What we’re about
Chicago Backpackers is a club for those interested in wilderness backpacking - hiking self-sustained for consecutive days in a wilderness area carrying all necessary supplies in a backpack.
We have three main areas of focus:
*Trip and event organization*
The group's volunteer organizers plan a variety of trips throughout the year, from one-night beginners-only trips up to week-long advanced trips. Individual organizers choose the location, plan the route, and take care of other trip logistics. Members are solely responsible for their own gear, their own food, general well-being, and communicating with the organizer to ensure that they fully understand risks and challenges and are prepared for the activity.
*Backpacking education*
The club shares knowledge about backpacking: We do this through trips, clinics, and online presentations that provide opportunities for all members, old and new, to continually improve their skills and learn from one another.
*Backpacker community*
By going on trips, attending events, and frequenting the various online message boards, members are encouraged to connect with other backpackers who share similar interests. Members can also plan their own trips and ask questions using the Meetup Discussions page to further connect with other members.
We follow several organizing principles:
*Practice low-impact, Leave No Trace backpacking.*
(http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php). Our trips usually consist of 6 to 12 people to minimize the impact we have on our favorite locations and new trails, to keep them as fresh as possible for ourselves and other backpackers.
*Work together on the trail.*
The organizers and event hosts volunteer their time and experience to make our trips as safe and smooth as possible, but we can’t do everything ourselves. In addition to preparing and carrying your own gear and food, lend a hand, volunteer to get water, gather firewood, etc. If you have any concerns or are having a difficult time on the trail, speak up. Clear communication makes it safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
*Be safe, be sensible*
Safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just the organizer. Do not endanger yourself and others. Keep in mind that backpacking is an intense cardiovascular activity that may involve a variety of potential health and safety risks, and is subject to unexpected weather, trail conditions, animal encounters, etc. While organizers and other trip participants may help to facilitate trip planning and logistics, each trip participant must know their own capabilities and is solely responsible for their own safety. Withdraw from trips and situations where you may feel unsafe or unprepared.
*Be respectful and inclusive*
Treat others with respect and tolerance. Avoid bullying, sexism, racism, or bigotry of any type. If your words or actions unintentionally offend others, take responsibility and make the appropriate apology.
*Communicate with event organizers prior to the trip*
Until we get on the trail, most of the information we have to give you is written down in trip descriptions, emails, and announcements. Pay attention, or you will miss valuable information which could lead to a poor experience on the trail. If you have questions, please ask. You are required to confirm your understanding of trip logistics and sign a Release of Liability form which will be provided electronically prior to the trip. Members who fail to complete these steps, or who do not respond promptly, may lose their reservation on the trip.
*Gear sharing, ride sharing*
Each participant is responsible for obtaining and carrying their own meals and gear and getting themselves to and from the trailhead. Anyone interested in gear sharing (water filter, stoves, etc.) is encouraged to post trip comments on Meetup.com. The same is true for ride sharing (offering a ride, asking for a ride). This is purely optional and not something managed by the club or its organizers.
*Use of meetup.com.*
Virtual and local events are open to all members and their guests. Overnight events require an RSVP on meetup.com. If a trip is full, post a comment to reserve your place on the waitlist. Message the organizer with any questions. Attendees must be at least 18 years old and individually registered (no +1s). Prior to participation, attendees are required to communicate with event organizers, confirm their understanding of trip expectations/logistics and sign a Release of Liability form. Members who fail to complete these steps, or who do not respond promptly, may lose their reservation on the trip.
We have a variety of ways to participate:
Follow us online on Meetup.com. Review our upcoming or prior trips (Under Events link). Post comments on the trip descriptions themselves. Engage with other members by posting comments in the Discussion area. Direct message organizers if you have any questions.
Attend a local event in the Chicago area. Over the years we’ve offered work days for local habitat restoration, seminars or clinics, training hikes, and purely social events. These events are a great way to meet like-minded people, learn something new, and build our local backpacker community.
Join us on an overnight event. In typical years we host overnight trips, ranging from single night beginner trips to multi-day advanced trips, and most anything in between. Geographically, the majority of trips are within a 6-hour drive from Chicago, and typical events are 1-3 nights in duration. Trips vary greatly, based on terrain, mileage, hiking pace, weather, park conditions and degree of experience required. Always read the individual trip descriptions for more details. The vast majority of our overnight trips are backpacking, but we may also post a car camping trip in the winter season, or include a boating component along with a backpacking route.
At any time, message one of our organizers or post questions to the Discussion Area.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Getting Into Backpacking - An Evening Q & ALink visible for attendees
To sign up: click here
Ignore the message saying it's not open for RSVPS yet - This session is NOT using Meetup for registration
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Do any of these sound familiar?- Do I need a one- or a two-person tent?
