Andrew Skurka's Blog, page 11

Tips: How to buy backpacking gear

Consider this a handy introductory guide to buying backpacking gear, with the emphasis on how to buy instead of what to buy. I’ll discuss the ethos of buying gear and the kind of mindset you should try to get into before purchasing anything, as well as the kind of traps you should avoid. 

My personal experience

Over the years I’ve spent an obscene amount of money on gear. I’ve also fixed, modified, and resold lots of it too. More on that in another post.

Luckily, there’s so much information online now, so if you have the time you can figure out what gear is probably best for you before you buy anything. Your backpacking style, the conditions you will likely encounter, and your existing or anticipated skill set should all drive your decisions.

You can get a lot of great gear that’s lightly used or, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, perhaps you can even modify something ‘off the rack’ to perfectly fit your needs. 

First step: Take inventory

Before making any purchases, honestly answer these questions:

What is the state of your gear? Are you dialed in, starting from scratch, or somewhere in between?

What do you really need? What do you need now, and what can wait?

And of course: What’s your budget?

Helpful guidelines1. It’s the journey, not the destination

If you’re just getting started, don’t break the bank buying all the stuff on every “Best Backpacking Gear of 2021” post. Rent, borrow and buy things that you can return if they just don’t work for you. Once you have the basics, you can refine your kit over time as you figure out what does/does not work for you. 

2. Avoid “Perfect Pack Syndrome”

This is a real thing, trust me. If you find yourself obsessing over the excruciating minutiae of your pack list, take a step back. There are so many bottomless rabbit holes you can go down with gear that simply aren’t worth it. Focus on getting the big stuff first, and accept when something is ‘good enough’. 

3. Don’t spend money on stuff you really don’t need

Like most retail products, you can get “good” backpacking gear for a relatively reasonable price. But for “the best” gear, you must pay significantly more, and most backpackers don’t backpack often enough to justify that steep price hike. As an example, you’d be very happy with the $359 sil-nylon version of this shelter, and you’d have an extra $340 in your pocket by bypassing the DCF version.

4. Beware of “Shiny New Object Syndrome”

When you encounter a longtime backpacker, notice that a lot of their gear is older and perhaps even discontinued. Yet they continue to use it because it still works well and because the newer models are only marginally better (maybe). You’re unlikely to see one of them spring for new JetBoil Stash if they already have a Pocket Rocket Deluxe, for example.

5. Price per weight savings

It makes sense to spend money in order to drop weight from big-ticket items like shelters, bags, packs, and pads. But at some point the bell curve flattens out and you’ll pay way more to drop each additional ounce. It’s rarely worth it unless you get out a lot and can justify the expense. 

6. Learn to spot good (and bad) online advice

There is a lot of good educational content out there. But there is also a LOT of noise, especially about gear.

Learn the difference between a helpful article and an affiliate revenue-driven listicle designed to make money off your clicks. 

7. Create modular systems

There’s a lot to be said for assembling modular systems. Just like you layer clothing to adjust to conditions, all your gear should aim to be multi-purpose too. Shelters with interchangeable inners or tent flys based on conditions, pads you can stack on top of one another, sleeping bags you can layer for different temperatures, packs with removable storage pockets/features, etc. 

8. What offers the best “performance per…”

Weight isn’t everything. There are lots of examples of stupid light gear choices we’ve all made, so learn from other people’s mistakes. Similarly, you can buy gear that proves to be stupid cheap or stupid disposable.

Online resources

There are a lot of gear-related resources on the internet, and this list is by no means exhaustive. These are just some of the sites I visit the most and have proven to be helpful, in addition to the one you’re currently visiting. 

AdventureAlan.comCleverHiker.comBackpackingLight.comSectionHiker.comreddit.com/r/UltralightBackcountry.comMoosejaw.comCampsaver.comoutdoorgearlab.comBuying used gear or last seasons styles 

Luckily, some of the biggest brands are catching on to the demand for a used gear market, and there are more and more ways to buy used gear popping up every day. Here are just a few: 

REI Garage Sales

This (pre-covid) happens a few times a year at most REI locations where you can browse lightly used gear for big discounts. They may, or may not, return at some point. Personally, I never really found them that helpful. It’s all online these days:

REI Outlet (last seasons styles-HUGE deals!)REI Used Gear Arcteryx Used Gear Patagonia Worn Wear The BackPacking Light gear swap has been around for a long time and is one of the most common places to buy/sell/trade used gear. I’ve used it dozens of times without any issues. Reddit ULGearTradeCraigslist.com – Buyer beware. Lwhiker.com – This was referred to me by my colleague @fitformiles Brandon Chase. It basically searches all the sites for specific products. Looks promising! The selection of packs at REICottage Industry vs. REI

You’ve no doubt seen the same 5-10 cottage manufacturers popping up in many of the Top 10’ lists‘. Is it worth waiting 10-14 weeks for a custom product from them? It depends.

