Trip Planning: How to Break Down Your Preparations and Ensure an Amazing Adventure!
Lately, I’ve been reaching out to some of the incredibly knowledgeable people in my circle to see if they’d be interested in sharing their expertise here on the blog. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Meg from Take a Hike With Meg—a passionate adventurer and an Outdoor Council of Canada Certified Hiking Field Leader. Meg’s blog is one I highly recommend if you love practical advice, inspiring hikes, and insights from someone who truly knows the trails.
I invited her to share some of her best tips for trip planning—whether you’re gearing up for an adventure in Jasper or exploring further afield. Let’s dive into her expert advice!
Camping in the backcountry of Jasper. Photo by Megan Posein
You can’t contain your excitement as you leap into your vehicle. You’re about to head out on a trip to the mountains—you’ve been looking forward to it for months! You imagine how amazing it’s all going to be: the mountain peaks glowing in the sunset, the rustic aesthetic of the town, and best of all, everything you’re going to do!
Sunset at Medicine Lake in Jasper. Photo by Megan Posein
You have a few vague ideas of what you’d like to do, but decided you’ll figure it out when you get there.
But when you finally go to start your improvised itinerary the next day, you end up spending around 30 minutes selecting a hiking trail, so you’re off to a late start. You rush over to the trailhead, eager to get underway—only to find that the trail is closed for the season. You start looking for a new trail and find one open not too far away, but as you turn your vehicle back on, you see a red warning light pop up on your dashboard…
Everything has gone wrong…
I’m not saying these things don’t happen even when you’ve done everything to prepare, but by planning your trip ahead of time and taking care of a few details in advance, you’ll find your trip will feel more like that amazing experience you’ve been dreaming of for months.
Let’s rewind and replan this trip!
Choosing Activities:
You’ve booked your trip! Now you get to decide what exactly you want to do.
If you’re hiking, check out trails ahead of time. Look for possible closures due to wildlife, trail maintenance, or other reasons. If you’re hiking in a park, you can get that information by googling the park and “what’s open?”
For example: Google “Jasper National Park What’s Open” and it’ll take you here.
Another resource you can look at is Alltrails. Trail closures and alerts pop up on here fairly regularly. It’s also a good idea to read the recent reviews as people will often describe any current issues with the trail.
Booking in Advance:
Maybe you’re still dreaming about that hour long paddling trip. Or maybe wandering over to a local riding stable. Or maybe this trip is extra special, and you want to have photos taken for you and your S.O.
A couple’s session in Jasper with Megan Posein Photography
These ideas are all amazing! But it’s important to keep in mind that some of these things need to be booked in advance.
Make sure you do some research ahead of time and see if there’s a waiting period for the activities you want to do. Likewise, some of these experiences can be pricey. It’s a good idea to book early and not strain your budget too much during the trip.
At the time of writing this post, Columbia Icefield tours were going for $116 per ticket (although FYI: if you’re an Alberta resident, you can get tickets at a bit of a discount).
Tours on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper. Photo by Andrew Darlington on Unsplash
Backup Plans:
Even if you’re the best planner in the world and try to account for every little thing, there are still things that can derail your activities.
Last minute wildlife closures
Sudden wildfires (see my newsletter about this exact scenario).
Weather
Injuries or illness
Technical problems or issues from the industry side
First 3 Photos by Megan Posein and Injured Finger Image by Take a Hike With Meg
Problems like these just can’t be accounted for, but you can be somewhat prepared for it.
Have one or two backup trails for hiking
Scope out a museum visit or other interpretive activity if it’s stormy and you can’t rent a boat
Minor illness or injury? Take a day off and relax in camp or in your room. If you’re in really bad shape though, please seek medical care.
Something came up with the service? Play it by ear and see if it will be a long delay or not. If you’re in Jasper, you can always do a waterfall drive along the parkway.
Sunwapta Falls. Photo by Brice Cooper on Unsplash
The key point here is to be flexible and not let small things derail your entire trip. Knowing ahead of time what other options you have can be a real lifesaver! Not only that, but the silver lining is that maybe you get to do something else that was on your list, but you thought you wouldn’t have time for.
Food & Meal Planning
What do you intend to eat while you’re on your trip? If you’re camping out, your plan might look a bit different than if you’re staying in a hotel or hostel.
If it’s in your budget, you might decide to eat at a restaurant each day. Just remember to scope out some restaurants ahead of time! High prices for subpar food is not fun. I’m talking those $56 steaks that are badly cooked, and you get half an ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes and a piece of cauliflower as the seasonal veg.... Oddly specific, you say? … Please don’t ask…
Disappointing Food, Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
A simple way to plan out your meals and decide on groceries is to start with a list. Either on your computer or in a notebook.
Step 1: Figure out how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’ll need to have food for.
Step 2: Decide on your meal for each and write down the ingredients you’ll need.
Step 3: Organize your ingredients into a grocery list
Step 4: Decide if you want any extra items, like snacks or coffee fixings, and then shop as needed.
