Thursday, July 21, 2011

Master Packing List

The overly comprehensive packing list. You should probably never take all of this stuff, but we're working on a complete list of things you should consider bringing, depending on where you're going.

Sleeping:
air mattress / sleeping pad
Pillow
Sleeping bag
Tent
Ground Sheet
1 liter platypus bladder for hot water bottle

Cooking gear:
burner
gas
pot
bowl
cup
spoon/fork/spork/foon
bags for garbage
matches
12 meters light rope for bear cache
waterproof food bag (not a plastic shopping bag, needs to be tough)
wash cloth
camp suds
pot scraper

Food:
gum
decaffeinated tea
coffee
oil
seasonings: salt, pepper, seasoning salt, hot sauce
soup: Lipton's chicken noodle, full salt
snacks for the day: fruit bars, clif bars, trail mix (which should be salty)
Gatorade powder
dehydrated food packs: cook in bag, single serving best. Not vegan: they always taste worse. Note serving sizes; if it says it serves 2, then it probably serves 1. Mountain House is the best brand. Macaroni chili beef = good.

Water:
camelback
nalgene
filtration pump
disinfectant drops or other backup
folding bucket

Entertainment:
book or kindle (think about rain)
cards
nalgene o' whisky. A mickey per person per day for best results.

Toiletries:
More toilet paper than you think you need
hand sanitizer (unscented)
folding shovel (sturdy but light)
toothbrush & toothpaste
tweezers
painkillers - Aleve, Motrin, Advil
antihistamines: Claritin
anti-nauseant: Gravol
Tums
Immodium
cortisone cream
glutamine
sunblock
DEET
contact lens / glasses gear
eyedrops
wet wipes
afterbite / teatree oil
first aid kit
anti-blister cream
liquid band-aid

Luggage / Bags
backpack
separate day pack
toiletries kit
waterproof (stinkproof) laundry bag
waterproof bag for electronics
mesh bags for organization
spare ziplock bags
compression sack for sleeping bag

Navigation gear
GPS
compass
topographical map
binoculars

Other gear
head lamp
tent lamp
spare batteries
swiss army knife
camera
duct tape or repair tape
patch kit for air mattress
emergency blanket
bear spray (works on marmots)
bear bangers (untested on marmots)
sunglasses
tarp to use as cooking shelter
trekking poles
pen/paper
carabiners, at least 3 -- two for your anti-bear food cache, plus one other

Clothing
underwear
hiking socks
long underwear
t-shirts
shorts
belt
long pants
light sweater (merino wool)
fleece
raincoat
boots: high top, stiff sole, waterproof
gaiters: gore-tex, NON OPTIONAL
sandals or camp shoes
bandanna
hat with visor
toque
pack towel
pack wash cloth

To be left in the car for after the hike:
change of clothes
other shoes
food
water
beer to be cached in a nearby stream, if possible

Things to check before going:
pre-plan your route, you idiot
load the route in your GPS, if possible
think about waterproofing. Boots, backpack, rain coat and tent: are they going to hold up?
Think hard about beer in a mountain stream and ask yourself if it will be worth carrying one up