Plan Ahead & Prepare
Backcountry travel can be a whirlwind of excitement and worry. How can an intrepid traveler be expected to keep their crew safe and minimize their impact on the environment? Don't let these thoughts chafe your ever-expanding travel brain. We're here to share our experiences to help you get your adventure game tight.
February 28th, 2020 - 10 backpackers set out on a 10-mile trek into Death Valley National Park. This magical desert landscape did not become a national park until 1994. It's the largest national park in the contiguous United States, with 3.4 million acres. And if those facts weren't enough to quench your fact thirst, the park is home to the endangered Salt Creek pupfish (found only in Death Valley National Park), the lowest point in North America, and the hottest recorded temperature on Earth!
The goal of the backpacking trip was to clean up the remains of an illegal marijuana grow site. These types of gardens are an ongoing problem in public lands across America and are devastating to ecosystems by wreaking havoc on the land and wildlife. The group was excited to be assisting on a critical mission to keep nature rad.
Sadly, the group did not accomplish the trip. The route to the grow site was a tough 10-mile off-trail traverse ascending 4,000 feet on a fully exposed ridge, and it was hot. When planning a backcountry trek in the arid desert, sun protection, hydration, and experience are essential in having a safe and successful journey. There was a point when we knew the group did not adequately plan ahead and prepare well to make the trek. For the safety of everyone, the group leader decided to turn around at the halfway point. It was the right decision. Here are some tips to help you plan ahead and prepare for your outdoor adventure.
Sun Protection: Consider wearing a combination of sunscreen, sun shirt, hat, and sunglasses.
Water: The amount of water an individual needs to stay hydrated varies depending on factors like environmental conditions, physical effort, and sweat rate. A general rule of thumb is to consume about 1 liter per hour. If you wait until you're thirsty to drink, you're already dehydrated. How much water you take depends on whether or not there are water sources along the trail. However, for this trip, we would have recommended at least 1.5 liters of water per hour due to no water sources, sun exposure, high temperature, and elevation gain. Another rule of thumb is to assume it will take roughly 1 hour to travel 2 miles; again, this depends on multiple factors but is a good average for a backpacking adventure. Therefore, traveling 10 miles would equate to a total of 7.5 liters (give or take), which is about 17 pounds of water.
The group’s main mistake was water. A couple of participants tried to reduce the weight of their packs by skimping on water. As a consequence, they did not have enough water to stay hydrated in the continually beating desert sun. With no water source or reprieve from the sun until the destination, we could not safely continue the project.
Learn from the group's blunders and think about the following elements when you plan and prepare for a trip:
Gain knowledge of the area: weather, terrain, flora, and fauna
Determine suitable gear and clothing for trip location and activities
Assess the ability and skills of trip participants
Ensure each individual has a full understanding of the trip details
Check how much water each participant has packed to ensure it’s enough for the trip
Many factors go into planning ahead and preparing for any adventure; learn more Leave No Trace knowledge at lnt.org and follow us, Trashy Trail Runners, on FB or Instagram. Explore safely and responsibly!
