Planning for climbs - a timeline

Use this timeline as a a planning aid for your next climb trip.  This is of course a rough schedule, and feel free to adjust to your needs.

3+ days before departure

1. Agree on who’s going
2. Agree on who’s driving
3. Agree on who’s bringing what group gear (tent, stove, rope, rack)
4. Check weather
5. Do any needed car maintenance (oil change)
6. Check moon phase and sunrise /sunset times for your climb area (also on Mazamas Links page)
7. Lay out all gear on floor of basement / garage / gear room
8. Photocopy any needed route descriptions and driving directions
9. Make route card, print and laminate
10. Procure maps
11. Review gear checklist
12. Make a list of gear or food you still need to get (gives you 2 days to shop)

2 days before departure

1. Pack all gear and most food
2. Buy any remaining gear or non-perishable food items you need
3. Check weather again
4. Charge up or replace all batteries (phone, camera, headlamp, GPS)

1 day before departure

1. Check road or area closures with NPS, USFS (fire closures in the summer)
2. Check weather
3. Buy perishable foods (usually bagels)
4. Gas up car
5. Write down all trip info and give or email to your emergency contact person

departure day for climb

1. Remember to grab any food or frozen water bottles in the fridge (easy to forget these!)
2. Meet your team right on time at the carpool spot
3. Review group gear assignments in the car before you leave town with all team members to be sure you have everything

on return from climb

1. Replace any used gear (eg, buy more Gu, sunscreen, blister patches to the first aid kit)
2. Write up the trip in your climbing journal in the first day or so back so it’s all fresh in your mind
3. Download photos or GPS points to a directory or web site where you can easily find them again
4. Post useful info about your climb on the Route Description blog on the Mazama member pages to help future climbers