Five years ago, I would have been more bullish on cottage brands, but the bigger companies and REI have narrowed the gap considerably. You can walk into any REI tomorrow and assemble a very respectable off-the-rack UL kit. Here are the Pros vs. Cons: 

REI:+Many locations+Easy, fast online ordering +That return policy! +Dividends!+Top brands+Great classes-Limited selection Cottage brands:+Higher performing gear (DCF, XPac, Robic, eVent, Litesail, 7D nylon, etc.)+More interesting products +Customization (great for those who know exactly what they want)-Potentially long lead times (10-14 weeks!)-Less forgiving return policies (or non-returnable)What items should you invest in first? 

The internet will tell you to focus on these things first, and I generally agree: 

ShelterSleeping BagSleeping PadBackpack

You can save HUGE amounts of weight and up your backcountry experience considerably by getting dialed in on these categories. It can cost you though…. For a world-class ‘Big 4’, you can pay between $1,500-$1,900. Don’t stress though,  you can also get a very respectable kit for around $600 if you play your cards right and shop around. 

Tier 2StovePuffy JacketRain GearGPS watchSatellite communicator (InReach/SPOT/Zoleo)Hopefully, you already have these things figured out Shoes Pants/shortsShirtHatSunglassesPolesStuff sacksREI has a pretty good selection of sleeping bags, including quilts now. A note on sleep quality

Don’t skimp on the gear that will help you sleep well. Sleep is simply too important, especially if you’re pushing yourself physically. The last thing you want is to be tossing and turning on an uncomfortable mattress or shivering in an inadequate sleeping bag. Quality sleep is worth the money, and the weight (to a reasonable point).

Footwear considerations

Footwear is incredibly personal, so figure out what works best for your feet. It doesn’t matter what other people wear if they give you blisters or cause you to roll your ankles. Try as many pairs on as you can until you’re confident you have a winner based on the style of hiking you’ll be doing. 

Parting ThoughtsHave patience: Wait for sales, or try and get it used. Don’t get sucked into consumerism traps. Knowledge is gear too. Take some classes so you’re better prepared. Research pays off in the end. Quality gear is an investment. Ask yourself: “Where am I going to use this *most* of the time?”The fitter you are, the lighter your gear will feel. Don’t skimp on quality sleep.Avoid going ‘stupid light’. The most important piece of gear is Your brain. Invest in educating yourself. What tips and tricks do you have for buying gear? Leave a comment.

The post Tips: How to buy backpacking gear appeared first on Andrew Skurka.

Video tutorial: Research historical temperature & precipitation data

In a recent post on my favorite resources for researching the conditions that I will likely encounter on a backpacking trip, I plugged the Environmental Centers for Environmental Information, which tracks temperature and precipitation data for thousands of locations throughout the United States.

It’s an extremely helpful website, but it can be difficult to navigate and find the data that you want. To help, I put together a quick-and-dirty video tutorial, below. One day I might get fancy with my YouTube channel, but at least today you got bedhead and a day-old t-shirt.

To get to my starting screen on the NCEI website (at 0:35), click here.

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In celebration of Oden

In late-November I tried calling Dr. Jason Cordeiro to schedule an at-home euthanasia appointment for Oden, our beloved 17 year-old orange tabby cat. I couldn’t hold myself together long enough to leave a coherent voice message, so we confirmed over text a date for the following week.

But Oden bounced back before that dreaded day — his UTI cleared up, his appetite returned, and he went for walks with me around the neighborhood again. So Amanda and I postponed, knowing that we were delaying the inevitable but thrilled that we’d have more time to love on, cuddle with, and adore our fur baby.

Even knowing that Oden was on borrowed time, today I’m no more emotionally prepared or hardened than I was three months ago. So tomorrow morning when I reschedule the appointment with Dr. Cordiero, I plan to skip the phone call and just text him.

If you’re reading this, that appointment has happened and our time together has expired.

I wanted to rightfully celebrate Oden here, as an honor to him, as a cathartic exercise for me, and perhaps as a courtesy to you — for years he’s been meowling on my Instagram feed, photo-bombing product reviews, and talked about lovingly on guided trips. I know that he has a few fans out there. If I waited until afterwards, I think it’d be weeks or months before I could realistically sit down with a box of Kleenex, ignore temporarily my deep mourning, and share my favorite stories, habits, and qualities of his.

