Equipment List and Wilderness Rules

INDEX click on the subject of interest
Personal Equipment Packing Sleeping Wearing Apparel Survival Eating Hygiene Optional	Crew Gear List	Wilderness Rules (common sense) Rule of Three Check Out of Camp Emergency Packing Crew Gear Mental Attitude Wilderness Manners

BACKPACKING - LONG TREKS PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
ITEM		Check X	COMMENT
For Packing
12	zip-loc bags 2 sizes		Keep clothes dry whenyou fall in the creek
50 ft	nylon chord (S)		Clothsline and other stuff
2	garbage bags (heavy duty)		Cover pack at night.
For Sleeping
1	sleeping bag in waterproof bag		Use garbage bag in nylon bag
1	water proof ground cloth for tent (S)
	small flashlight with spare batteries (S)
Wearing Apparel (packed in zip-loc bags for protection and organization)
1	pair hiking boots (broken in)		Waterproof your boots
3	pair wool socks		Wear two pair socks when hiking
3	pair cotten socks (or tube socks)
1	long pants		Warmups or ski pants are lighter and warmer than jeans
2	short pants
2	T-shirts
2	under shorts (garments)		carry 2 wear 1.
1	sweatshirt, warm sweater or warmup top _
1	nylon windbreaker
1	pancho or rain suit
1	sneakers or light weight footwear
1	hat or cap
1	belt (optional)
In Your Pockets - Survival top of page
1	pocket knife (no sheath knives)		You don't travel aloneso all persons on side hikes need not carry all items. See Rule of Three.
1	waterproof case with matches or butane lighter
1	partial roll of individual toilet paper
1	compass		Learn to use it to keep your bearings-know where you are - don't depend on someone else to guide you.
1	chapstick
1	large handkerchief
For Eating
	deep plate (like BSA mess kit cover)		Plastic plate ok but must be small enough to fit in wash pot.
	cup (measuring)		No glass. Light plastic will break, melt or burn. Metal will burn your lips. Tough choice.
	spoon		Every dish cooked may be eaten with a spoon
	canteen, 1qt or 1.5 qt
Hygiene
1	sunscreen (not lotion)		top of page
1	insect repellen		Deep Woods Off or Cutters
1	bar soap (small)
1	liquid laundry detergent (small bottle)
1	toothbrush & small tube toothpaste
1	comb
1	metal mirror(S)
1	small towel & washcloth		light weight as possible
1	foot powder(S), bandaids, moleskin, 2nd Skin
2	small handkerchiefs
Optional top of page
1	polypad or thin air mattress		for sleeping or extra pad for sitting on a log
1	camera & film
1	sunglasses (head band recommended)
1	inexpensive watch
1	fishing gear
1	small note pad and pencil
1	pair extra shoe laces		recommended for old boots
1	stocking cap
	rubber bands, large		Nice for cold nights and mornings
1	bandana

(S) share with buddy

(BB) pack together in zip-loc for BEAR BAG. (we have never put up a bear bag in Colorado but definitely leave these items outside tent at night and preferably outside your pack) top of page

CREW GEAR LIST
(Group of 6 or more)

2 large pots (3 if you have 10 to 15 people-speeds up hot water service - a group this size is not recommended for the Weminuche but I 15 members of Explorer Post 304 on the Wolf Creek Pass to Four Mile Lake trek )
2 small pots
2 fry pans (also used for pudding etc)
2 large spoons
1 spatula
1 hot pot tongs
1 extra cup for dipping hot water at meals
1 small shovel (garden variety)
2 Peak 1 type stoves (fuel tanks full on departure)
3 Aluminum fuel containers (use only Coleman fuel)
1 bow saw (optional)
2 or 3 plastic water jugs (depends on size - more small ones is better since they can be punctured)
2 small bottles liquid detergent (one large bottle can get lost or spilled)
3 or more pads of scotch brite scrubbers
1 bottle water purifcation tablets or water filter
1 sewing kit and pack repair hardware
1 First Aid Kit
1 roll of AP per person for each 5 days (4 people for 10 days = 8 rolls - this assumes conservative use see Cleaning Your Dish)
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RULE OF THREE

