Skills and Equipment for Backcountry
Travel
Are
Special Skills or Devices Needed?
The ability
to read a topographic map and use a compass are the most
essential skills. We provide topo maps as a PDF download
for each hike, with the trails clearly marked. Where there
is no official trail, GPS waypoints are given, both on the
topo map and as a GPX download file. With advanced map
reading skills, a GPS unit may not be strictly needed, but
it’s wise to have one along and know how to use it.
When driving
and hiking in remote areas, we also recommend that each
group carry an emergency satellite locater unit, such as
a satellite messenger or a personal locator beacon
(PLB) — and know
how to use it. As cell phone service is almost never
available, these units provide insurance and peace of
mind in case of a vehicle breakdown or a serious injury
in a remote location.
The most important travel skill, however, is accurate
self-knowledge.
Knowing your own limitations and always staying within them
is essential. In any situation, if strong
doubts arise about your skills, your equipment, the health
of anyone in your group, the weather or the road
conditions, it’s smart not to press forward. The old adage,
“discretion is the better part of valor,” is particularly
true for backcountry travel!
Best
Method for Camping and Traveling?
If your
primary interest is day hiking, the best arrangement is
to
have your camping setup separate from your travel
vehicle.
This allows you to establish yourself at a particular
camping spot (whether in a tent on the ground, a tent
trailer or small travel trailer), then have your vehicle
free to drive to the trailheads. If you don’t mind breaking
down your campsite each morning before driving to the
trailhead, then a pickup camper, camper van or small RV may
also work — but these can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Options
for Camping on Public Land?
Developed
campgrounds are found on nearly all lands
managed by the Forest Service, but in only a few
backcountry areas managed by the BLM. These feature
designated campsites, picnic tables, fire rings, vault
toilets — plus, they may supply drinking water — all for a
small fee. In addition, the USFS and BLM maintain smaller
and more remote
forest or desert camps, which rarely have designated
campsites, or drinking water or charge a fee — but
will always have a vault or pit toilet.
Finally, a third option is
dispersed camping, which means camping anywhere
on Forest Service or BLM lands outside of a developed
campground, at no fee. This can be a good choice in remote
areas (sometimes the only choice), especially if you're
properly prepared and have the right camping equipment.
However, there are a few official rules:
• You must supply your own water, sanitation and trash
disposal.
• Avoid camping within 100 feet of any stream, lake or
water source.
• Don't camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow (make
your campsite less visible).
• Camp within 150 feet of an existing roadway.
• Camp in a previously used spot, if possible.
• Avoid building new fire rings.
• Use only dead or downed wood for campfires.
• Use your own portable toilet, especially at heavily-used
sites.
• Pack out all of your own trash.
What
about Sanitation at Dispersed Campsites?
It depends on
the camping context. Ideally, all dispersed campers would
use a portable toilet and be entirely responsible
for their own human waste. This is most critical at
dispersed campsites that are heavily used, say,
receiving 4 or more visits per year. Burying your waste
in a "cat hole" here just isn't responsible — as coyotes
will likely dig it up anyway. However, this practice can
be perfectly acceptable at other dispersed campsites
that are very rarely or never used.
Is
a Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle Needed?
Generally, no, if you're traveling during the June through
September hiking season, after the roads have dried out.
However, a high clearance vehicle (SUV, pickup or passenger
car) is strongly recommended. The primary roads on federal
lands are usually very good (often paved or graded gravel)
and these can be driven with any vehicle. But the dirt
secondary roads that lead to remote trailheads occasionally
have stretches of deep ruts or exposed rocks that require
high clearance.
If you
already have four-wheel drive, though, it can be good
insurance — provided you use it wisely. In our experience,
it's best to stay in two-wheel drive exclusively, up until
you start losing traction or getting into trouble.
Then,
switch to four-wheel drive only to get out of
trouble. If
you get your vehicle stuck while using four-wheel drive, it
usually means you're already well beyond self-recovery.
Though 4-wheel drive is optional, good quality tires are
not. Since 90% of backcountry driving is on gravel or dirt
roads with exposed rocks, it’s essential to have durable
tires in good condition.
We recommend at least 6-ply tires, on both your main vehicle and
any trailer. Even on well-graveled primary roads, 4-ply
passenger car tires can break down quickly — especially on
recently graded roads with freshly exposed, sharp rocks.
Other
Essential Equipment for Backcountry
Travel?
This safety gear should always be stashed in your vehicle
on every trip:
• Extra Water (we plan on 3 gallons/person/day when remote
camping)
• Extra Gas (a steel 5-gallon can)
• Small Chain Saw (for clearing deadfall trees on remote
forest roads)
• Shovel
• Axe
• High-lift or Hydraulic Jack
• Portable 12-volt Jump Starter and Air Compressor
• Jumper Cables
• Nylon Tow Strap
• First Aid Kit
• Basic Repair Kit (tape, epoxy glue, wire, etc.)
• Spare vehicle belts, electrical fuses, etc.
• Spare Tire (fully inflated!)
• Tool box, with basic mechanic’s tools
Page
last updated: 12/16/13