Not wanting to let goSly comes home

Oden was born in the summer of 2003 and somehow made it to Denver Dumb Friends League, where Amanda (then 26 years-old) and her ex-husband Billie had window-shopped but found only a great name, Odin, a revered Norse god.

Billie kept tabs on DFL and headed over when the next litter of kittens arrived. As most twenty-something males would, he took an interest in the runt who was terrorizing his siblings, thinking this playfulness would make for more fun (but perhaps not realizing that this would translate into more household destruction, too).

“You mean Sly?” asked the adoption specialist.

Billie misspelled “Oden” on the adoption paperwork and called Amanda on his way home, saying he had a “surprise.” Amanda could hear meowing in the background and rushed out of her office. She reports that it was love at first sight.

Mom and her fur babyAdolescence

I was not around for Oden’s first seven years, but I’ve seen evidence and heard stories from that era. He was an energetic and agile kitten who demanded attention, or who was forced to self-entertain since Amanda was working two jobs to stay afloat and since Billie was increasingly absent and then gone all together.

When Amanda and I first met, every single electrical cord in Amanda’s house (for her curling iron, television, computer, power strips, phone chargers, etc.) had been gnawed on, as well as all her purse straps. Her fabric-covered storage cubes had been shredded. And she had a graveyard of broken lamps, ceramic trinkets, and Christmas ornaments. On a regular basis Oden would leave by Amanda’s bedside song birds that he’d snatched from their third-story condo balcony.

Caught chewing electrical cords, an assured attention-getter. Notice the metal duct tape as an extra barrier of defense.His turf

Amanda and I met in November 2010, about two months after I finished the Alaska-Yukon Expedition. After our third date, Amanda and I returned to her place, a cute two-bedroom house in Park Hill, where I finally met Oden.

Up to that point, Amanda had barely mentioned Oden — intentionally, she revealed later, as she was not wanting to come off as a cat-obsessed divorcee. So their closeness was mostly unknown to me.

Oden was scowling at me from atop the refrigerator, one of his safe spaces, but I wanted to impress Amanda with my overinflated cat whispering skills. After letting him sniff my hand I thought we could graduate to some ear-rubbing, but Oden wanted nothing to do with it: He clamped onto my hand with both front claws and his teeth, and gave me a three-inch gash across my palm as I pulled away. Amanda felt terrible about it, though in fairness she did warn me.

In his agile primeTwo-person cat

I was understandably wary of Oden thereafter. But I was also around him more often, allowing us to establish trust. He came to realize that I could offer body heat, calories, outside access, and companionship; and I learned how to pet, hold, and care for him without being attacked again.

Over time Oden became a full-fledged two-person cat — I became as important to him as Amanda was.

Our relationships were different though. Amanda was his mom — his default caregiver, chief protector, and most reliable snuggler — whereas I had had more of a BFF or free-range father role. I let him walk the neighborhood; I sneaked bacon into his food when Amanda wasn’t looking; most Saturdays I cuddled up with him for a post-long run cat nap; and I filled his 9-5 void while Amanda was at work.

Totally smitten and obsessedNicknames

Oden was a good choice of names, but that didn’t stop us from having others:

Odie, OdorsKittenBFF, Bud, Buddy, Bubba, BugabooPeanut, Pumpkin, NuggetSweet Pea, Sweet BoyLove Bug, Honey ManStinker, Stinky, Monster, Brat, Old ManPrinceBlue Screen (of Death, a Microsoft reference)

That’s twenty-one!

His caterpillar poseAn outdoor cat at heart

In another house Oden may have opted to become a full-time outdoor cat. But we incentivized him to stay inside with 24/7 service.

Still, he had to scratch that itch. The most common solution was a walk, though not a traditional dog-style walk. I learned that if I just let him out the front door, he’d rarely leave the courtyard, distracted by the native grasses that he liked to eat (and later throw up). But if I carried him 200 yards away to the edge of our community open space, he’d walk all the way back, predictably enough we’ve done it leash-less for years now.

The neighbors may have thought this all was strange, but I didn’t care — he loved it, and often shared his enthusiasm with a loud trill.

On warm summer days, he used the backyard skyline trolley that I constructed for him. But as he aged he was content with watching the world go by from our sunny front porch.

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Energy conservation

I know that cats are warm-blooded, but Oden’s behavior suggested the opposite, as he took to immediately to anything that would help him stay warm. His favorites were microwave-heated corn bags, dryer-heated blankets, our gas fireplace, the sun, and of course the bodies of his two people (ideally tucked into an armpit or crotch, not coincidentally the warmest parts). But he was not discriminatory — if he had the opportunity, he’d plop himself in front of a space heater, sprawl out across sun-warmed asphalt, and sit on the stove-top when the oven was on.

