Routing and trip planning seems to fall through the cracks - everyone is hyper focused on gear. This tutorial is fantastic, especially for folks just getting into the outdoors. Cheers!

to of my favorites, Darwin and Dan in one video , makes me smile

this tutorial is actually extremely helpful… I always feel like starting with a google search is inadequate or not “legit” enough. The step by step narrowing down the itinerary was neat to see. Validating and helpful!

All that planning...plus how to keep Dan from dying! Very helpful video, always wondered how to obtain permits ahead of time at different national parks, thanks!

Great advice...thanks for the tips. It's great seeing you and Dan on a hike together.

This was awesome!!! I’ve just started backpacking again (64 year old here) and this made my anxiety drop , so thanks again. and thanks for looking after Dan. Hope Emmit got better.

😂 1980 5 days, 4 nights, 32 miles. 1) purchase trail book from backpack store 2) determine Topo maps needed 3) use water proof ink to mark maps 4) waterproof maps 5) create notes for each day re: distances and elevation changes 6) waterproof notes 7) time: 3 - 4 weeks. Summary - one of the best trips of my life! Doing the same for a 350 mile bicycle trip this fall. Well, no waterproofing needed. I have a laminator. Thanks for making an old guy smile.

Weather and water supply also important to plan for. Gaia GPS has been excellent for my trip planning and navigation.

Yay! Another Darwin Vid on KZfaq. Great to have you back on the platform!!!!

That's why you are the hiking guru Darwin! TY

As a European hiker its interesting to see how wildly different route planning approaches can/need to be. Permits aren't a thing here and information is much less centralized and often only available in the national language (and you need to find out where thats available). So for planning for a trip outside of your own country can be much more involved besides a couple of well known trails in any given country. Some countries, like France and Spain have long distance trail networks (GR trails) which are well known and comparatively accessible but you still need to KNOW about them. For long distance stuff I will often end up relying on trip reports from others, at least as a starting point, Google Earth and online image search is also invaluable given the higher population densities and comparative difficulty to find and stay in nature.

I really appreciate this walk-through, especially dealing with planning for trips with the NPS, because I solo hike and do all the planning on my own. It's been rough at times and I've had to push through the stress of figuring out how the system works 1) trusting I haven't set myself up for something ridiculous, and 2) each park has its own quirks for their permit rules. So, watching you go through the same sort of process I go through was nice reassurance that I'm doing it alright. :)

Darwin does it again! Everyone has made a load out video; everyone has done product reviews; but few have divulged the details on how to organize a long hike.

Great vid for people new to this! I end up doing a lot of trip selection by perusing satellite imagery and finding natural features to explore that are in the direction of where I would like to hike. I end up finding a ton of things of the beaten path and sometimes forging my own routes while avoiding crowds with this method. It definitely takes longer, but that's just one method. A second method is word of mouth, or talking to locals. I've been given tips to all sorts of cool trails just by talking to people as I'm travelling.

Really great tutorial Darwin!! Love OnX maps👍🏻

nice yall beat the snow storm

I did that trail about a year ago in October and it was really nice. We didn't really hit many people, other than guided groups, until the Gardens and then heading back up to the top. Great information here. In the GC, I now know that I can put in two or three alternative itineraries and just be flexible. They are great to work with.

Always love when you post!! Hope all is well

Excellent. Useful. Good teaching. Thank you.

I have checked out that app but had not cared for it as much as Gaia which I look at all the time and use the web version and larger monitor for planning. I subscribe to that and love all the different forms of maps. This interests me in On X again because of the 3d. My favorite maps are the sheets of plastic molded to have the mountains physically raised and I have a collection of those.

Great to see Dan out in the Grand Canyon again! One topic I'd like to see that's related to this one ... what info do you leave behind in an email or document for a loved one/significant other/emergency contact? I have a template document that I customize for each trip and send to my wife and kids. It has my route plan, dates, alternate routes, a link to my Garmin tracking page, phone numbers for local sheriff/S&R, and pictures of my car, tent, and backpack, and importantly -- when to call for help. Lately I've added a writeup about what happens if I press my SOS button on the Garmin, and how they will be contacted (thanks to Dixie at Homemade Wanderlust). What would you suggest?

