By Michael Lanza
You’re trying to plan a backpacking trip to a classic national park like Yosemite, Grand Teton, Glacier, Grand Canyon, or some other park or wilderness like the High Sierra, Wind River Range, Cascade Range, or Sawtooth Mountains—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 more than 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 (including four times to New Zealand; the photo above is from my family’s most recent trip there). I’ve made a living identifying, planning, and writing about great trips.
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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, ensuring you have the best trip possible, 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.
“Our recent trip to the Canadian Rockies turned out to be magical—thanks again to Michael’s expert guidance. Over the years, his custom trip planning has saved me countless hours. More importantly, he’s crafted experiences that will be remembered forever, including a solo JMT hike, a couple’s getaway to Yosemite (off the beaten path), a family hiking adventure in Utah, and a R2R Grand Canyon success! Each time Michael has blown me away with advice about the overall structure of the trip—how to make the most of our limited vacation time—and his obsession to detail has saved us from logistical headaches that can often pop up when you don’t have an expert guiding you. What he charges is a bargain for what you get. I’m always thrilled with the adventures he plans, and my family returns saying, ‘Now THAT was an amazing trip!’”
—Michele (comment posted at my Custom Trip Planning page)
Click here now to get my custom trip planning for your best adventure ever!
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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.
“My wife and I just got back from a 6-day, 5-night trip in the Wind River Range that Michael planned for us. This is the 4th trip we’ve had him plan, and he hit another home run! Michael’s knowledge of the area meant that we had jaw-dropping views each day and stunning campsites every night. Even the locals we talked to didn’t know about some of the places we were going! Thanks, Michael, for an incredible trip and we’ll definitely be using you again in the future!”
—Joe (comment posted at my Custom Trip Planning page)