Adventuring requires a special kind of crazy person. Packing for every trip is always different and always takes a considerable amount of time and planning. Each “T” must be crossed, and every “I” dotted in order to have a safe and fun trip.
First you must look at your maps to see where your water sources are. Do they follow or intersect the trail? for how long and where? For this trip I am only starting out with two liters of water/Gatorade because the trail follows several significant water sources on the first day.
Your packing also depends on the weather. Types of clothing, tents, sleeping gear, and rain gear are all taken into consideration. You have to always be weight conscious, and drop pounds where necessary.
On this particular trip I am taking 2 tents, and two sleeping bags. One set is for Friday night. I will throw it in the car Saturday morning before my hike (this way I don’t have to fold it, just throw it). The second sleeping bag and tent will go in my 5lb drop and will be waiting for me when I reach camp Saturday night.
Here is my packing list:
- 2 tents
- 2 sleeping bags
- Thermorest sleeping pad
- Food bag
- Pot cozy
- 50’ of bearline
- Trekking poles
- Carabineer
- Duct tape
- 3 liter water bladder
- Body glide
- Headlamp
- Obligatory Star Wars hiking beanie
- Phone
- 3” blade
- Wallet
- Car and house keys
- Water filter
- Maps
- Compass
- GPS
- Denatured alcohol
- Pack rain cover
- Water filter
- Iodine tablets
- Chewable pepto bismol tablets
- Acetaminophen
- 2 lighters
- 1 alcohol stove
- Plastic hiking spork
- Titanium cooking pot
- Patagonia capilene undies
- Smart wool socks
- Wool gloves
- Light rain shell
- Nylon britches
- Polyester base layer
- Patagonia mid-weight long-sleeved layer
- Patagonia nano-puff breathable rain resistant insulating layer (this time just for camp) Hiking boots.
I estimate that my total carrying pack weight will be approximately 20lbs (not taking into consideration the clothing I will be wearing). That is reasonably light considering the typical trip load averages around 30 lbs for most hikers. The 5lb Saturday night drop helps considerably.