WHEN YOU LEAVE CAMP OUT OF HEARING DISTANCE, A MINIMUM OF THREE PERSONS SHOULD BE IN THE GROUP. REASON - if one person is injured, a second person may stay with him/her while the third person goes for help. (I break this rule all the time but it is great for keeping track of a coed group)
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CHECK OUT OF CAMP

Always tell the someone which way you are going and when you expect to return. (I never break this rule) top of page

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Unfortunately you may not be reached once a group is on the trail. It would cost a great deal of money to have someone locate the group and retrieve an individual. It might be wise to have alternate phone numbers where you and your family may leave and retrieve emergency messages in case something happens that requires they leave town while you are gone. A list of emergency phone numbers for everyone in the group should remain in each vehicle and with one person in the group.

PACKING CREW GEAR

The large pocket of a pack is usually reserved for CREW GEAR. Crew gear is equipment that is used by people other than yourself. A tent may be considered crew gear. Each person carries food and one or more items of crew gear. Pack weight may be 40-60 pounds at the start of the trek when you are in the worst physical condition.
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MENTAL ATTITUDE AND SAFETY

Backpacking is more mental than physical. Regardless of how good a shape you are in the hike will still require strenuous work and will be difficult - just more difficult for some than others. Some will get blisters, sore knees and feet or pulled muscles. Regardless of how tough it gets you have only one choice and that is to continue walking. One foot in front of the other. There is no other way out. If there is an injury that requires outside medical attention then the trek will have to be aborted for everyone.

No one on any of the 20 backpack trips to New Mexico, Colorodo and Mexico nor anyone on the 15 canoe trips in the Big Bend National Park that I have planned and led, has ever had a serious injury. We have been very fortunate but we have also, by and large, had teenagers that were adult in their attitudes. Horseplay and daredevil acts simply are not acceptable 20 miles from the nearest car. Some adults are often more prone to injury than teenagers because of attitude. top of page

CAMPING MANNERS AND PROCEDURES

PACK IT OUT!!! Even if you didn't pack it in - leave it better for the next guy. Anything that doesn't burn must be carried out - not buried. Aluminum lasts forever and foil in campfires is the most common sin of backpackers.

DON'T MESS UP THE WATER Bathe and relieve yourself at least 50 feet from the nearest stream.

WATCH WHAT YOU DRINK - Assume the last joker dumped his soapy water in the stream. Try to always get water from springs and avoid the large streams. Above 10,000 feet elevation we will drink water straight from small streams coming off mountains with no trail crossings. It is safe to assume that anyone up there will not be the type to foul up a water source. Below 10,000-feet we purify or filter any surface water. We have taken 50 different people into the Weminuche over a 15-year period and never had a case Giardia or other stomache problems following these guidelines.

CLEAN OUT YOUR DISH after dinner with AP (all purpose paper). Burn the soiled AP in the fire. The dish water stays clean longer. Just a little soap, grease, or food particles on your dish from the day before can make you pretty sick. Proper dish washing and rinsing is important to good health on the trail. Dispose of dishwater away from camp so critters are not attracted to you.

KEEP CLEAN especially your feet and socks - your only means of transportation. You can't carry a fresh change of cloths for each day so you must either wash or smell bad. Your friends will prefer that you wash yourself and your clothes every day or so. Learn to do this with a small amount of water. Zip-loc bags make good washing machines when the large pots are in use. Leaving the plastic jugs in the sun (when you have time) will warm the water enough to bathe. Carry a small bottle of liquid detergent for washing clothes - don't plan on using crew soap. A little soap goes a long way. Remember, keep soap away from the streams.
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