Length of Backpacking Trip

rockclimbing_n_rappelling · 01-10-2012, 02:39 PM

When you take a backpacking trip, how long do you backpack for? We have some vacation time built up and are considering backpacking. We were thinking maybe 4 days and 3 nights. We're just curious to see how everyone else does it!

catspa · 01-10-2012, 03:20 PM

4 days is a nice trip, depends on the terrain and distance. You could always add a day of camping before or after, take a hot shower and relax.

Parker

Grandpa · 01-10-2012, 03:22 PM

You have two choices, find a hike that corresponds to how many days available you have or take enough days to do the hike you want to do.

My backpacking ranges from overnight to two weeks. Both ends are very rare, though, as most of my hikes are either 2-3 nights or 6-7 nights, but not many people have the time available like I do for those longer hikes.

A granddaughter wants to do a certain Yellowstone hike next summer. I have been working up her itinerary today. She has 5 days available for the hike. Since she is bringing some inexperienced friends I am keeping the mileage in the 6 per day area. Her friends are inexperienced but college athletes so I'm certain they can handle that mileage. To fill her 5 days, I had to find some side diversions for them. I added a side trip on the last night to another large scenic waterfall with thermal springs nearby for a night soak.

You really need to plan your itinerary the same way. Know your mileage range, know all the most interesting diversions along the route and give yourself a little leeway at the end in case you are slowed down somewhere along your route. In my granddaughters case, they can bypass that last night if necessary and still get back to school on the right day. Nothing worse than coming to that last day with 20 miles still to go and you gotta be to work the next day.

Refrigerator · 01-10-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockclimbing_n_rappelling

When you take a backpacking trip, how long do you backpack for? We have some vacation time built up and are considering backpacking. We were thinking maybe 4 days and 3 nights. We're just curious to see how everyone else does it!

This will work....

Barney · 01-11-2012, 05:11 AM

2 nights and 3 days. This is the perfect measure for me and people around me. But I have hard core friends who are into much longer trips, so...

Lorax · 01-11-2012, 05:53 AM

I rarely get a chance to do a trip longer than 2-3 days anymore due to work. Many of my trips are sad little overnighters actually.
I like the trips in the 3-5 night range. I'll go out longer if I can and have gone on some really long hikes, but life right now doesn't allow for much.
Four days and three nights sounds great.

ppine · 01-11-2012, 10:54 AM

Backpacking can be tiring after about 5 days. A great trip can be had in 4 days. My longer trips have been with boats and pack strings, partly because it is possible to bring more stuff.

edit- Grandpa, I would be careful about taking inexperienced young people into the backcountry of Yellowstone. I trust your judgement, but it would seem that easier country would be a good idea.

ponderosa · 01-11-2012, 12:40 PM

Four days sounds just right for a first trip. Long enough to really have a good backcountry experience, not too long in case someone ends up not liking it. My favorite trip length is about a week, but I'll take a simple overnighter if that's all I can get.

Gunny Webb · 01-11-2012, 11:46 PM

Overnighters to 5 days. Usually 2 to 3 nights.

For a first trip, have you considered finding a campground and doing multiple day hikes? I go to the smokies in August and stay 4-5 nights and do several day hikes, very nice break from the Alabama heat.

IndianaHiker · 01-12-2012, 10:22 AM

My last trip was a lot of fun. Drove into the back county in Tennessee. Single lane fire road for about 15 miles or so off the beaten path. Then hike in about 6 or 7 miles set up base camp and spent three days doing day hikes from there. This works out nice as not gearing any more gear than you need for the day when hiking for the most part however still remote enough that you don't have to put up with the noise and people at a camp ground. Another added benefit after day hiking about 10 miles each day and eating dinner at camp the hike out was easier as a lot of the weight of that you carry in was consumed so the trip out was easier.