Episode 121 | How to Plan a Short Thru-Hike
Episode Summary
Many backpackers dream of thru-hiking but face barriers like time, cost, and logistics. In this episode, educator and writer Nikki Stavile shares how to plan a short thru-hike, using her 2024 Tahoe Rim Trail journey as an example. She covers key planning steps, including choosing a trail, setting an itinerary based on constraints like time and experience, securing permits, managing resupply, selecting the right gear, and preparing mentally and physically. Nikki also discusses risk management, adapting to weather and gear failures, and knowing when to modify or exit a hike. Whether you're tackling a 100-mile section or a two-week trek, her insights make the process more manageable. Plus, Ryan Jordan shares updates on Backpacking Light’s latest events, including Trail Days Online and Basecamp Live, and highlights innovative ultralight gear from Garage Grown Gear, featuring the Norda trail running shoe designed for durability and long-distance backpacking performance.
Listen Now
together with Garage Grown Gear
We are excited to be partnering with Garage Grown Gear, your hub for ultralight gear, on their annual To celebrate all things thru-hiking, we're giving away $15,000 worth of ultralight backpacking gear to 10 winners from dozens of amazing outdoor brands including Gossamer Gear, Zpacks, Western Mountaineering, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Enlightened Equipment, and FarPointe, just to name a few. Enter now via the link in the show notes, and you just might be one of the lucky winners to receive a ton of gear for your long-distance adventures!
What’s New at Backpacking Light?
- Giveaway: Garage Grown Gear x Backpacking Light Thru-Hiking Giveaway
- Watch the archive of Trail Days Online! 2025.
- The recording of the Backpacking Quilts: Technology, Design, and Best Practices is now available.
- Course: March 20, 2025 – First session of Basecamp Live • Spring 2025 Cohort
- Newsletter: March 9, 2025 – How to Fall in Love with Backcountry Travel
- Find information about all of our upcoming Member Q&A’s, Webinars, Live Courses, other live events, and more on our Events Calendar Page.
Featured Brands and Products
The Norda Shoe company offers ultralight trail running shoes that weighs less than 8 ounces per shoe, offer a low drop, and stack heights with enough midsole cushion for backpacking - and here's the best part - the durability required to give you more than a thousand miles of service on a single pair.
Six Steps to Plan Your First Thru Hike
- Four Constraints when Planning a Thruhike – time to travel and hike, experience, trail, time of year
- Permits and Regulations – trail permits, camping permits / regulations, food storage regulations, campfire regulations, etc.
- Building the Itinerary – trail bucket list, resupply strategy, rest days, permit and regulation compliance
- Gear Selection – risk management, experience, capacity, and shared gear (for group trips)
- Shakedown Hike
- Mental Preparation & Contingency Plans – risk management, weather, gear failures
Links, Mentions, and Related Content
- Places: Walking in Circles: A Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike
- Places: Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail in October
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