By Sam K White
The Basics for a Backpack Trip
Adventure on the Trail
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Sam K White
A lot of stuff. Comfort costs. Wonder if I can get it all in my pack?
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
Sam K White
Wow, it all fit, and weighed in at 36 pounds, and includes three liters of water.
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...
