How do you plan your trip?

[rlown]

Indeed,

Before GPS, i did map and compass. My Glen Aulin/cold mountain map was taped several times during numerous trips there (before fish removal.) With my garmin rhino 530, i can double-check rather quickly if i'm on path and refute others with me about where we really are. (i carry the rhino as it has the radio feature. on my trips we all carry radios)

I never have the gps on when hiking, unless off-trail. it's completely unreliable unless i strap it up near my head. I haven't figured out yet to meld it to my shoulder strap, without it bouncing around as i hike.

So, long story short, i use both. I preplan on Garmin Mapsource, project onto google earth as a test, replan and re-project. I bought the software, and others might be more comfortable with the topos (i was 15 years ago). With Google Earth i can actually almost walk my trip, find cliffs and avoid them, or other opportunities for a shorter off-trail, and i absolutely love it.

Russ

[TehipiteTom]

Well, that's the thing about backpacking: there's only one right way to do it, which is the way that's right for any given person. My own preference is to test and develop my routefinding abilities without the aid of newfangled gizmos.

Of course, the Sierra spoil us--the landscape is open enough and distinctive enough that people like me can get away with a no-gizmo policy. In the situation Buck describes, I agree that a GPS really would be extremely useful.

[hikerduane]

I'm glad to hear much wiser folk than I, don't use a compass either. Ya can't get too lost, the trail is thatta way, the highway is over there, so forth. Well, until a low cloud rolled in that one time.

[dave54]

Depends on the trip.

If it is local and I know the area I may not even consult a map. The big 'destination' trips I will use paper topos, on line topos, topo software, NF visitor maps, and research on line. If I can get an older map I will look at that also, as sometimes older maps will show features omitted from current editions.

After all my planning is done and I arrive, as often as not the planned route is discarded and I wing it.

[markskor]

"After all my planning is done and I arrive, as often as not the planned route is discarded and I wing it."
A plan after my own heart. I cannot tell you how many times that this same thing has happened to me too...starting out at the trailhead for a 10 day trip and finding myself two days later on a different trip/route entirely...or just sitting at some high lake for three days and foregoing the rest of the "best laid plans" so thoroughly devised months earlier. Such is backpacking.
Glad to hear that somebody else thinks the same.

[dave54]

Yeah. For the lack of better term: serendipity hiking.

Some of my current favorite 'secret spots' are idyllic treasures I accidently stumbled across on an unplanned cross-country shortcut.

[hikerduane]

Hey Dave, ever hear of a small lake N/NW of you, that is full of neon fish? On one of my weekend rambles, I was xc hiking and came across this small lake full of them.

[dave54]

Haven't heard of anything like that. Do you mean neon tetras, the tropical fish? I would think it's too cold for them.

The Caribou Wilderness has around 600 lakes. But most are too shallow and dry up in drought years.

[hikerduane]

They reminded me of the ones we sold in the dime store.

[markorr]

Glad to hear that I'm not the only Luddite that doesn't own a GPS. From the way Backpacker mag is written you'd think we'd all be lost without one. I do however use my altimeter watch quite a bit in conjunction with a topo. The compass is pretty much reserved for settling disputes over the names of various peaks. As for trip planning I use the _Trekking California_ guide by Paul Richins as a starting point since it includes a lot of off trail suggestions and then look at the maps to see what else is cool in the area. This will only be our third summer in the Sierras so we're still hitting all the known favorites.

Speaking of Backpacker mag, what are people's thoughts on it? I used to really enjoy it, now I find it pretty sophomoric, other than the recent "lifelist trips" issue. Even the annual Gear Guide was a letdown this year. I'm thinking of letting my subscription expire.