In his mind, warmth from other sources was a right, not a privilege. With pitiful crying and puppy dog eyes, the nine-pound tyrant regularly forced Amanda or me to assume the position on the couch or the bed, as if we had nothing else to do. He would even try to will the sun to move more quickly if it wasn’t on his timeline.

Contact with a warm object was great, but burrowing under blankets with one was even better. Often he’d start on the top of the blankets, and when he wanted to go underneath he’d paw at them or just start whining. He couldn’t talk our language, but his signaling was just as clear.

One of his favorite winter spots — in his bed in front of the fireplace. #toebeansCreature of habit

You could set a clock and turn the pages of a wall calendar based on Oden’s daily and seasonal routines.

This winter his days have started around daybreak, when he meowls and walks laps across the bed until one of us gets up and feeds him. He looks longingly at the bedroom door until enough food plates have been delivered, and then settles under the covers in Amanda’s lap.

A few minutes before 9 AM, I put in the dryer his “bed” — consisting of a comforter, fleece blanket, and Amanda’s baby blanket — and in the microwave for 2.5 minutes a homemade corn bag. Then I scoop him from Amanda’s lap while she contours and fluffs his bed (atop our bed). Half the time I can lay him back down exactly as I picked him up, and on the other mornings he wiggles out of my arms because his bed can’t wait any longer.

Around 11 AM he emerges to eat and move to the fireplace. Two hours later he finds sunshine in the front window. And by 4 PM he is begging for a lap on the couch. A predictable sequence continues through the evening.

His exact day-to-day routine varied with the season. In another few weeks, he’d start spending the afternoon in my office, into which the sun pours mid-March through mid-September. A month after that he’d start getting a morning sunbathing session in the bedroom. And sometime in October he’d rediscover the same sunny mid-day spot by the front door.

In my desk drawer, for years his go-to mid-day sleeping spotHuman food

Oden could not be trusted around human food, especially in his youth when countertops were part of his domain. His all-time favorite was chicken pot pie, which had four of his favorite ingredients: chicken, butter, carbohydrates, and salt.

He liked to lick Pirate’s Bootie, Cheeze-Its, and potato chips; he’d wake up from a deep sleep if a metal spoon clinked an ice cream bowl; and he always tried to steal bacon off the breakfast table when we weren’t looking.

Unaware of his penchant for sweet and savory foods, my mother once left a pan of brownies to cool on the counter top, then joined us in the backyard. Within ten minutes, he’d found them and licked off most of the top.

In another episode, he found a three-ounce can of cooling bacon grease on the window sill, and lapped down one-third of it before Amanda and I noticed his absence and ran into the kitchen.

Nachos, not his favorite, but he stuck around for the companyThose looks

I may be biased, but Oden was a handsome feline, with a perfect cat face, symmetric coloring, and long body. His expressive eyes conveyed his mood: loving, sleepy, alert, scowling, or judging.

That worked to his advantage, because it was impossible to stay mad at him. He treated our sofa like a scratching post; put puke stains on most of our throw rugs; and behaved terribly at night, especially when he got older (related to loss of eyesight and increased anxiety, we believe) — he’d meowl in my ear just because, wake me up 2-3 times to be fed, do stumble-filled laps across our bed with his claws out, and paw incessantly at Amanda’s face.

Family unit

If Oden was not with me and not with Amanda, usually he was going to the bathroom. When he was awake, he insisted on being near or ideally in contact with one of us; when he was asleep, he had a strong preference to be in the same room, to the degree that if he heard both our voices in another room he’d often relocate his napping location; and at bedtime, he’d stare at the doorway waiting for the final person to enter until our family unit was together.

He hated dogs, other cats, noisy people, small children, and veterinarians, and slowly came to tolerate anyone else. His loved greatly but selectively.

Waiting for one of us to join him on the couch“It’s great until it’s not”

I can’t recall another period in my life when I’ve been as emotionally wrecked. Just today, I’ve bawled while selecting a photo for a Maya Han watercolor portrait, while checking out at Petco with his final cans of food, and when he greeted us at the front door after some errands.

I’m teary-eyed just writing this. And I still have four days to go.

While consoling me during one of these sessions, Amanda — who has it even worse — acutely observed that, “It’s great until it’s not.”

