—equipment, food, transportation, permits, etc.? If you have to buy gear, who keeps it after the trip? It’s really important to work these things out before the trip, otherwise serious tensions can arise later.

How will leadership be handled during the trip? (See “Safety and Emergency Procedures (#litres_trial_promo),” and “Outdoor Leadership (#litres_trial_promo).”)

ACTIVITIES (#ulink_b91679ff-85f9-556a-83c8-b81286842d60)

When planning the activities for a particular trip, you need to consider the following:

What activity(ies) do you want to do on your trip (backpacking, peak climbing, and/or glacier travel, for example)?

What are the goals for the trip?

What skills will people need? Do they already have the skills, or do they need to learn them?

How do you integrate time for teaching skills with time for traveling?

Once you’ve evaluated the group members’ abilities, you can adapt your goals to an appropriate level. Plan activities that will be both appropriately challenging and safe. Be aware of how mileage, elevation change, and time for teaching and learning skills will affect your route (see “Estimating Travel Times (#ulink_1c9d95f0-aeeb-5a82-a75b-bd6ec42d2e58),”). Start easily and increase the level of difficulty gradually so that everyone can be progressively challenged at appropriate levels, rather than placing someone in a situation that is beyond their abilities.