Trip Types
Pick your activity — the list follows
WayUpThere builds a different checklist for every way of moving through the North. Choose one to start, then layer on the terrain you’ll actually face.
Backpacking & Hiking
Multi-day foot travel from valley trails to alpine routes. Lists scale layers, shelter, and food to your distance, season, and elevation.
Plan this tripPackrafting & Canoe
Moving water in near-freezing temperatures. Triggers worn PFDs, immersion protection, throw bags, dry bags, and boat repair — the non-negotiables.
Plan this tripSki & Snowshoe Touring
Human-powered winter travel. Adds a −40 sleep system, insulated everything, and — in avalanche terrain — a beacon, probe, and shovel for the whole party.
Plan this tripFat-Bike
Winter riding on ice roads and packed trails. Balances cold-weather layering, drivetrain care, and long-darkness lighting against pack weight.
Plan this tripMountaineering
Glaciated and exposed objectives. Emphasises eye protection, storm-worthy shelter, navigation redundancy, and conservative bailout planning.
Plan this tripHunting & Fishing
Often motorized and remote. Layers in spare parts and tools, game handling, licences and tags, and bear-aware food storage.
Plan this tripRoad & Vehicle-Based
The Dempster, Dalton, and points beyond. Focuses on self-recovery, cold-start reliability, and surviving a breakdown between fuel stops.
Plan this tripThe toggles that change everything
These are the conditions that reshape a checklist. Flip one on and the right gear appears — often as Critical, the kind you can’t quietly skip.
Water crossings
Rivers change everything. Immersion protection, flotation, and swiftwater rescue gear move from “nice to have” to Critical.
Avalanche terrain
Slopes between roughly 30–45° in winter and spring. Adds transceiver, probe, and shovel for every member — and a prompt to check the bulletin.
Above tree line
No firewood, no wind shelter, brutal glare. Mandates a stove, storm-rated shelter, and eye protection.
Deep cold
Freeze-up, break-up, and deep winter. Drives sleep-system ratings, fuel volume for melting snow, and the wind-chill math for your dates.
Bear country
Grizzly and black bear range. Adds accessible deterrents and bear-proof food storage, and flags local regulations.
Travelling solo
No partner to self-rescue with. Escalates communications redundancy and makes filing a trip plan non-optional.
Your trip type, your list
Answer six questions and get a checklist and SAR trip plan tuned to exactly how and where you’re going.