Each winter, as temperatures plummet and snow builds in the mountains, my thoughts turn to the next summer backpacking season. There’s an odd little excitement I get in hunkering down while the weather outside is frightful and pouring over topo maps and trip reports, considering the myriad backpack trip options.  Because I like to have friends join me on trips, and because there are trips where I go solo, planning is key.  I guess that pretty much sounds like planning is always key – and that’s because it is! (at least for me!)
 

Over the years, I’ve collected dozens of topographic maps, some of areas I’ve never been to, some I’ve been to many times.  When I start to plan for the upcoming season, which in the Sierras is usually late June/early July to late September/early October depending on snow and weather, I pull out the maps and consider where I’d like to go that I’ve never been before, entry and exit points, how much time I’ll have, likelihood of going it alone vs. how many friends might join, wilderness permit requirements and reservation timeline, shoulder season options and so on.  I plan for short weekend trips, as well as extended, multi-day trips. 
 

The wilderness areas that I frequent in the Sierras are managed with trailhead quotas for overnight trips.  Daily trailhead quotas limit the number of people starting an overnight trip on a particular trail during the peak season.  By limiting the number of people that start on a trail, the impact on the wilderness environment can be better managed.  Usually, a percentage of a given trailhead’s permit quota is reservable. The remainder is made available on a “walk in” first-come, first-served basis starting the day before the hike start date.  This means that unless you can afford to “chance it” the day before your trip by hoping “walk in” spots are available for the trail, the number in your group and the day you want to start, you have to plan ahead to reserve a permit. 
 

Permit reservations for the more popular trailheads fill up quickly once the reservation window opens.  In places like Inyo National Forest, the window opens 6 months prior to the trip start date. Mt. Whitney permits are the exception, being awarded via lottery. Yosemite’s window opens 24 weeks out. In Yosemite, some permit reservations fill up within hours of the window opening!
 

So planning ahead is key to getting permit reservations for a specific trailhead, the right number of people on the desired start date. That requires me getting started 7-8 months before a potential start date so that I’m ready to reserve early on a trailhead where the quota fills quickly; hence, my winter planning tradition. With that, I’m gonna spread out the topos and get with it . . .

'Tis the Season . . . Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone!
 

The photo with this post was taken on my hike this morning. It is of the Salt Creek drainage out of Three Rivers, CA. The weather, as you can see, was damp and overcast with really low clouds moving through the valley.  I turned with my camera at just the right moment; the clouds thinned showing the beautiful winter magic of the area.