- Sleep system, cook system, shelter system... why is everything a "system"?
- Shoes or boots?
- Why does my sleeping bag have two (or more) different temperature ratings on it?
- How do I plan meals?
- How do I choose which stove to get?
- Is expensive gear really better than budget gear?
- How do I plan a trip?
- Is backpacking by myself "safe"?
- Do I need to worry about wild animals?
As organizers, we get asked these questions - and more - pretty regularly. So we're hosting a short presentation followed by a Q&A session for anyone who is getting into backpacking (or just thinking about it), has done overnights but wants to start longer trips, or anyone who simply wants to learn more. This is going to be pretty laid back and casual, with the hosts going over some of the common questions we get but we are most interested in the questions you have.
So please come ready to ask questions, seek advice, and offer your own insight.When:
Thursday, July 10 @ 7:00 pmHosted By:
- Brian
- Rob
- Sara
How to Register:
This is open to all members of the Chicago Backpackers Meetup Group but you do need to pre-register first. For this webinar only, registration is through Zoom and NOT through Meetup. - Another Mid-Week Manistee River Loop Trail (MI)Red Bridge Trail Head, Manistee National Forest, Manistee, MI
Time for another mid-week adventure!
By this time, it's mid-summer and we are aware that you're getting really frustrated staying home or being at the office when you know you could be out on trail, having a great time.
So this is your opportunity to tell your boss (whether that's someone at work or your overly-controlling cat) that you're skipping out for a couple days.
Join us on the Manistee River Loop Trail for a car camping night, followed by two days on trail.
Because of the longer mileage (12-13 miles on day 1 and 8-9 miles on day 2), we call this an "advanced beginner" trip. It's a great beginner trail - we just don't recommend this for your first ever backpacking trip; all attendees should have gone on at least one trip with the group. If you’ve never come on one of our trips but you have experience backpacking, please reach out to one of the organizers to discuss.Need the tl;dr version?
· Manistee River Loop Trail
· August 12, 2025
· August 13 & 14, 2025 on Trail
· Mileage: August 12, 0 miles | August 13, 12-13 miles | August 14, 7-8 miles
· AllTrails map
· Cost - FREE!
· Hiking start on the 13th - 9 AM Eastern/8 AM Central (Manistee is Eastern Time)Trip Details
The trip begins on Tuesday the 12th with everyone meeting by the Red Bridge parking lot. This is where we'll spend the night car camping and then hit the trail on the 13th.On Wednesday, we’ll hike clockwise starting on the North Country Trail side. We’ll do the entirety of the NCT side, cross the suspension bridge onto the Manistee River Trail side, and then find one of the many camp sites on the MRT side to spend the night. Wednesday’s total mileage should be around 12-13 miles. Once we start on the trail on Wednesday, there won’t be a reliable water source until shortly before we cross over the river, at approximately the 9 mile mark. Bring enough water to hike that distance without needing to refill. Once we cross over to the MRT side, spots to refill water are plentiful and easily accessible.
On Thursday we’ll hike the remaining 7 or 8 miles back to the trailhead and our cars.
Wildlife in Manistee is plentiful and includes black bears, bobcats, racoons, and other wild animals (like your organizers) that will find your food even more palatable than you do. Therefore, we will be doing a bear hang - or you can bring a bear canister or Ursack.
Mythical creatures and monsters purported to be in the forest include Dogman, Wendigo (preys on lost travelers so bring your map and compass), Melon Heads, Memegwesi, Bigfoot, and the Manistee Lights.
No add-ons please. If you have friends who want to attend, please ask them to join the Meetup group and sign up for the trip themselves. No pets, children, or other dependents.
We will have a Zoom meeting with attendees a week or two before the trip to go over the details, talk about what to bring and what to leave, etc.
Guidelines
We practice Leave No Trace and expect that everyone attending is also committed to these principles. Read more at https://lnt.orgParticipation is at the discretion of the event organizers.
And, as always, participants will need to sign a waiver prior to the trip.
Meetup messaging is unreliable, and we use email for pre-trip communications. You will be asked to enter your email when you RSVP. Respond to organizer emails in a timely manner or risk forfeiting your spot on the trip. Participation is at the discretion of the organizer.Acknowledgement
As a member of the Chicago Backpackers Group, by registering (RSVPing) for this event, you accept that Hiking & Backpacking can be a dangerous sport and fully assume all risks associated with such participation (like being eaten by a Wendigo or chased by Melon Heads), including travel to and from the event. You agree to be responsible for your own safety and equipment. You realize that conditions, obstacles, and weather are always changing, and your personal safety cannot be guaranteed. You understand that, in the event of being chased by Dogman, the organizers can and will run faster than you. You understand the Meetup.com Terms of Service agreement which you signed when you joined Meetup (link below) and accept that participation is at your own risk. You agree to communicate with event organizers to plan for the trip and sign the Release of Liability provided by the organizers prior to participation.
