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Backpacking Gear Checklist
This gear list should answer most of your gear questions so please read through this carefully. If you still have
questions just send us an email or give us a call. There’s nothing that guides like to discuss more than gear.
We can’t over stress the importance of keeping your load as light as possible. It’s always tempting to over pack
and toss in those extras thinking “it doesn’t really weigh much and I’ll be glad I brought it.”
No, you won’t. You will regret all those extras every time you hoist your pack onto your back. Optional items like
camp shoes, MP3 players, binoculars, extra clothing, etc. can easily add up to 6-7 pounds of unnecessary
weight on your back.
Leave the extras at home and always make weight one of the primary considerations when making gear
selections. But if you are note sure about something bring it along and ask the guide.
Clothing
While Hiking
Your clothing is a system of layers that you add and subtract according to the dictates of weather and
temperature. My own clothing preference when hiking is to wear a pair of very lightweight synthetic socks under
a wool sock. I wear light weight nylon pants (no long johns), a polypro shirt and a cap. To this I add insulating
and waterproof layers as conditions change.
Don’t bring any cotton clothing. Cotton is not a good insulator and once it gets wet it takes forever to dry out.
Absolutely no jeans!
__ Convertible pants – A pair of lightweight nylon pants with legs that zip off and convert to shorts saves you
from carrying a pair of both. you will rarely take the legs off however except for stream crossings. If you can’t
get the convertibles just go with the pants.You will not miss the shorts.
__ Long johns – A pair of lightweight polypro long-johns – 2 pair of tops and 1 bottoms. This is the layer that
goes next to your skin. Light to mid weight is good, don’t go for the heavy weight.
__ Fleece pants – a light weight pair of fleece pants can be nice to slip into when you get to camp, but they are
bulky and take a lot of space in your pack. This an optional item. You don’t really need them till early to mid
August. If you get chilly in camp youI have the long johns as well as rain pants for extra warmth.
__ Medium weight jacket – this is your primary insulating layer and can be either fleece or one of the newer
materials such as Primaloft. Something like the Patagonia down sweater or similar, would be ideal with a
mid-weight fleece under.
__ Secondary jacket layer – good for when you just need a little bit of insulation over the polypro or together
with the primary jacket for when it gets a bit cooler in the evening at camp. This could be a mid weight
fleece. These two layers are critical - do not skimp. A micro-fleece is not mid-weight. You need to very
warm layers of outer wear! You need TWO upper body warm layers not just one!
__ Rain jacket – get a light weight Gore-tex jacket, not a heavy duty one. I like the Marmot Precip jacket and
pants, or something similar. Be sure to get a hard shell jacket not soft. We have had people take soft shell
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