"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