Click here to review the Meetup.com Terms of Service. (https://www.meetup.com/terms/)Looking forward to seeing you on trail,
Rob & Dermot - Yellow River State Forest (Iowa) Beginner/Intermediate tripYellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry, IA
Status: RSVPs open 9/5/25 at noon
Trip Summary:
Mileage: Moderate
Terrain/conditions: Moderate
Duration: 14 miles
Location Details / Map : Harpers Ferry, IowaRequirements:
This is a trip for experienced backpackers, or beginners in good physical shape and in possession of decent backpacking gear. If you have not completed an overnight trip with our meetup, direct message the organizer to introduce yourself. Review the club guidelines posted here. https://www.meetup.com/Chicago-Backpackers/Meetup messaging is unreliable, and we use email for pre-trip communications. You will be asked to enter your email when you RSVP. Respond to organizer emails in a timely manner or risk forfeiting your spot on the trip. Participation is at the discretion of the organizer. DO NOT RSVP UNLESS YOU FULLY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE ARRANGED FOR TIME OFF FROM WORK ETC. Cancellations and non-responders require the organizers to take additional time to contact and find participants to fill the spots.
About the Trip
This backpack will be a moderate to vigorous hike through a hilly trail area in eastern Iowa, two-hours west of Madison WI. The Paint Creek Backpacking loop is about 14 miles and will be conducted over two days. Trail map: https://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/forests/maps/yellowriver-backpack.pdf
The trail will be mostly comprised of packed dirt and rock, with several stretches on gravel road to complete the loop. There are four significant hills, varying from 200-feet to 400-feet of elevation change, that backpackers will need to traverse. While the breaks will be called for throughout the day, participants will need to be in good
physical shape so that the group can stay together and have a positive experience. Given the lengthy drive back on Sunday, the mileage will be frontloaded so that most occurs on Saturday, with less on Sunday. A side trip to nearby Effigy Mounds National Monument can be easily done on the way there or back.Gear: this outing will be a self-contained trip, meaning each participant shall provide their own backpacking gear, food, etc as though this was a solo trip. Participants are encouraged to bring this own stove, fuel, and water filter, but organizers will share theirs with participants who do not have these items.
Itinerary
Friday evening:
Meet at Big Paint Campground for an overnight car camp. Dinner on your own prior to arrival.Saturday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-8:15: Move cars to designated parking lot nearby.
8:15-8:30: Trail briefing and review backpacking etiquette and LEAVE NO TRACE principles.
8:30-2:00: Hike the Paint Creek Unit Backpacking Trail clockwise for approximately 10 miles to Brown’s Hollow Camp, including breaks.
2:00: Make camp, filter water, gather firewood, eat dinner, and share camaraderie.Sunday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-10:30: On the trail, hike approximately 4 miles to trailhead near Big Paint Campground, including breaks.
10:30: Return home.Transportation:
Trip organizers do not arrange carpools but we do encourage carpooling. If you want to offer or solicit a ride, use the Comments section for the trip. Confirm your travel arrangements before you RSVP for the trip. Each car should make its own gas reimbursement arrangements.Costs:
Camping fees for the trip will be divided evenly among the participants and collected by organizers. Approximately $5-15/person.Acknowledgement:
As a member of the Chicago Backpackers Group, by registering (RSVPing) for this event, you accept that Hiking & Backpacking can be a dangerous sport and fully assume all risks associated with such participation, including travel to and from the event. You agree to be responsible for your own safety and equipment. You realize that conditions, obstacles, and weather are always changing, and your personal safety cannot be guaranteed. You understand the Meetup.com Terms of Service agreement which you signed when you joined Meetup (link below) and accept that participation is at your own risk. You agree to communicate with event organizers to plan for the trip and sign the Release of Liability provided by the organizers prior to participation.Click here to review the Meetup.com Terms of Service.
(https://www.meetup.com/terms/)Click here to review the club standard Release of Liability form. This link takes you to the read-only form. Once you RSVP a trip organizer will share the form and request electronic signature, which is required to confirm participation on our trips.
[INSERT LINK TO READ ONLY FORM HERE]
Erik Sander, Melvin Harris, and Kevin Fishbein