I just started backpacking. My first backpacking was not far from the parking lot, on the second one my phone died due to very humid environment, the 3 rd one was okay (rain gloves failed). And this video is very helpful. I used alltrails before and I usually print offline map in case my phone dies again but I wasn't sure about how the whole planning should be. Thanks to Darwin we know step by step instructions now. Great vid!

Great overview of how to plan a bkpkg trip. Really glad Dan got back on the horse in the GC. 😅

Good info. Happy to see you back.

Since day one I started following you, I always, always learn something new from you and your amazing and very helpful content. Thanks!! 😊

Hey thanks great info

Thank You. This is sooooo helpful. And for the onX info.

Good Discussion. Novices may not fully appreciate the value of noting elevation changes along all parts of the planned route - largely defines the difficulty of the trail. Be sure to include physical training well in advance even if moderate difficulty is expected. Other planning elements that can offer some challenge: water sources on route at the time of the hike; weather conditions to expect, particularly at higher elevations. You may want to call a Ranger station (if available) a week or so in advance. Meal planning is a particular difficulty for me - finding food that is actually appetizing on trail.

Love this!! You shared very valuable information which will make all of our hiking adventures more safe and enjoyable.

Hey Darwin, Thank you for the information! Your a great inspiration!

Thank you!

Super helpful- thank you

great info, thanks Darwin!

Great ínfo Darwin, I love using this app

OnX is amazing. I also use it multiple times-day river trips

This was a great video…. couple of ideas never thought of….. thanks Darwin

Fantastic advice! It’s a bit of a barrier for even experienced people with planning, especially in a completely new or popular areas. I’m an over planner and a map geek, because a. I’m 60, b. I need to be confident in my ability for the route, and c. I want to know water sources. There’s more, but those are my big 3 for trail planning. 😊 glad Dan’s ok.

I took my first backpacking trip last year. I'm really excited to go again, but I haven't planned a trip before and was feeling a bit daunted by the process. This video was really helpful - thanks for posting!

Thank you SO much for this thorough tutorial! As a newer backpacker, the logistics part always stresses me out. Nicely done! 👍

When I did my first trip in 2016 I would've killed for a video like this. One tip I'll add, when using a website for trail information/conditions, try to verify the date of that info. Some state parks and national forest sites don't stay updated as often as others and conditions can change quickly. When I'm a day or two out from a trip I'll call the park information office or trail association to try to verify my condition info is correct, especially regarding water availability and potential closures. Great job Darwin!

Great video. I downloaded the app.Thanks

Great tutorial on On X BC to get me started planning some hikes in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness this summer. A few more On X BC tutorials would be nice.

Thank you!!

Seems like I am always picking up something from you. Preciate your effort. Great presentation

This is great, I just booked my flights to go to the Grand Canyon, literally 3 days ago!! Not doing a RIm to Rim but trying to navigate the website and plan my days hikes. So funny to see a video about everything I just looked up myself! Great advice :)

Great video. I would also take a quick pic of the permit to keep in your phone as a back-up. Cheers!

I just upgraded my OnX to premium, so I can plan my trips in more detail. Thank you!

Loved this video: extremely informative, well edited, good cinematography

Fun and informative. I liked that you went out with Dan and Emmet. I sti5use Gaia, guess I should at least give OnX a try.

I use Gaia GPS. Worked great when I did the JMT two years ago.

This video was fantastic for resources. It feels like every backpacking video is gear and reducing base weight driven. This knocked it out of the park! Thanks for sharing. In the midst of planning 3 day backpacking trip on the Virginia Triple Crown Loop. Any tips for someone who hasn’t done this trail before?

I've had onX backcountry since last year, but have not quite figured out how to use it until watching this video. Thank you. Curiously, The timing of this video coincides with some persona plans. A couple friends and I have been considering the hermits rest hike since doing a rim to River last year.

