Backpacking Trips

Sample Equipment List

Packing - day hikes or overnight, the essentials	Clothing - think in layers; remember cotton kills
Raincoat - waterproof; NO umbrellas, ponchos, or Gore-Tex Rainpants - waterproof; zippered vents, suspenders are nice Hiking shoes - heavy duty; break them in BEFORE the trip! Garbage bags - compactor type; put clothes inside; take extras Toilet paper - carefully burn after use; or use sphagnum moss Topo maps - can bring maps of neighboring areas just in case Compass - with signal mirror; always! (don't depend on GPS) Sneakers - or sandals or booties; cross streams, around camp Headnet - black is best; much better than mosquito repellent	Shirts - one wool; nylon or silk (bugs); max one cotton (sun) Shorts - one pair, lightweight; nylon or cotton okay (sun) Jackets - several; polar fleece, wool, or acrylic; NO cotton! Trousers - one pair; tropical wool or polyester; NO cotton! Underwear - several pair; polypro, nylon, silk, some cotton Thermals - top and bottom; polypro, silk, fleece; NO cotton! Gloves - or mittens; fingerless okay; wool or polypro best Socks - several pair; wool, synthetic, blended; NO cotton! Hat - one wool; maybe another with visor (shelter from sun)

Camping - overnights; be prepared for cold & wet	Cooking - stove & fuel may be split up & shared
Tent - three season, separate rainfly; self-standing is better Backpack - internal or external frame; of sufficient capacity Ground cloth - heavy duty space blanket; put INside the tent Sleeping pad - closed cell foam, or RidgeRest, or ThermaRest Sleeping bag - synthetic, NOT down!; good to 20 F (or -5 C) Blanket - polyester; add to bag if cold, use instead if warm	Fuel - appropriate for stove; bring only what you really need Stove - light but dependable; MSR WhisperLite recommended Lighter - not child-proof (won't work if you're hypothermic) Spoon - maybe add another or a fork; polycarbonate or metal Cup - with snap-on lid for faster cooking of pasta or ramen Pot - or two, fairly light weight, WITH lid (saves on fuel)

First-Aid - keep it simple, very basic, lightweight	Personal - important items; varies with individual
Tablets - a few each of analgesic (aspirin) and antihistamine Bandages - moleskin; gauze pads; adhesive wrap; band-aids Medications - if taking medications, don't leave them at home Creams/lotions - antibiotic first-aid; hand lotion; sunscreen Soap & shampoo - ONLY if biodegradable; moist towelettes Dental floss - doubles for repair thread or stitching sutures Toothbrush - bag toothpaste to reduce its attraction to bears Needle - to sew buttons, repair backpack, even make stitches	Knife - Swiss army okay, but don't get too carried away Money - for before or after trip; don't leave in the vehicle Identification - pack drivers license or other identification Horn/whistle - for people (bears EAT whistling marmots) Signal flares - optional; as signal, fire starter, bear repellent Bear spray - safer than a pistol (and certainly much lighter) Shock cord - a few yards (meters); for repairs or tying down Duct tape - tent repair; no Alaskan would ever be without it!

Food - no smelly, oily food; bears have great noses	Optional - not required; depends on person & trip
Water bottle - quart (liter) size, or bring a couple if smaller Water filter - giardia is quite present in wilderness Alaska Breakfasts - "bloatmeal", yoghurt, granola, powdered milk Lunches - jerky, bagels, cheese, peanut butter, fruit, veggies Dinners - be creative; spice it up, but avoid oils and odors Snacks - eat while hiking; candy bars, dried fruit, nut mixes Treats - after dinner; hot chocolate, tea, dessert, cookies	Camera - remember the trip by taking photos along the way Film - or extra memory cards/sticks if using digital camera Book - light-weight (split up); for those long days of rain Notepad - to remember locations, something to do if it rains Rock hammer - for pounding in stakes, extracting specimens Chisels - for rocks and minerals, extracting fossil specimens Sacks - for collecting specimens; Tyvek envelopes work well

Notes and Explanations

Waterproof Raingear and Shelter

It is important in Alaska to keep dry regardless of the weather, so absolutely waterproof raingear and tents are quite critical. If clothes (or sleeping bag) are wet (from rain or stream crossing) and it is very cold, hypothermia can easily result. What hikers need is raingear that really works--not just around town in the sun, but in heavy rain (or snow or sleet) and high wind. Gore-Tex and Tyvek raingear are NOT waterproof and thus NOT adequate for Alaska; ponchos and umbrellas are useless due to potential high winds here. Cheap gear from low price stores like WalMart is usually worthless as well. I've seen WalMart dome tents collect four inches of water overnight, and I've seen them blow away from strong gusts of wind.

Sleeping Bag and Ground Cloth

Down filled sleeping bags are not recommended for summer in Alaska, since down absorbs moisture which decreases its ability to insulate. Place a thick plastic (trash compactor) bag inside the sleeping bag stuff sack, then stuff the sleeping bag inside the plastic bag. A thick emergency blanket (aluminumized on one side and colored red on the other) makes a better ground cloth than the official tent footprint. Instead of placing it UNDER the tent (where it causes water running down the walls to collect into a pool), place it INside and curl it up along the walls (so any water drops will be kept underneath). It also protects the floor (since most punctures originate from the inside anyway). The aluminumized emergency blanket reflects body heat, adding warmth; or the red side can be used to signal for help if and when an emergency situation arises.

Š2001 Curvin Metzler