For seventeen years Oden has been loved, and has loved us in return. But like most fur children (and unlike most high school seniors with whom he shares the same age), he won’t outlive his parents, putting us in the unenviable position of weighing his quality of life versus our selfishness. We finally decided that his declining eyesight, worsening arthritis, teetering balance, deteriorating appetite, occasional seizures, and constant anxiety would soon tip the scale in the wrong direction.

The wait time between that decision and his end has been the pits, and we dread the void that will be left afterwards.

But if given the choice, we’d happily do it all over again. He was a gift.

Good night, buddy.

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Template: Environmental & Route Conditions Assessment

Nineteen years ago at the start of my first real backpacking trip — an over-my-head thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail — I was simultaneously over-, under-, and mis-prepared, and had justified many decisions on the basis of what if and just in case. For example, I had three methods of purifying water but only “water-resistant” rain gear; and I’d packed a signaling mirror to flag down a helicopter, not realizing how many other hikers I’d see or how many roads I’d cross.

My trip planning was a case study in what not to do. Among other things that I failed at, I hadn’t thoroughly researched the environmental and route conditions that I would likely encounter, which made it difficult to determine exactly what gear, supplies, and skills I truly needed.

Template: Conditions assessment

My goal in sharing this template is to help you avoid the same mistakes. It includes specific prompts for each conditions category:

Climate/weatherSun & moon cyclesFootingVegetationNavigational aidsSun exposureWater availaiblityProblematic wildlifeBiting insectsRemotenessNatural hazards

To help you complete a conditions assessment, utilize some of my previous posts on this subject:

Why & how to research the conditionsSample: Conditions assessment for Yosemite in JuneMy go-to resources for conditions research

If this exercise is new to you, expect it to take several hours. Future assessments will go faster, since you’ll know where and how to look for information.

Create your own copy of this template

Start by opening this Google Doc.

If you are logged into your Google account, go to File > Make a copy. That will save a copy in your own Drive.

If you’re not logged in or if you prefer Microsoft Word, go to File > Download > Microsoft Word.

Other trip planning templates

With the posting of this template, I’ve now shared the three cornerstones of my trip planning process.

Template: Trip PlannerTemplate: Conditions Assessment (you’re here)Template: Gear List

These are living documents, updated regularly as I get deeper into the planning process. And additions or changes to one will often have repercussions for another.

Have questions or a comment about the Conditions Assessment, or need tech troubleshooting? Leave a comment below.

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Considerations when flying to a backpacking destination

If you need to travel long distances, perhaps over several days, to reach a backpacking destination, how you can assure that you’ll have all the necessary gear when you finally get there? I suggest two measures:

Choose the most appropriate method of travel, andPlan around known restrictions.The easiest & fastest option: Fly and check a bag

For faraway destinations, flying is often the fastest, least expensive, and most convenient method of travel.

If you decide to fly, consider checking your backpack as luggage because many critical items are not allowed as carry-on baggage, including but not limited to:

CramponsInsect repellent aerosolsKnife/multi-toolLiquids over 3.5oz/100ml (nut butters included)Stoves (acceptable if there is no lingering fuel or vapors)Tent stakes & polesTrekking polesTrowel

See the full list here.

Note that some items cannot be carried on or checked, including bear spray and gas canister fuel. These products must be purchased locally.

While there are instances of TSA agents allowing or overlooking some of the aforementioned items, it’s generally not worth risking critical gear on the unpredictable whims of security personnel.

If you decide to fly with these items in carry-on, which I do not recommend, arrive early and have a Plan B if you are turned away at security. Specifically, be prepared to check your bag, ship the prohibited items, or throw them away.

Most airlines charge $25-$40 each way for a checked bag, which is much cheaper than having to repurchase confiscated items later. The exception is Southwest Airlines, which allows two free checked bags for all passengers.

Although there is some risk that the airline may lose your bag en route, this can be substantially mitigated by avoiding tight airport connections and giving yourself extra time before starting your hike in case of delayed luggage arrival.

Before wrappingAfter wrappingPreparing your Pack for Checked-Bag Travel

Pack your gear so that it’s evenly distributed throughout the pack. Cover the tips of your trekking poles with cardboard covers and place inside your pack or strap securely on the exterior to avoid jostling en-route. Secure the hip belt around the pack and tighten.

From here, you have several options for transport:

Bundle your pack in plastic wrap and packing tape. This will keep everything tight, secure, and visible.Place the pack inside a large (clear) trash bag and secure with clear packing tape.Nest the pack inside a larger duffel bag that you intend to give away or dispose of upon arrival at destination.Alternatives to checking a bag

If checking a bag for your flight is completely out of the question, there are several alternatives which may or may not work given your personal situation:

Travel over land. Depending on the distance and your personal comfort, you might consider renting a car, hitching a ride from a friend, or taking a train or bus to your destination. All of these options are less hassle than flying but also significantly slower and often more expensive. 