Nice ❤

I always bring a paper map with the route and area of my hike. Weigh next to nothing. Phones die or break, redundancy with navigation saves lives. I also took additional training to know how to read it and keep practice orientating to get better at tracking distance and finding where I am at on my map w/o GPS.

What a great app and helpful video. Is this app usable for finding water sources and informal campsites? (Thinking of non-NPS areas, e.g., Oregon Coast Trail, random Cascades trails, etc.) This process is so similar to using a map, but with a digital advantage-I might actually use this! I just watched Dan's return video moments ago and saw you onscreen, so I immediately looked at your page to find this video. Nice that you both casually referred to one another without making s big deal about it. Thanks, Nick, I hope to see you at PCT Days again this year.

I saw you in the Grand Canyon last February, that was some wild weather.

❤ from 🇮🇪

These videos are great. I actually watch them to get ideas for running. Especially if I'm training for a longer race and I'm going to be out on course for longer than usual. But I feel hiking is a bit of a different animal, especially when it come to food. So how much food would I need for, say, a typical one day hike?

What about planning water. Especially in desert or alpine regions where it’s not simply identifying a stream on a map? Also, how much water do you carry over a given distance and how does elevation (ascent or descent) and weather impact how much you carry? What else do you need to think about carrying water? I get worried if I don’t know a trail and don’t have enough info about water and this leads me to carry 2 liters most of the time. Water is the heaviest thing I am carrying on many trips because I am always worried about finding it and often carry more than I need out of an abundance of caution.

woah i just did the same thing a mont ago!

Darwin - thanks for showing the nuts & bolts of On-X. First time I’ve seen that done. NOW I’m interested in it. QUESTION: Have you had any experience with Natural Atlas? How does it compare to On-X? Thank you. Keep on keeping it real!

Excellent! Thx. FYI: Bought the Senchi sweater, love it, and I let Senchi know I saw it on your Channel! Will do the same w/ OnX. :)

Thank you! Very much appreciated! I would like to know how to locate water sources on trail. Are they indicated? What if they are seasonal?

What’s your plan for when permits are more limited (summertime) and when you are trying to go somewhere that you can’t get a permit to? And I think a general video on visiting high traffic areas (Olympic National park, Jefferson wilderness area, places like that in OR/WA) would be so great! Thanks Nick 👍🏾 Great stuff.

Hey Darwin. Awesome information for this rookie hiker. Question: Any guidance on finding a place for your car and securing it while out on the trail?

Sweet ad

I don't really plan too much but I'm traveling locally in areas I grew up in so I'm pretty familiar with them. There isn't as much camping restrictions on the routes I travel because not a lot of people hike around here. I just try to be hidden and out or people's way especially if it's the weekend. If it is, I'll try to stop before or after touristy areas. But I generally just hike until I'm tired and then look for a spot and camp out. I know it's a different story in the Grand Canyon. I hiked around Algonquin Park once and there you have to book camp sites a year in advance. I booked three sites for a three day trip. But I was too tired to get past the first camp site. So, I just stayed there two nights. I just slept a lot (like 14 hours strait cause I wasn't feeling well) then I went home back out the way I came. It was fine and no one was around to bother me. The permitts stay on your car and your do a loop, so I'd paid properly so it was all good. I'm kind of stressed about the PCT. I'm doing it this year. But I also know that I'll be ok. I know a lot about hiking and my body. The PCT will be my first international hike, my first desert, my first mountain. It'll be fun but I'm also worried. But I think I'll just stop if I want to. I do want to do it all. I think for me cause I'm slow, it'll be more a matter of timing that could be an issue for finishing. So, I'm a little prepared because I'm starting early, at the end of March. And I'm going to go slow and steady at first. And I will get my miles and endurance up before leaving by hiking and biking at home a few hours a day. I'm a bit overweight atm (10-20lb), from my hiking bod but I'm sure it won't be so bad, especially since it's kind of flat at first from what I understand. We'll see.

