"The real way to know a little river is not to glance at it here or there in the course of a hasty journey, nor to become acquainted with it
after it has been partly civilized and spoiled by too close contact
with the works of man. You must go to its native haunts; you must see
it in its youth and freedom; you must accomodate yourself to its
pace, and give yourself to its influence, and follow its meanderings
whithersoever they may lead you."
-- Henry Van Dyke--
BACKPACKING CHECKLIST
Note: I don't take all these items on every trip. This listing is
a starting point for the thinking process in preparation for a trip.
Factors which dictate what gets taken include: how many will be on
the trip to share common gear; anticipated weather conditions (but be
prepared for unexpected conditions, too!); weight of the pack after
you finish loading it; what doesn't fit into the pack as you finish
loading it; personal preference; how many days the trip will last,
etc. So print the list if it looks helpful to you and then customize
it to your personal needs/preferences. But don't take all of the
following stuff!
Emergency gear:
mirror &
whistle
spare glasses
waterproof/windproof
matches
compass/maps
pliars & picture wire
duct
tape
rubber bands
tent repair kit
ThermaRest repair kit
seam
sealer
sewing kit
spare cord locks
emergency
blanket
backpack repair pieces
spare batteries
Swiss Army
knife
50' cord/rope
flashlight & headband
garbage bags
(2) (tie type) (pack covers, etc.)
First Aid supplies
Wilderness Medicine (First Aid
book)
Ozenol ointment
Bacteen spray
Kaopecate caplets
gauze
Ben
Gay
Band Aids
Tums or Rolaids
adhesive tape
safety
pins
tweezers
cough drops
moleskin/molefoam
Q-tips
snake bite kit
Advil or Tylenol
lip
balm
nail clippers
nose spray
sun block
(30)
thermometer
WashNDries
bandaids, gauze and tape
AfterBite
Antihistamine (Benadryl)
If you fish:
fishing pole/lures
Teflon
fry pan
filet knife
Health/personal toiletries:
PUR
water filter
waterbottles
(3)
toothbrush/toothpaste
deodorant/soap
pack towels
(2)
trowel/TP
High DEET repellant
Iodine tablets
eyeglass
strap
hand lotion
clothes
pins
medications/vitamins
Cooking:
cook set
pot
lifter
wooden spatulas
stick matches
Sierra
cup
utensils
stove
spare gas/ cartridge
white kitchen
trash bags (for toting out your garbage)
Entertainment:
deck
of cards
steno pad/pen/pencil
book(s) to
read
binoculars
Sleeping gear:
tent/ground
cloth
sleeping bag
pillow
ThermaRest mattress
candle
lantern/spare candles (2)
Photography:
camera
Panoramic
camera
spare camera batteries
film/unipod
Clothing
GoreTex
top & bottom
sweatshirt with hood
sweatpants
hiking
shorts
spare pants
T-shirts
GoreTex rain hat
handkerchiefs
camp
shoes
hiking boots
socks (hiking &
regular)
underwear
Food
freeze-dried
food
vegetables
tortillas
raisins
tuna
fish/bread/crackers
apples
hot chocolate
licorice bites
mayo
packets
soup
cashews
jelly beans/trail mix