Ship your gear ahead. If you are adamant about taking your pack as carry-on baggage, you can ship some of your gear ahead to avoid the risk of it getting taken away at the airport or your checked bag being lost in transit. If you have a small amount of gear that is prohibited to carry-on, this can be an effective strategy. Triangle tubes work best for trekking poles and other miscellaneous items, but be sure to secure them properly to avoid damage. That being said, shipping is often much more costly than checking a bag.  

Rent or purchase gear at destination. Items such as trekking poles, stoves, or bear canisters can often be rented from local outfitters or REI if the destination is popular enough to have such services. This is especially useful if you don’t already own the items and would like to try them out before purchasing your own. However, things like  insect repellent and stove fuel should be purchased upon arrival.

Leave it behind. If transporting gear via checked baggage is not an option, nor is purchasing or renting gear locally, you may choose simply not to take them. For example, you could leave your trekking poles behind if your tent doesn’t require them for setup, and you could cold soak all your meals to avoid needing a stove. While not the most practical or comfortable, it is an option for many items.  

In the end, the method of gear transportation is a personal decision and may change from one trip to another due to unique circumstances and local amenities. Be sure to consider all options and choose whichever is most fitting for your trip, comfort, and wallet. 

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Recommended listening: Roman Dial and The Backpacking Podcast

Two podcasts from the past week that may be worth your time:

Buzz Burrell interviews Roman Dial

For this week’s installment of the FKT Podcast, Buzz interviewed Roman, which makes for a lot of legend in one episode.

Roman is probably the best storyteller that I know, due to both storytelling skills and Alaska-themed content. Personally, I don’t listen to many podcasts, but this is one that I’ll sit down for.

Listen to it here.

The Backpacking Podcast

If YouTube is a regular source of backpacking information and entertainment, you probably know Jeremiah Stringer and John Kelly, two entertaining and down-to-earth hikers out of the southeast.

I was on their livestream two weeks ago, available here. It was a really fun conversation, and I look forward to being back on in the future.

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High routes and the rare Sierra Nevada red fox

The Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF) is a subspecies of red fox that has become genetically isolated since the retreat of the last ice age and is one of the rarest mammalian carnivores in North America.

High routes in the High Sierra — notably the Sierra High Route, Kings Canyon High Basin Route, and Yosemite High Route — pass directly through prime SNRF habitat:

Subalpine parklandSubalpine meadowsAlpine lakes, springs, and seepsBarren rock and talus

In Yosemite for the past decade, it’s only been detected above 9,000 feet.

This population is proposed for endangered status under the Endangered Species Act for fear of extinction. The SNRF population in Yosemite National Park and other nearby areas in the Sierra Nevada is extremely small with fewer than 76 individuals.

How high route hikers can help

Report sightings of the Sierra Nevada red fox to Yosemite Wildlife Ecologist, Sarah Stock (sarah_stock@nps.gov). Photos and coordinates are helpful.

Of the thirty detections of the SNRF in Yosemite National Park since 2014, about three-fourths have been on or near the Yosemite High Route, making these hikers a potentially valuable source of data collection.

Sierra Nevada red fox. Photo: NPS Sierra Nevada red fox. Photo: NPSIdentification

The key features that distinguish the red fox from the commonly seen coyote and gray fox are its white-tipped tail and black on the back of the ears. Coyote and gray fox have rusty colored ears and black-tipped tails.

While not a rule, red foxes often have “black socks” on their feet. Their tails are full and nearly the length of their body, while a coyote has a shorter tail, roughly a foot long.

Their fur is commonly reddish-orange but often comes in color morphs with various amounts of black (including nearly all black).

The graphics below were provided by Rocky Mountain Wild for the Colorado Corridors Project

Sierra Nevada red fox Standard gray foxCoyoteBehaviors

The Sierra Nevada red fox is unlikely to be seen — there are few of them, and they are generally reclusive. However, they can quickly become habituated, as demonstrated by one SNRF that hung around Lee Vining for a couple of weeks, sleeping on back porches and lurking around the Epic Cafe. (Thankfully, he was traced back to northern Yosemite by the following summer, per DNA testing of scat.)

If you’re lucky enough to encounter a SNRF, please do not approach or attempt to feed it. Habituation could put the SNRF at risk of becoming dependent on human food or getting struck by a vehicle.

Human/fox conflicts

Biologists are uncertain if hikers have an impact on the movement of SNRF, but one park official told me that competition from coyotes (which also move to higher elevations in the summer) probably has “a much larger impact than human hikers.”

