The Basics for a Backpack Trip

I am preparing for a short jaunt, four or five days on the PCT. Weather has cooled, and the trail is calling.

My right brain tells me "You can just load up and head out...you have done this many times, you know what to take". Fortunately my left brain says: "No! Silly one, make a checklist".

Alright lefty, here goes: Shelter, food, and water is really all one needs, but I like to have a little, OK, a lot of comfort, so here I go.

Gregory Backpack

North Face Sleeping bag

ThermoRest self inflating sleeping pad and inflatable pillow (OK, I'm a softy)

Food, planning on four days, so taking enough for five (a good time to check out a new dehydrated product line, Cache Lake)

Hot chocolate, Kirkland trail mix, oatmeal

Spork

Solo wood/alcohol stove and fuel

Water (the planned section has frequent water, so two liter Platypus will do)

Katyden water filter (just in case)

Polar insulated stainless steel water bottle

10 E's: map, compass, extra tarp, first aide kit, whistle, extra batteries, duct tape, fire starter, razor blades, large rubber bands

Altimeter

Homemade tarp tent and stakes

Parachute cord

Trekking poles

Warm jacket

Long pants

Three pair socks

Hat and gloves

Wind jacket and pants

Long underwear (NOAA weather forecast: 70s daytime, 50s nights, but the weatherperson is sometimes wrong)

Trail shoes

Camp shoes

Headlamp

Cell phone (Verizon works best)

Sunglasses

Half Mile maps

Journal, pens

John Muir book

Field id cards

Toothbrush and paste

Lastly - double check the gear list on camptortoise.com

Everything checks out, and all the above comes out to a weight of 36 pounds. Way too heavy for an ultra-lite, but less than a total comfort pack.

Vasquez Rock and the PCT, here I come....

Check in the next Loop Newspaper and read all about it.

Until then, Happy Trails...