Hiking and Backpacking - Planning Your Route

Once the weather starts to cool off, the bugs are taking a break, and the leaves start to change, it's my time to hike and backpack.

Back packing is traveling with all accommodations on your back and walking a mile or more to get to your secluded campsite. It's the most private way to camp.

I'm the kind of person who needs some quiet time with nature. Being cooped up inside all week long for months on end can really drive me crazy.

I've got a few trips ready for the month of October and hoping to do one more in November before the snow hits. 

There is a bit of planning that goes into this...

1. When is the trip?

I work during the week so weekends are my only option. Some Fridays I can leave early, which gives me an extra hour and a half. I usually only plan for 1 overnight stay and a day hike before heading home.

Keeping in mind that the sun will set, I need to ensure I can make it to my campsite before sunsets. My destination should be no farther than an hour away if I leave early after work.

Just to be safe, I google when the sun sets on the day I'm traveling. 

2. Getting Directions - 

I look up the location and save it to Google Maps. I also find an official map of the par, print it, and circle my main check points.

I note where the entrance is, where the trail head begins, and my destination.
Be sure to bring a compass.

3. Packing -
When you backpack, you've got to carry everything on your back for miles. Packing less is more. You don't often need as much as you think. A backpack that is fully packed up, should weigh no more than 20 percent of your total body weight. That means, my back pack can only weigh around 23lbs total.

I separate my backpack content into categories; Wearing, Required and Luxury items. Everyone has their own comforts. I tend to knock the luxury items first.
Here is my list:

Wearing
Hair Tie
Long Sleeve Shirt
Undershirt
Jacket
Under Leggings
Pants
Long Thick Hiking Socks
Under garments
Hiking Boots

Required
Backpack
Water Bag
Water bottle (Empty, used for getting extra water for cooking)
Tent
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Bag
Dried Food Packs
Waste Bag
Cooking supplies (compressed pot and burner with fuel)
Head Lamp
Phone Fully Charged (emergency use only)
First Aid Kit
Compass
Park Map
Female Funnel
Pee bottle (I don't leave the tent after dark, too much work)

Luxury
Tiny tooth brush
Tiny tooth paste
Tiny hair brush
Tissues
Change of Socks/Under garments
Notebook
Compressed Pillow
Camera

This seems like a lot, when you list it all out. But most of my equipment is made to be lightweight and compact. For example, my sleeping bag is 2 lbs and withstand temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This efficiency often comes with a price (around $300 or more). There are even better sleeping bags than the ones I have.

It all comes down to total weight. It's recommended that my pack only weighs 23lbs. I choose to inherent some of the extra weight from chosen luxury items.

I'm still very new to this, having only backpacked a total of 5 times. Each time I go, I try to keep track of the things I didn't use, and what I wished I could have brought.