NPS does not believe that hikers affect the breeding season. By the time the retreating snow allows hikers to return to the alpine, the SNRF breeding season should be complete and the kits should be mobile.

Game cameras

Game cameras have been installed at several high passes that are part of the Sierra High Route, Yosemite High Route, and Kings Canyon High Basin Route by the National Park Service and other groups.

Please do not disturb these cameras or the nearby rock cairn. They are part of a monitoring effort studying the presence and distribution of SNRF.

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Trip planning research: My go-to resources

A six-week hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, starting at the US-Mexico border on June 6, 2006, sounded hot and dry to me. But fifteen years ago I had no experience with southern California or deserts generally, so I didn’t know how to properly prepare my gear, supplies and skills.

What clothing, sleeping bag, and shelter should I use? What foods would be most heat-resistant, and how much water capacity should I have? And what measures could help reduce the sting of scorching mid-day temperatures?

Not knowing where else to get information, I sent questions to the PCT-L, an online email list that at the time was the premier source of news, conversation, and advice about the Pacific Crest Trail.

Ten minutes later, a member pointed me to the Western Regional Climate Center (now part of the National Centers for Environmental Information), which had what I needed. His answer did not give me the specific information for which I’d hoped, but the learned self-reliance served me better for every trip thereafter. Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

I’ve written before about the importance of researching likely conditions, and the exact conditions to research. I’ve also shared a sample conditions assessment. In this post I want to highlight the resources on which I rely most heavily and regularly.

NCEI and NWS

In the United States, historical temperature and precipitation data can be obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), specifically using the “Climate Normals 1981-2010” database.

The website could be more intuitive, but it’s functional. Read this earlier tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

NCEI is best for far-out planning. Starting 7-10 days out from a trip, switch to the National Weather Service (NWS) to better tailor your preparations, following the instructions in the same tutorial.

Screenshot of the NCEI mapping tool used to find monthly climate normalsTimeAndDate.com

For years I obtained sun and moon data from the US Navy. But it shut down this service, so now I rely on TimeAndDate.com.

Find sunrise and sunset here.

And the moon cycle here.

Sun graph for Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, which enjoys 24 hours of daylight in the summerCalTopo and GaiaGPS

CalTopo started as a desktop-first mapping platform and later launched an app. It remains dominant for at-home trip planning and map printing. Gaia GPS started as a mobile app, and built functionality into its website afterwards. Its best use is still in the field.

A subscription to both platforms is ideal. But if you want to use just one, select the platform that is strongest on your device-of-choice. Personally, I lean towards CalTopo because I plan my trips at home on my desktop computer and because I prefer paper maps in the field. If you’re more mobile-based, then Gaia GPS would be the better pick.

Both platforms will give you access to topographic maps, satellite imagery, and various other data layers (e.g. snow coverage, active and historical fires, slope aspects, and more), which can help inform your research on:

FootingVegetationNavigational aidsWater availabilitySun exposureRemotenessNatural hazards like avalanches, river fords, high altitude, wildfires, and lingering snowfields Sentinel satellite imagery of Yosemite National Park showing the snowpack in June 2019, viewed in CalTopo Screenshot of Gaia GPS website showing the NG Trails Illustrated map of Rocky Mountain National Park with the fire history overlay showing the East Troublesome Fire of 2020.Land agencies, trail associations, and public services

Information from these resources tends to be more conservative, by-the-book, and safety-minded than what you’ll find elsewhere. It’s also official or quasi-official, and it shouldn’t be discounted.

The comprehensiveness and quality of information on land agency websites varies tremendously. In general, heavily visited areas like Yellowstone get more attention than lesser known spots like Kobuk Valley. On the best maintained sites, you will find information about:

Overnight food storage regulations,Trail and trailhead descriptions,Updated trail conditions, hazards, and closuresGeneral backcountry descriptionsNatural history, including climate zones and geology

Trail associations like the Colorado Trail Foundation are another good source for official regulations and trail-tested guidance, though for a very specific backcountry experience.

Finally, there are avalanche information centers like the CAIC for most western US states. This hazard is not usually a consideration for 3-season backpacking, for anyone wandering mountainous backcountry during the winter it most definitely is.

Print and online guides

Today a handful of authoritative guidebooks are still available only in print form. Secor’s The High Sierra, Roper’s Sierra High Route, Kelsey’s Wind River Mountains, Pallister’s Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains, Allen’s Canyoneering 3, and Roach’s Colorado’s Indian Peaks come to mind. Copies of each are

But it’s a decreasing number, as online sources — like the Guthook app, AllTrails, High Sierra Topix, and my own guidebook downloads — chip away at the exclusivity of older printed content, create new backcountry experiences for a digital generation, and offer more updated (and even real-time) information.