So does the permit system allow for any changes in plans? Say you sprain an ankle and need a rest day in camp instead of hiking to the next campsight? Say there’s a lake where the fishing is great and you decide to stay for one extra day to do some more fishing?

I need a how to plan trail meals video! I just did my first 2 night/3 day backpacking trip and packed back out about half my food. How much do I need?? I know this is somewhat individual but what food to bring is my most stressful point.

Question: What do you need to consider when you're not US native and want to do a (longer) hike in the US (in general)?

Hmmm...OnX eh? Might have to give it a try.

With so many ads, I was confused which was the actual content and which was an advertisement. 😮 I’ve never seen so many ads on a single video

The only thing I would add, is that I print out maps (using CalTopo as my mapping tool). I've had my phone die while backpacking. I've seen other people have their phones die. Printed maps don't weigh that much, and if your phone dies, you'll be really happy to have them. I also like looking at printed maps instead of using my phone all of the time.

I love the channel. I could use some advice on transportation on and off the CDT for a section hike trip I'm planning for this spring in Northern NM. I'm planning on hiking NB from Grants and getting off at Ghost Ranch. I'm not driving. So I plan on taking greyhound from ABQ to Grants. I'm having a hard time finding transit resources from Ghost Ranch to Santa Fe or ABQ. Does anybody have any suggestions? Hitching does not appeal to me. Thanks!

We are heading to Flagstaff for the GeoWoodStock...any recommendations for a day hike locally?

How do you plan your water sources on different hikes, some trails don’t give as much info on water

Ouch! That pretend permit was $82!!! I remember free permits LOL. Thanks for info. I had that app in the cloud and I got it back out.

A little unrelated, but as a glasses wearer, how do you prevent them from fogging while wearing a balaclava or ski goggles?

What was the weather like? We are thinking about going in April. But we aren't sure if our 20 f sleeping bags will be good enough . Sounds like it can get well below freezing?

Do you need to print the permit out or can you just have a digital version on your phone?

What happens if you don't meet your hiking expectations and you need to camp sooner or it takes you an extra day to complete? I have found on biking trips that you may not have service to make changes to your reservations.

When using without service, like in the Bob Marshall wilderness area where the trails are not marked well, will it show my orientation (which direction I am heading)?

Where did you get the green shirt?

how do you plan water?

You should have contacted me. Im going in soon. I love the GC. I live in Tucson. A regular stop for me when I'm passing thru. Doing a r2r2r in April after bright angel opens. Appix April 14th

Does it tell you water and views

How do you manage/find transportation in places that you fly to? It feels bad renting a car for a whole week when you only need to use it 2 days and it sits at the trailhead for 5 days, but you pay for all the days you have it

How much does the on X app cost?

Appreciate this since I have only used maps

Is there such a thing as navigating on your phone without a signal

Hey Darwin, just wanted to give you a heads up that your address and phone number info isn’t blocked out correctly. At least on my TV the black boxes are offset

Those websites for permits and information are good to know as a foreigner. You look on the map for water scources? Hoe do you know they are not dry?

Somewhat irrelevant to the topic of the video but I noticed that you removed the straps from your hiking poles, may I ask why?

When trip planning… one of my main concerns is where to park my vehicle? So it doesn’t get towed, stolen, gas or catalytic converter taken.

Don't forget your local library! People have been backpacking for a century. There are old guidebooks with long forgotten treasures...shhh! Those books are still there and so are the trails. Nothing new under the sun.

I feel anxious about leaving my car at a trailhead where it's known by locals to be in a vulnerable position.

Though I don’t feel it’s an absolute necessity in a national park, carrying a hard copy of your map is never a bad idea.

Hey Darwin, thanks for the tips, bought onx yesterday. Thanks for the discount code. Figured it was time to retire the etrek 20.

Darwin, at 17:16 you bring up a booking page for your Grand Canyon hike. I hope that’s an address and phone number you don’t mind sharing! Cheers.

Does everyone on the trip need to buy a permit?