Methodology and Sources

Last updated November 6, 2026

This page shows how a Pitch & Pack guide is made and checked, which sources we use and how the Planner turns your trip details into quantities. The lists of sources and photo credits for the whole site come at the end of the page.

How each guide is made

We pick one question a beginner asks and give it one guide.
We open the official pages on that topic and read them in full, not just a search snippet.
We write down each number and rule together with the page it came from. If no official page states it, it does not go into the guide.
We write in short sentences and describe types of gear, never brands.
We compare the draft with the sources. Numbers, agency names and conditions such as “in some parks” or “where permitted” must match what the source says.
We run automated checks for structure, word count and links, and for content the site does not allow, such as prices and brand names.
We record the date each source was consulted and show it under the guide.
We recheck the guide when a source changes or when a reader sends a correction.

Which agencies we use

National Park Service (NPS): camping, campfires, wildlife, accessibility and park planning.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS): national forest camping and dispersed camping.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): camping on public lands.
Leave No Trace Center: the seven principles of outdoor ethics.
NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS): forecasts, heat, wind and lightning safety.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): food safety.
State park agencies: rules at state campgrounds, used to show how rules differ by state.
Recreation.gov: the federal reservation system for campsites.

How the Planner calculates quantities

The Planner uses four simple rules. Each item in its data follows one of them:

Per person: the amount grows with the number of people. Example: one sleeping bag for each person.
Per night: the amount grows with the number of nights. Example: stove fuel.
Per trip: one item, or one set, shared by a group. It depends on group size and not on nights. Example: a tent that sleeps a set number of people.
Fixed: the same amount every time. Example: printing the campground rules.

Water, food, heat and safety are handled more strictly. The Planner shows a number for these items only when an official source gives that number, and the item points to the source. If there is no official number, the item says “Check local guidance” and sends you to the page for your park, forest or campground. The Planner never fills the gap with an average or a guess.

Units

Measurements use U.S. units first, with metric in parentheses. A length is written as 10 feet (3 m) and a temperature as 40°F (4°C). Conversions are rounded for readability, so check the official page when an exact figure matters.

Limits of this method

Official pages change. The date next to a source shows when we last opened it, not that the rule is still in force today.
Rules vary by park, forest, district and campground. A guide describes the general picture and cannot replace the page for your campground.
When an official page describes one place, we use it as an example and say so. It shows how a rule can look, not how it applies everywhere.
Official pages do not answer every question. When no official source covers it, the guide says the rule varies and does not fill the gap.
The site gives no medical, first aid, legal or survival advice. See the Disclaimer.

Report a problem

If something no longer matches an official page, tell us through the Corrections page. The lists that follow show every source cited in the guides and every photo credit.