Looking for advice on what to pack for first real trip

[flashbang009]

Hey all,

Finally going to be able to make it out on my first short backpacking trip. It'll be 2 nights, 3 days down in Raven Rock NC. Forecast is low 40's high 60's. I've got a ~5000 cu in backpack and am having trouble figuring out what to bring shelter wise.

My gf will most likely be getting my Insultex UQ, so I'm left trying to figure out how to stay warm while still packing light. I've got a 0* bag but the temps won't get down below 40. I'm thinking of bringing a fleece sleeping bag and just going to bed with a few jackets on. I have a blue CCF pad but I'm not sure if I should bring it.

I'm also planning out the food and schedule for 5 people so it should prove to be quite fun!!

Tips, suggestions?

[Shug]

Maybe these will help some.....
Carry on and eat goodly.
Shug

[GT]

Definitely and without a doubt bring a lite weight tarp or two and some no questions asked fire starters and something bullet proof to light them with. I also keep a set of Polar Tec long undies and fresh socks in my pack just in case. I use he heavy weight ones but it gets wicked cold up here. They sell them in lighter weights too. But be sitting down when you look at the price.
Oh, and I always keep a roll of biodegradable trial marking flags on me just in case I come to an intersection on the trail. Write the mag heading you want down on it and hang it at the intersection. Oh, and don't forget first aid. Advil!
You can take up to 4 of them if you happen to break a bone out there.
Bandages and bug dope or course. Rub the bottom of your legs with baby oil. Bugs and ticks hate it. Haven't had a tick on me in years because of it.
Rain gear, compass, GPS, energy bars! Always have a few with you. And potable filter or iodine pills for drinking water.
Oh yeah, And a 9mm. Just in case someones Pittbull doesn't take a liking to you on their trail near their master on a saturday and wearing baby oil.
I'm sure others have more to list for you to carry....
Have a great hike and camp out though. I'm jealous...You got an earlier start then me.

[Red Wing]

definitely take the pad if you don't have a UQ for yourself. Fleece liners are usually rated to around 55* by themselves, some 60*. You could prolly use a Poncho liner and set it up to go UQ if you need or extra on top if you need.

[Fig]

I second the pad. I was thinking the other day about trying out one of those cheap pool floats as a pad. It can pack down pretty good, and if it gets a hole, no tears will be shed. Before I get yelled at I was just going to do it as an experiment. I have a Thermarest already and a Big Agnes pad is on its way.

P.S. Since you say it's your first real trip, overpack on this one. You can then weed out what you didn't use later.

[Sweetspot]

+1 on the pad...warmth, water, food as a baseline. Shug's videos should about cover everything else you need. Good luck and have fun

[kayak karl]

SGT Rock helped me with my first hike.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...311#post132311
this was 2005, i used it in 2007 and just substituted for tent stuff.
Rock probably has a hammock gear list posted somewhere by now

[kayak karl]

SGT Rock helped me with my first hike.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...311#post132311
this was 2005, i used it in 2007 and just substituted for tent stuff.
Rock probably has a hammock gear list posted somewhere by now

here we go 2008
http://www.trailjournals.com/gear.cfm?trailname=6399

[OutandBack]

The last time I trusted the weatherman I came home 2 days early.
Forecast daytime 35-40F nite 18-23F
Actual High for the day was 13F and nite was -3F with a sustained winds of 15 mph.
My hanging gear was rated to 20F and I was pretty sure I could go to 15F.

I would never skimp on bringing warm things to sleep in and just hope it works out.
Night time can be long and cold if your not prepared.

[Catavarie]

Given our recent bought of weather in the central NC I'd say, take the pad and use your 0* bag as a quilt and wear thin base layers only unless you get cold. In my experience sleeping directly on a pad usually causes condensation faster for me, thus the thin base layers only. Keep your insulating layer in the bottom of your bag so that if you get cold you can put on your prewarmed layers, and if you get too hot you can slide your quilt down a bit. Definitely wear a warm cap and possibly a face mask when you go to sleep. Pitch your tarp to block the wind as well as you can and pitch either steep or open because the morning dew and condensation has been quite heavy lately. Last time out, I awoke to find the underside of my tarp soaked. I accidentally brushed it when getting out of my hammock and felt like I was in a rain storm. Take your time out there, slow down and just enjoy being in nature. Oh, and watch our for the horse poop.