Pack & clothing
Fit the pack, distribute weight, keep critical items reachable, and build a clothing system that manages moisture, wind, rain, and temperature—not a suitcase of single-purpose outfits.
Pack fitLayeringSleep systemFoot care
Trail skills
Learn it.
Practice it.
Lead it.
Competence is not a list of facts. It is the ability to use a skill when the weather changes, the route becomes unclear, or another person needs help.
Navigation
Know where you are, where you are going, and how the terrain between those points affects the plan. Phones and GPS help; map awareness and practiced judgment remain essential.
Map orientationCompassRoute timingDecision points
Campcraft & water
Choose a durable site, protect water sources, organize shelter and kitchen systems, treat water correctly, and leave camp ready for the next traveler—not marked by the last one.
Campsite choiceShelterWater treatmentKitchen
Readiness & care
Carry the essentials, know the group’s limits, notice small problems early, and build appropriate first-aid competence through hands-on training. A web page is not a substitute for instruction.
Ten EssentialsWeatherFirst aid trainingEmergency plan
Outdoor ethics
Good judgment includes the ground beneath you.
The Leave No Trace 7 Principles are a framework for planning, traveling, camping, managing waste, protecting what you find, minimizing fire impacts, respecting wildlife, and considering others.
Learn from Leave No Trace ↗Put skills in context