A pre-trip perusing of these texts, maps, water charts, and datasheets will often turn up information or tips about:

FootingVegetationNavigational aidsWater availabilityProblematic wildlifeInsectsNatural hazardsForums, blogs, YouTube, and social media

Digital platforms have grown tremendously, both in their gross quantity and their output. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that today you could fully prepare for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike without looking anywhere else besides YouTube!

The downsides of everyone having a microphone are that (1) the signal-to-noise ratio is poor, and (2) the credibility of the source is not necessarily guaranteed. So consume carefully those trip reports, gear reviews, skills advice, and gear list shakedown comments.

Some channels like the JMT Facebook Group focus on a particular area, trail, or route, whereas others like r/Ultralight stay broad. Google will be your best friend in finding channels that are relevant to your itinerary.

Knowledgeable users

Online resources have made it easier and faster to research the likely environmental and route conditions on your backpacking trip. This is where I start, and it’s how I get three-fourths of the way there.

But to fill in the gaps and to confirm information that I’ve found but don’t entirely trust, I rely on direct conversations with people who have valuable first-hand information but who may not have shared what they know (or everything they know) in a public place, like about an unmapped spring, a fast game trail, a strong tidal current, or the technical difficulty of a dicey-looking pass.

Prior to past trips, I’ve called and emailed park rangers, previous hikers, experienced locals, nearby gear shops and guides, lodge owners, trail stewards and trail angels, bush pilots, village elders, postmasters, and chambers of commerce. Get creative here, and keep dialing until you learn what you need to know.

As someone who occasionally is contacted as one of these resources, I’d advise that you do some homework before making contact. I almost always respond to a well informed inquiry, but I almost never respond to someone looking for basic information that could have been answered in seconds with a Google search.

With Roman Dial at our Wolverine Creek campsite, Brooks Range, AlaskaWhat resources do you rely on most often to research trip conditions? Leave a comment.

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Last call for planning course starting Feb 22

On Friday we will be shutting down registration for Session 1 of our 9-week online planning course, which starts Monday, February 22.

If you miss this opportunity, consider Session 2 or Session 3, which start March 15 and April 12, respectively.

If the timing of these latter sessions works better for you, you can still register now.

The post Last call for planning course starting Feb 22 appeared first on Andrew Skurka.

Trip Planner Template: Stay organized & track details

In preparing for a backpacking trip, especially outings that are beyond the normal weekend getaway in a familiar place, I rely on a handful of tools that collectively help me to be more efficient and thorough in my planning efforts. Previously I’ve posted about two of the most important:

Backpacking gear list, andEnvironmental and route conditions assessment

I’d like to share a third: the Trip Planner, a single document that has two specific purposes:

1. It’s a “parking garage” for information that is otherwise scattered between books, blogs, forums, emails, and phone calls. And,

2. It provides my emergency contacts (and, God forbid, emergency dispatch) with details that would be helpful in recreating my trip and speculating about where I might be or what could have happened.

Sections

What should be in a trip planner? The major sections of mine include:

The route, including entry/exit points and an itinerary (trails, off-trail sections, destinations, camps, plus potential alternates), as well as a link to my CalTopo map or some other map of the route;Entry and exit dates, and my grace period for contacting emergency services;Group members;Contact info for emergency personnel (e.g. sheriff, NPS dispatch);Wilderness, backcountry, or campsite permit information;Travel logistics, including reservations for flights, rental cars, and lodging;Route descriptions, if there is not a single definitive guide for the itineraryPracticing what I preach

I formalized this Trip Planner tool for the guided trip and planning course curriculums. But I’ve been using it for many years, and thought I’d share two from past trips:

Alaska-Yukon Expedition (the first 25 pages out of 117), from 2010; and.Yosemite High Route, a scouting trip in 2018.Create your own Trip Planner

If you’d like to use this tool, I’m offering my template.

Start by opening this Google Doc.

If you are logged into your Google account, go to File > Make a copy. That will save a copy in your own Drive.

If you’re not logged in or if you prefer Microsoft Word, go to File > Download > Microsoft Word.

Need more trip planning help?

The first session of our Planning Course starts February 22, and additional sessions will start in March and April.

During the 9-week online course, we guide you through a comprehensive planning framework, task you with multiple assignments so that you really learn the process (instead of just passively reading about or watching it), and give feedback about all your work.

Learn more or register.

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