This doesn’t take up much time at all, and you can make it as easy or as complicated as you want. You could literally cook up hot dogs every night over a campfire, or you can do something more complex and prepare dehydrated food to save space.
If you have perishable food, don’t forget the ice packs in your cooler! For example, I’m a coffee snob and I like to treat myself to half n half coffee creamer when I car camp (bougee, I know).
I place one of those insulated grocery bags into my cooler, and line the bottom and sides with ice packs. The key here though, is to pack that refrigerator bag as full as you can.
So put your perishables directly next to the ice packs and then pack the top with something like hot dog buns or a bag of marshmallows. Zip it up and then try to limit the number of times you open that bag.
By doing this, I kept chocolates and my coffee creamer nice and chilly for four days even in 30 odd degree heat. No melting or spoiling of any kind.
Cooler size will depend on how long you’re going and your meal plan but remember that keeping a cooler packed full makes it easier to keep everything chilled and spoil free.
Balancing Activities with Downtime
ou’ve seen so many interesting activities and adventures you want to go do! On Saturday alone, you have a 10km hike, then lunch at the fancy brewery—you even made reservations! After that, you need to zip down the Icefields Parkway for a tour at 2:00, then you’re headed to the stables back in town.
Wait!! Before you click that confirmation on the via ferrata climb, hang on a second.
There are tons of things to get done. I get it.
But don’t forget that another part of this trip is about relaxation and recharging yourself.
Peaceful Jasper Views. Photo by Megan Posein.
Take a careful look at your itinerary. Will your hike feel rushed if you have a lunch reservation? How tired will you be after making the Icefields drive, and can you make it to the stable in time for your trail ride?
If you know yourself well and can fit all these things in without breaking a sweat, then power to you.
But even the most intrepid adventurers need breaks. Treat your body nicely, maybe sneak in a visit to the hot spring one day, then come back to town or camp and enjoy some downtime.
Downtime can also mean commute time. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ll be late for a reserved activity, so when you make your plans don’t forget to take the commute time into account.
Before you Head Out
This is the part where you really get to channel your inner Scout. Remember the motto: Be prepared.
I cannot stress lists enough. Make them. Double check them.
Even as a meticulous packer, I still occasionally goof and forget things. On a recent car camping trip, I forgot to pack my brand new MSR Whisperlite stove. Luckily, I still had my old stove packed and I could still cook. But it shows how easy it is to forget an essential item. Always double check your gear and essentials. If something has been forgotten or needs replacing, you’ll be able to see to it.
If you’re becoming a serial camper, then start to develop a system so that packing everything becomes muscle memory and works well for you!
For example, I do not have a large vehicle. It’s a poor little Honda Civic that was probably never intended for the lifestyle of a crazy camping addict. But I’ve developed a system with Gregory’s Alpaca bins that keeps all my stuff organized and let’s me pack and unpack easily—and it all fits in my wee little car. Some Rubbermaid containers would do the same thing if you’re on a budget.
Photos by Take a Hike With Meg
I keep one bin for food, cooking, and other smelly items. The other one stores my tent components and sleep system. My sleeping bag rides in its storage cube when I car camp, and I have space on either side of the bins to pack my hiking bag, some lanterns, and a few extra items. That frees up my back seat for the cooler, my camping chair, and my duffel of clothes.
Gear is just one aspect of it though. Many of us are familiar with routine checks of hiking bags and other outdoor equipment.
What about your vehicle? When was the last time you had the oil changed? Brakes? Lights? Battery? If you haven’t done so recently, take it to a trusted mechanic and make sure it won’t leave you stranded.
Charge electronics. If you have a Garmin inReach, smartwatch, battery bank, or other devices, then ensure they’re all charged and have the relevant cables or accessories required.
Double check your groceries. I typically pack perishables just before I’m ready to pack the cooler out and leave. If you need to buy some creamer for your coffee, you can always swing by a store on the way out of town.
If you’re staying in a campground, check to see if you need to bring your own water. Not all campgrounds have water that is safe to drink, so either pack a filter, or get some reusable water jugs filled up and bring them along.
To Sum Up
This post might make trip prep seem a little daunting. But to lay out the most important aspects, just follow this list:
Book your trip. Print or purchase permits as needed.
Make a list of the meals you need for each day, and either write down restaurants or ingredients to account for those meals.
Plan your activities, and research some backup ideas. Account for commute and downtime.
Go through your equipment. Make sure nothing is missing or needs replacing.
Ensure your vehicle is in good repair, and electronics are fully charged.
Shop for anything you need. Prep any food you need to ahead of time.
Pack food and/or water. Leave perishables and the refrigerator bag unpacked until just before you’re ready to leave.
This can all be done within the span of a few days, especially once you have a system in place. Ultimately, experience will teach you what equipment you need or want, and you may still have instances where you miss something. It happens.
But by following these tips and learning from a few of my own mistakes, you’ll be well underway to a rewarding and successful trip full of adventure and fun!
