| __ Reservations - Reserve campsite in advance | Hint: #1 - Make a checklist of stuff to pack. There's no better way to remind yourself what to take, what works, and what doesn't. |
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__ Backpack - It goes without saying that your pack is extremely important. A good pack will be your faithful friend, helping you during the entire trip. A poor pack will be your beast of burden. You'll loathe putting it on, your stuff won't stay dry, you body will ache, and you'll be a cranky. So, get a good pack! Money has value here, it doesn't in the wilderness. The best packs in the world are made by Dana, Gregory, and Mountainsmith. If you step down a notch you'll get into the excellent value, good quality packs. Packs made by Kelty, The North Face, Lowe Alpine, and REI. There are plenty of other options but I've been on too many trips with Eureka or Jansport gear that failed. Packing - Packing your bag correctly will make a huge difference in how your pack performs. On a long trip, it's essential to pack properly. The rule of thumb is to keep all the heavy stuff towards the top of the pack as close to your body as possible. The easy way to do this is put all the light stuff in the bottom of your pack. Your sleeping back goes in the very bottom compartment. |
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Essentials __ Map (buy at trailhead) |
Essentials are the things you need to survive and don't let out of your sight. My pack has a handy top that detaches to become a fanny pack. I store my essentials there and can easily remove it from the pack for day hikes without the full load. Use your compass! If you don't know how you got there, a compass can't tell you how to get home. |
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Shelter/Bedding __ Tent/tarp dependent on weather/insects |
If insects aren't an issue, I carry a tarp. Otherwise, I have a variety of tents. Buy a good one, you'll never regret it. During the summer I carry a fleece blanket and during the fall and winter I pack a down filled sleeping bag. During mid-winter I take both. |
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Cleaning & Personal Items __ All purpose Soap (castile) |
Major Hint #2 - Diaper wipes. They sound like a bad idea but two of those per day is just right. They can clean anything from sausage grease off your fingers, a messy behind, or even your blackened pots & pans. One wipe can clean a whole lotta stuff. |
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Miscellaneous __ Duct tape (wrapped around something usefule like a lighter) |
Major Hint #3 .The Chocolate Rule. When deciding what to leave behind on a backpacking trip, The Chocolate Rule is helpful. Simply ask, "Would I rather have this <insert gadget here>, or an equal weight of chocolate?" |
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Clothing __ Hat - as weather dictates |
Major Hint #4 : No Cotton, you're better of naked. No jeans, cotton undies, or T-shirts. Cotton is bad packing wear. It's heavy, absorbs sweat and stink, doesn't wash easily, and doesn't let moisture go. Nearly any synthetic cloth is better than cotton. The best fabrics for your base layer is coolmax, bergelene, and caprilene. These are wicking fabrics and will draw moisture away from your body and release it keeping you dry in warm or cold weather. Cover your base layer with something appropriate for the days weather and have an outer weatherproof shell available for nasty weather. |
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Cooking __ Cooking Stove & Fuel (MSR Whisperlite Int'l 600) Food & Drink
Prepackaged Meals
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Major hint #5 - Ziploc bags. Ziplocs are the best. They work great for keeping food fresh, camera's, wallets, and maps dry, and containing smelly wildlife attractants like your sausage wrappers. Don't skimp, buy the ziploc brand bags. They're heavier plastic and the lock on the bags is more durable. An incident on N. Manitou Island involving chopped onions and a Ziploc wannabe cured me of ever buying non-Ziploc brand bags. Major hint #6 - Drink heavily. The more water you can get into your system the better. If you can down a gallon of water at the start of the trail, do it. Drink about 3 times as much as you should. If you're thirsty, drink even more, you're already getting dehydrated. I have my old standby's listed to the left. You can take whatever you want but those are foods we've found that are dense and satisfying. Major Hint #7 - Never put those little liquid-dispensing flip-top bottles inside (or near) a mesh stuffsack. The holes in the mesh are just the right size to grab the flip-top spout and the jostling of your pack will dispense liquid soap, cooking oil or primer fuel all over your gear. I had this happen on one trip. Fortunately I had the soap inside a ziploc. |
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First Aid Kit __ Triangular Bandages |
A wise hiker sits where he can. A sleeping pad stuffed into a Thermarest chair or folded Z•rest is more comforable than any rock or log. When lost, S.T.O.P. (Stop. Think. Observe. Use your brain. The single most important |
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Dog Gear
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Get the biggest one they make. I'm not going to carry 20 pounds of dog food while he's running circles around me! |