Four Day, Warm Weather

Backpacking ItinerariesBackpacking
Written By Jason Kolaczkowski

Sample Itinerary

Backpacking Sample Itinierary.jpg

Itinerary for Our Backpacking Trip

All itineraries need to placed into a context. The kids were five years old at the time, limiting the amount of ground we could ask them to cover on consecutive days. We were hiking in the summer, but at an altitude fluctuating between 8,400 and 10,600 feet. Most of the route followed creeks, so water sources were plentiful. The route was a 24 mile loop in designated wilderness. So, camping was allowed just about anywhere as long as you didn’t camp too near the trail or water sources and so long as you practiced Leave-No-Trace. Conditions were dry, but afternoon thunderstorms were a constant threat.

Day -1: Packing and food preparation

Day 1: Segment One

  • 2:00am - wake up; gear up; load car

  • 3:00am - drive to trailhead (breakfast in route)

  • 4:45am - arrive at trailhead, gear up

  • 5:00am -begin backpacking (~4.5mi)

  • 11:00am - make first pass (~10,600’); lunch

  • 12:00pm - backpacking to camp (~1.5mi)

  • 1:00pm - set camp (~9,800 ft)

  • 2:00-4:00pm - free time

  • 4:00pm - start dinner

  • 5:00pm - story time

  • 5:30pm - free time

  • 7:30pm - “lights out”

Day 2: Segment Two

  • 6:30am - wake up; gear up

  • 7:00am - start breakfast

  • 8:00am - break camp

  • 9:00am -begin backpacking (~1mi)

  • 10:00am - make second pass (~10,100’)

  • 12:00pm - backpacking to lunch spot (~2mi); lunch

  • 12:30pm - backpacking to camp (~3mi)

  • 3:30pm - set camp (~9,800 ft)

  • 4:30-5:30pm - free time

  • 5:30pm - start dinner

  • 7:00pm - story time

  • 7:30pm - “lights out”

Day 3: Segment Three

  • 4:00am - wake up; gear up

  • 4:30am - start breakfast

  • 5:30am - break camp

  • 6:30am - begin backpacking (~3mi)

  • 10:00am - make third pass (~10,500’)

  • 12:00pm - backpacking to lunch spot (~2mi); lunch

  • 1:00pm - backpacking to camp (~1mi)

  • 2:00pm - set camp (~9,300 ft)

  • 2:00-4:00pm - free time

  • 4:00pm - start dinner

  • 5:00pm - story time

  • 5:30pm - free time

  • 7:30pm - “lights out”

Day 4: Segment Four

  • 6:30am - wake up; gear up

  • 7:00am - start breakfast

  • 8:00am - break camp

  • 9:00am -begin backpacking (~3mi)

  • 12:00pm - lunch

  • 12:30pm - backpacking to trailhead (~3mi)

  • 3:30pm - arrive at car

  • 5:30pm - arrive at home

  • 5:30pm - start dinner

  • 6:30pm - unpack

  • 7:30pm - “lights out”

Jason Kolaczkowski