Determine your travel options

　　Research and plan backpacking trips

　　First you need to decide on your itinerary parameters; this will help you narrow down the options to choose your specific destination.

　　Your choice of backpacking destination will be largely limited by the following two main factors:

　　How much time do you have: If you are limited by time, you need to know how many miles you have to run each day and make sure that the route you choose is within your time limit. Most people plan to hike 3-10 miles a day, depending on your size and how much elevation increases.

　　How far do you want to go: If you choose a fixed-length destination, you still need to decide how many miles to hike each day, which will determine how many days you need to walk.

　　Location and preferences: If you only have one weekend, choose a place close to home so you can spend more time on the road instead of on the way. Or you may decide to look for a specific environment or location, which may be worth your time to travel. Desert or forest? Rugged peaks or lush waterfalls? These details will affect the logistics of your trip.

　　Preparation time: If you depart next week, your destination may be different from your trip three months later. Are you in good physical condition to complete difficult routes with significant altitude on impulse?

　　Time of year and weather: Some trails are not accessible in early spring because they may be covered by snow.

　　Group size: If you are backpacking solo, you have more leeway in terms of walking speed and night stay; if you are with other people, you need to adapt to the pace of the slowest member of the group. In other words, together with other people, you can reduce the weight of your backpack by sharing tents, stoves, food, etc.

　　Base Camp: You may also decide to enter on foot and establish a base camp for day hikes or summits. If you are with other people, consider sharing the extra weight of a larger, more comfortable tent.