
Screenshot of a gear list template created for John and Anna, who are new to Colorado and planning to backpack this summer in the Rockies and on the John Muir Trail
This year I have quietly coached a handful of individuals who sought my help for their upcoming backpacking trips.
- Jessica completed the Colorado Trail in July.
- Ambitious teens Hannibal and James flew over from the UK for an adventure in the High Sierra.
- John, Bill, and Stephen & Diane are preparing for thru-hikes next year of the Pacific Northwest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, respectively. And,
- John & Anna are new to Colorado and planning to backpack this summer in the Rockies and on the John Muir Trail.
I’ve been pleased with the results. It’s been a chance for me to personally engage with members of the backpacking community, which is an experienced I missed this year since I did not guide any trips. It afforded time to provide in-depth information and feedback. And it helped pay for some Christmas gifts and car repairs without having to travel.
So today I made my coaching services more front-and-center on my website, hoping that it might generate some more interest. At least for the time being, however, I’m not planning to quit my day job: The blog will remain my primary concern; in the spring I will likely do some gear clinics when the second edition of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide is released (pre-order now); and I may even schedule a few guided trips for late-summer.
Lean more: Coaching services and prices
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Knowledge and skills are very important. I am sure this is a great service. As a former member of a MRT it is the people that THINK they know everything that get are most likely to get into trouble.
Though I have quite a bit of wilderness experience having actually grown up in the wilderness, recently when my wife and I went to Alaska I agreed to take a guided tour of a glacier because it is one thing I had never done. It is one thing to get my own butt in trouble thinking I knew more than I did, but taking my wife along would have been criminal.
I will probably take you up on a couple hours consultation in planning a hike in Glacier National Park this summer. I’ll have some time constraints and it’s actually kind of tough finding a suitable loop in the park through internet planning.
Loops are tough in Glacier, but they are out there, especially if you feel confident wandering off-trail to connect two trails.
Give me a holler when you want to chat.