Bitterroot National Forest Backpacking Adventure

I had a wonderful experience working Bitterroot Backpacking for a 3-day solo backpacking trip. This was my first time backpacking and wanted to do it alone for the peace and solitude. I rented gear and used the GPS maps and notes created by Bitterroot Backpacking. Luke was incredibly knowledgeable and had great suggestions. I felt well-prepared and safe my entire time out there because of this preparation. Two things that meant a lot to me: (1) the prioritized safety, and (2) the emphasis on Leave No Trace. I was also grateful that he took the time to answer my questions and explain how things work. The gear was high quality. I'm so thankful that this guide service is here and I hope to come back!

Let me get right to the bottom line - the backpacking trip my wife and I went on was simply amazing. Luke took us to Big Creek Lake for a 4 day, 3 night adventure. Neither one of us had done anything even remotely like this and we were challenged, mentally and physically (which was all part of the package for us!). Luke was excellent as a guide, coach, teacher, cheerleader. Big Creek Lake is stunning; the entire Big Creek canyon within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is stunning. I don't have the vocabulary to properly describe it. One more thing, the Alpacka packrafts are so damn cool! Actually, one, one more thing; Luke has done a ton of research in the equipment that he uses on these trips. From the rafts, tents, and packs, all the way to the food, it is all high quality and exactly what you need for an extended backpacking trip in the wild. Whether you are a beginner like I was or an experienced hiker or backpacker, Luke will have an adventure for you!

Picked up my gear without issue from Luke at WinCo. He walked me through the equipment to give me a better grasp on what to expect and how to pack my bag. He also made sure I had enough food and a water filter too! (WinCo is a great place to stock up before your trip btw!) He recommended a few different trails and I ended up picking a fairly easy 8 mile round trip to an incredibly beautiful nearby reservoir in the Bitterroot Mountains. He sent me a digital map and a PDF which I used with the app Avenza Maps, to locate myself using my phone's GPS! Worth! The lake was so serene! And the mountains were amazing too. The tent was easy to set up and the quilt kept me warm when the temps dipped into the 40s at night. Maybe I'll rent a packraft next time! Awesome experience overall.