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I'm hoping to do a two-night overnight backpack trip in a couple of weeks. On my first backpack hike ever, with one overnight, I carried enough water for the two days. (Even though there was a creek along the trail most of the time.)

But this time, I'll need to fill up during the trip. But I won't be crossing any creeks.

I've noticed, on my hiking GPS map, shortish trails (500 ft) off the main trail to water sources. Mostly downhill.

My quesiton is, is it proper to take off my backpack on the main trail to travel downhill (and back up) to get water?

On one hand, less danger of falling over, less work not carrying my pack back uphill.

OTOH, if I fall, my backpack has all my med stuff. Worse, if I break a leg, my backpack has my sleeping bag while waiting for help.

Please, what is considered the Best Practice? Keep your pack on until camp? Or take it off while 'foraging?'

And a related question while I'm thinking about it: Should one go looking for water at these mapped water sources even if one cannot see/hear water where it's supposed to be? On my last hike, I noticed, in retrospect, that one of the phantom trails that I mistakenly started on was one of these shortish downhill runs to a supposed water source. But I didn't notice any water down there, even though it had rained a lot the day before.

When I was a kid, if you left the main trail on an off-road excursion, you left your pack at the trail, off the side in the direction that you were headed. In the case something happened, then there would be a starting point for finding you. That does not seem to be a practice at all anymore, but it's food for thought.

Mountain_Rat wrote: ↑Mar 02 2023 7:50 pm When I was a kid, if you left the main trail on an off-road excursion, you left your pack at the trail, off the side in the direction that you were headed. In the case something happened, then there would be a starting point for finding you. That does not seem to be a practice at all anymore, but it's food for thought.

That's what I've often done.

For me, a lot depends on how long I expect to be gone, what the wildlife situation is, and finally what the terrain and vegetation is like. On two very memorable occasions, my unforgettable, perfectly obvious parking spot was too easily forgettable and not at all obvious because my pack blended in too well, and I wasted valuable short daylight time searching. Also, I tend to be in more remote places with a lot of wildlife activity. Therefore, I tend to either hang my pack or bring it with me, despite the extra effort. That's less true if I'm dayhiking from a base camp and don't have the food with me.

@big_load
I hadn't thought about animals getting into my pack while I'm away. I just ordered some Mylar bags to minimize the scent of food. But still ...

As for finding my way back to my back - yeah, I can see that happening too. I should learn how to leave a marker/bread crumb on my GPS.

Some people do what @Mountain_Rat mentioned. Personally, I always keep my pack with me. Sometimes you need stuff in it, like when the mosquitoes attack and you need to grab your headnet and deet. Maybe that's only an issue on the JMT or Oregon, but it's an example. When I was crossing Hat Creek Rim on the PCT (a notoriously hot and dry stretch in NorCal), I had to descend 400' in a quarter mile to get water. That's a lot of climbing out but it was sure nice to be able to eat and enjoy the shade at the water source for a bit, something I wouldn't have done if I left my pack topside.

One thing to consider is if you are alone, it's probably best to always keep your pack with you. As you mention, if something happens, you have all your gear. If you are with others, it's probably not as important.

@rcorfman
I think you are right, that the Best Practice when hiking solo is to always keep your back with you.

That's what I'll do then.

And if you decide that you need to leave your backpack somewhere (injury), be sure to "breadcrumb it" by putting a Marker on your GPS.

Otherwise, you might not be able to find it. And then you could be in a lot of trouble, as @rcorfman suggested.

Story to follow in a Trip Report.