Looking for advice on what to pack for first real trip

**FLRider** · 03-04-2012, 21:49

What you'll need:

Comfy shoes and socks (I recommend two pair socks at a minimum, so that you have one clean and dry pair at all times).

A comfortable pack for the weight/volume you'll be carrying.

Water (a way carry it and a way to purify it, even if that's only gathering water from trusted sources).

Food (as low weight/high calorie as you can get away with without sacrificing taste given your chosen cooking method).

A way to keep the weather off (a tarp, plus top and bottom insulation).

A place to sleep (hammock).

Clothing for hiking in (you probably won't need much; a good baselayer and some rain gear is enough for most folks while they're moving, even down into the forties).

Clothing for around camp and sleeping in (you're going to want dry, warmer clothing for around camp at those temperatures).

A way to start a fire (I'd recommend three different ways, but that's really dependent upon your skill level).

A cutting tool.

A first aid kit (this can be as minimal as some gauze pads, an ace bandage, and some meds; I carry Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Immodium).

Some way to signal rescuers, should it be needed (mirror, whistle, space blanket, PLB, etc.).

A light (most prefer a headlamp).

In your shoes, I'd be most worried about my insulation. If you're letting the significant other keep the underquilt, I'd bring the CCF pad. It's probably lighter than the fleece blanket, even if it's bulkier. However, a CCF can be strapped to the outside of your pack and not suffer greatly; it's waterproof and fairly durable against snags.

How many miles a day are your planning on covering? That will alter how much weight you want to carry and vice-versa.

**Catavarie** · 03-04-2012, 22:42

I'm curious as to which campground you'll be stay at, or will you be moving between the 2 camp grounds?

Oh, and be sure to pack a camera, we like pictures to look at around here.

**G.L.P.** · 03-04-2012, 22:53

here is a gear list for my last trip ... temps were in the 30's during the day with
40+MPH wind gust and night time temps was 17F

ULA Conduit(2009 model) 22oz
Pack cover (cuben) 2oz
first aid and repair kit 2.7oz
Fire kit 1.8oz
toilet paper,baby wipes,small friction glide,hand san. 5.4oz
Ti stakes and ground cloth 2.4oz
Hygiene 2.6oz
Knife (Buck neck knife) .7oz
Water filter(sawyer squeeze with 64oz bag) 4oz
cooking kit(SP 600 w/lid FF stove,wind screen,mini bic 5.9oz
food bag(cuben) and OPsack,spork 2.8oz
Tarp(Zpack Cuben Hex)with lines 6.1oz
pad for feet and sit pad 3.4oz
TQ(JRB Hudson River Long)22.5oz
UQ (DIY WINTER) 15.5oz
Hammock (WBBB Dbl 1.1 with Dynaglide WS,4 foot tree straps,Dutch Hooks 24.7oz
Headlamp 2.3oz (petzel)

Cloths in pack 33.3oz
Patagonia down sweater
Extra socks and liners
IX Chaps
wind/rain pants
gloves
BR down hat
AGG UL rain jacket(will be used as a wind jacket)

157.8oz or 9lbs 13.8oz without food and water
with food and water 17lbs 4oz being it's windy i might add in a undercover for my hammock so 17lbs 11.3oz
this is for winter

I do want to add that this is just to give you some ideas please if your new to backpacking don't just run out and try UL ... it's not safe it takes time and practice to do this safe .... it's best to get gear you thing will work for you and test it before you take it out... find what works best for YOUR needs .... and what fits your style of backpacking ..what works for me might not work for you... HYOH... and have fun and be safe

**FLRider** · 03-04-2012, 23:15

Right...knew I was forgetting something important...TP and hand sanitizer. There're more "stomach bugs" in the back country from improper hand sanitation than bad water here in the US...

**flashbang009** · 03-05-2012, 13:04

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm still refining my pack load from the advice given here and it's helped a lot. I'm going to take the pad and most likely just a regular sleeping bag, I'll be sure to bundle up if I get cold at night. I've got a gravity feed water filter with 2x 2L platy bags for holding dirty and purified water. Bringing a supercat stove with windscreen and plenty of fuel.

We're staying in the more eastern campground of the two, and staying in one site for the trip. It's only a 2.5 mile hike in, but we'll be going on day hikes. It should be a great way to get acclimated and thin my pack as everyone has said. Is there any need for me to bear bag our food?

**Catavarie** · 03-05-2012, 21:47

Don't think bears are normally in the area, but I'd suggest still hanging food if only because of Foxes and Racoons. Plus Bear bagging is a skill that takes A LOT of practice. You'd be well served to practice the skill with plenty of daylight instead of trying to do it your first time in the dark. Good luck and let us know how the trip goes.

**kilo0tango** · 03-05-2012, 22:47

Originally Posted by 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.

I went out for a trial run with my HH this past weekend and boy did I learn. Weather said nightime low was 45. Turns out, it hit 30. I froze to death. Got about an hour of sleep and couldn't wait to pack up and get home the next morning. Next time I'll take my thermarest and a space blanket along with some thermals no matter what the weather is supposed to be.

**hang10** · 03-05-2012, 23:39

save your feet! sock liners are a gift from God. a multitool for your knife will really come in handy as you fine tune your gear.

**flashbang009** · 03-06-2012, 19:57

So I've gotten everything pretty much packed up and ready. Heading out tomorrow around 10am. I'm sitting at 25lbs total pack weight with everything but my sleeping bag. Having a real tough time figuring out how to pack that sucker. It's a 0* and won't fit in the straps on the bottom of my bag (4700 cu in). I've got a blue ccf pad on the bottom of the pack.

Suggestions?

**Shug** · 03-06-2012, 20:01

Originally Posted by flashbang009

So I've gotten everything pretty much packed up and ready. Heading out tomorrow around 10am. I'm sitting at 25lbs total pack weight with everything but my sleeping bag. Having a real tough time figuring out how to pack that sucker. It's a 0* and won't fit in the straps on the bottom of my bag (4700 cu in). I've got a blue ccf pad on the bottom of the pack.

Suggestions?

Tie on top maybe. Or if it looks to be wet weather....bag inside and food on top in a bag.
Have a good trip. Take note of successes and failures.
Shug