By Michael Lanza
You’re trying to plan a backpacking trip to a classic national park like Yosemite, Grand Teton, Glacier, Zion, Grand Canyon, or some other park or wilderness area—but you’re not quite sure how to do it or where to go. Or the permit process and planning feel overwhelming. Or you want to ensure it’s the best trip possible. Or you just don’t have time to do all that planning and would rather have an expert do it for you.
Well, you have just landed on your solution.
For three decades, including 10 years that I spent as the Northwest Editor for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog, I have had the good fortune of hiking and backpacking all over America and the world. I’ve made a living identifying, planning, and writing about great trips.
Ready to get my custom trip planning? Click here now.
Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.
Right now, you can tap into my deep experience through my personalized custom trip planning—saving your valuable time and avoiding problems.
“Michael has opened up America’s spectacular outdoors to me, my son, and my best friend. For a few years now, I have been using his services and advice to visit some of the most beautiful national parks, and we have been able to do hikes that would have been otherwise very hard to plan without his detailed and thorough advice. From choosing where to go tailored to your level of fitness and outdoor knowledge and the time of the year, to every little detail regarding gear, food, permit (this would be particularly impossible without the knowledge of someone like him), etc., he provides a complete plan for any adventure. For us, everything has gone smoothly every time. I look forward to the many trips he will plan for us over the years to come.”
—Johann (comment posted at my Custom Trip Planning page)
Expert Custom Trip Planning
Through my custom trip planning, you receive an in-depth trip plan from me—shaped by our back-and-forth communication to create the best trip for you—that covers all necessary planning, gear tips, detailed guidance on reserving a permit drawn from my deep experience in numerous parks, tips on wildlife, the ideal season and weather, a daily hiking itinerary with recommended campsites, and much more.
I will tell you how to execute your trip on the ground in the safest and most enjoyable way, answering all of your questions—and probably answering questions you didn’t think to ask.
Get the same positive experience that hundreds of other backpackers have enjoyed. See my Custom Trip Planning page for details and hundreds of comments from people like you whom I’ve helped plan a very successful adventure.
“Michael’s custom trip planning services save me many dozens of hours, but more importantly, with his expertise, we are able to have truly amazing vacations, making the most of our limited time together as a family. Michael planned a recent 9-day trip to Southern Utah for me, my husband, and our adult son. We had an incredible time. It’s only a few times a year that we get together and I feel like Michael’s custom trips make these vacations a ‘Wow!’ We hiked Angels Landing (scoring a last-minute permit on our first attempt w/ Michael’s advice). We hiked the spectacular Narrows. Michael’s planning services are a bargain for what you are getting—his top-tier advice on both strategy and tactics. Once you hire Michael, you’ll find yourself dreaming of taking another adventure vacation that Michael can make a reality.”
—Michele (comment posted at my Custom Trip Planning page)
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With a premium subscription, you get the best deal available at The Big Outside: one custom trip plan from me, a one-year subscription giving you full access to ALL stories at my blog at 33% off the regular price, plus your choice of any e-book for free.
Or step up to my premier service level, a Talk to Michael subscription, which includes a comprehensive phone consultation with me to brainstorm trip ideas, discuss any trip you have in mind, and talk gear or any questions you have, plus one full, written custom trip plan and other benefits.
Wondering whether I can help you? Email me at michael@thebigoutside.com.
“Have done several trips with Michael… and he NAILED it again. We did the Alta Via 2 in the Italian Dolomites. Best scenery in my 45 years of backpacking. Michael’s trip planning was critical as choosing the routes and rifugios can be prohibitively time-consuming. Lots to consider from the altitude/distance each day to the ‘exposure’ of the trails. Michael’s planning made that part simple and enabled us to not only do something we would otherwise not had the time to do, but to focus on having fun and the scenery vs. being worried about logistics! As I have said, he has worked with us on domestic US/Canada trips as well, taking a lot of the time and work out of planning. I highly recommend him and his amazing breadth of experience.”
—John (comment posted at my Custom Trip Planning page)