About Bitterroot Backpacking
Bitterroot Backpacking's mission is to guide guests on memorable hiking and backpacking expeditions through forest and wilderness areas on trips (especially alpine lake packrafting trips) that teach the essentials of backpacking, methods of safely navigating the backcountry, and ethical and responsible ways to camp in the backcountry, all by using Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.
Additionally, it is Bitterroot Backpacking’s goal to work with guides and other FS users who commit themselves to trail stewardship. We believe it is our guides’ responsibilities to help other hikers and recreators when requested, clean up trash, report illegal activity, and volunteer time to trail work projects each year.
We also strive to be a community leader by hosting educational seminars about relevant topics to the field, free trips for locals, and providing relevant information and updates about trails and FS land to the community when needed.
Bitterroot Backpacking gives more than 5% of it's profits to the following organizations that help protect public lands:
- Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation
- Bitterroot Water Partnership
- Five Valley Land Trust
and donates free trips to auctions for these organizations:
- Community Health Alliance
- LGBT Montana
- Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
About Luke Hayduk
Founder, Owner, Guide
My trail experience began over a decade ago as a young adult, backpacking sections of the Appalachian Trail in NJ, NY, or "Rocksylvania" with my friends and peers at Rowan University.
In 2016, I earned my B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rowan University and then worked in Food Science for 3 years, backpacking or hiking every weekend, half-day, and holiday 3 seasons each year. In 2019, I backpacked nearly a thousand miles in America's national parks and forests in a single summer. During this time, I fell in love with the Bitterroot, Glacier, the Flathead, and all of the other extraordinary public lands that exist in Montana. I made plans to move to Montana as soon as possible, and did so just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. That summer was spent socially distanced in the Bitterroot learning about all of the amazing nooks and crannies that exist out there. I established Bitterroot Backpacking at the end of that year, and have since set off on the greatest adventure of my life!
Fun Fact: There's an 800 mile thru-hike in Utah, called the "Hayduke Trail" named after fictional character George Hayduke from Edward Abbey's book 'The Monkey Wrench Gang'. Completely concidental!
Reviews
Read our reviews on all of our booking platforms!
66 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews
"Luke is well-prepared and super knowledgeable of the paths we took and the area we were exploring. At the meeting point Luke had all the camp/backpacking gear ready to go and made sure I felt comfortable with what we were using for the days I was with him. As someone who does not regularly go camping and had never been backpacking, Luke was a true guide."
- Olivier