Cold Weather Backpacking Checklist
Nov 8th 2007adminBackpacking
A special thanks to Moonshadow for letting me post her list:
Cold Weather Backpacking List
Up to 2 nights, 3 days of cold weather(snow on the ground) backpacking
( ) Backpack
( ) Backpack cover
( ) Sleeping bag (in a plastic bag lined stuff sack)
( ) Sleeping pad
( ) tent– tent, poles, fly, ground cloth should be split among tentmates
Clothing List
(this includes items being worn)
*packed clothing should all be in ziploc bags *
!!! -ABSOLUTELY NO COTTON - !!!
Wicking Layer - close to skin
( ) 2 pairs of long underwear - synthetic or silk
( ) 3 shirts - synthetic are best - long
sleeves protects against the sun and cold
( ) three pair socks with liners
( ) three pair underwear
Insulation Layer - traps warmth
( ) fleece jacket or vest
( ) pants (fleece or wool)
( ) knit cap - synthetic or wool-must cover ears
( ) fleece gloves
Outer Layer - protects against the wet and wind
( ) pants- snowboard pants/ ski bibs/ rain pants
( ) Snow jacket or Shell - should be waterproof
( ) waterproof gloves or mittens
( ) hiking boots - must be waterproof !!!
( ) spare laces for hiking boots
( ) camp shoes –old tennis shoes or snow boots–
Ten Essentials +
( ) Sun hat
( ) pocketknife
( ) personal first aid kit (see below)
( ) rain gear
( ) extra clothing
( ) headlamp & extra batteries
( ) sun block & lip gloss w/sunblock
( ) camelback
( ) trail food
( ) whistle
( ) matches/lighter & fire starter
( ) map & compass
( ) pen & paper
( ) bandana or three
( ) two 15 ft. pieces of parachute cord or small rope
( ) duct tape
Cooking/eating
( ) 2 one-gal. ziploc bags for trash
( ) eating utensils - soup spoon is enough, not metal
( ) plastic bowel
( ) cup/mug - insulated if possible
( ) snacks for hike/energy bars etc. (4 bars/day)
( ) Ziploc with Gatorade or drink mix
( ) any spices that YOU like
Cook Gear to be split between friends
( ) bear canister - a must in bear country for ALL smellables
( ) stove
( ) water filter/pump
( ) collapsing water pail
( ) fuel bottles
( ) cooking pans/lids
( ) pot holder (square of camp towel will do double duty)
( ) Camp Suds or (biodegradable soap)
( ) Scrub pad/sponge (1/2 sponge will do)
( ) food
( ) water for cooking
Misc.
( ) Snow Shoes ???
( ) backpackers snow shovel
( ) sun glasses if you wear them - a good idea
( ) water bottle(s) yes! in addition to camelback
( ) camera
( ) small game to pass time
( ) book or magazine
Toiletries kit
( ) wet wipes
( ) unscented antiperspirant
( ) lip gloss w/sunblock (chapstick too drying)
( ) sun block - small bottle - 4 oz. should do
( ) toothbrush & tooth paste (sample size)
( ) small 1.5 oz bottle of hand sanitizer
( ) comb or brush
( ) towel (small 1 square foot - no larger)
( ) small amount of toilet paper (1/4 roll - rolled up tight)
( ) tampons - no matter what time of month it is
( ) a black ziplock to pack used ones out
Personal First-Aid Kit
Medical information sheet
Complete information. If something happens to you then YOU may not be able tell anyone else the important information that could save YOUR life, (ie: meds you are taking, drug allergies, your doctor, your medical insurance, etc.). This sheet lets anyone who is trying to help YOU get all the right information. (I use a Boy Scout Class 3 adult form which can be found on their website, it’s a single small sheet that I cut down smaller and it fits in an 8×7 ziplock along with all of this stuff, I also have a coldpak and a rescue breather and more gauze and Band-Aids than this in my kit)
( ) Ibuprofen, aspirin/Tylenol or other painkiller
( ) Benadryl or other allergy medicine
( ) Imodium or anti-diarrheal
( ) Sudafed or other decongestant
( ) Tums or other antacid
( ) mole skin — 1 sheet
( ) 1 pair latex gloves
( ) wipes
( ) 6 adhesive bandages (various sizes)
( ) 2, 3×3-inch sterile gauze pads
( ) small roll of adhesive tape
( ) small pair scissors (cut tape/bandage material) unless your knife has them
( ) small tube or packets of Neosporin, Betadine
cream or other first aid cream
( ) burn gel
( ) eye drops (for really dusty trails)
( ) Tick tweezers
( ) needle, thread, & safety pins
( ) $1.00 in coins or phone card
2 Comments »
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Moonshadow on 12 Nov 2007 at 9:35 pm #
I wanted to add that I got a great tip from another myspace poster that you can use “Listerine Breath Strips” instead of toothpaste. It’s smaller and lighter.
AND
These are EXCELLENT FIRE STARTERS! They will burn for 12 to 15 minutes!
Melt petroleum jelly, (otherwise known as it’s brand name “vasoline”) in a double boiler (or in a clean tin can inside of a small pot of simmering water). Do not EVER leave this unattended!!! Stand there, watch it, stir it until it is melted.
When it is completely melted, remove from heat and begin dropping cotton balls in one by one until all of the liquid is completely absorbed, sqash them down with a fork to push more cotton balls in if you can fit a few more.
Let cool. Store in airtight containers, (you don’t want this stuff to squish out onto your gear or clothing).
Nick on 21 Oct 2008 at 12:50 pm #
While possibly a reference to getting enough fiber in your diet or being squeamish about going to the bathroom in the woods, I bet that moonshadow meant to say “plastic bowl” instead of “plastic bowel”.