Saturday, June 21, 2008

EXTRA CLOTHES

Here are the clothes I take on a backpacking trip.

Wear:
Hiking skirt with boxer shorts underneath
Sport bra
Long-sleeve microfiber knit shirt; push sleeves up to create short-sleeve shirt
Bike gloves for better grip on hiking poles, protection in falls
Hat (I wear my Ironman Florida running hat)
Hiking shoes (duh)
ID tag around neck
Cross pendant around neck (never leave home without it)

Pack:

  • Two pairs socks in addition to what I'm wearing. Alternate socks at each rest stop, hang previous ones on backpack to air and dry.
  • Fleece long-sleeve top
  • Acrylic cardigan (coupled with fleece top, makes a really warm duo)
  • Midweight tights (double as PJ's and long underwear)
  • Loose cotton yoga pants (yeah, cotton, feels good in camp)
  • T-shirt for camp and bed (I use a cotton one)
  • Extra pair of boxers -- for underwear and sleep
  • Gloves (nothing fancy.... acrylic knit, 2 prs. for $1.50 at Wal-Mart)
  • Knit hat (doubles as pot cozy)

And that's it. Except.... rain gear: does that count as clothing, or rain gear in a separate category? I have a really good rain jacket and pants. Not sure whether to take them on thru-hike or rely on a $4.95 poncho. Jacket and pants double as outer windproof layer. But so does poncho, especially if tied at waist, maybe with backpack belt. Always trying to cut down on extras....

LONG-HIKE BACKPACK

Or just overnight. I've found that the gear is the same, except for food. Even if you just go overnight, you need:

Pack
Shelter (tent for me)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Ground cloth (some feel this is unnecessary)
Food (never unnecessary)
Cooking gear (unnecessary for some lightweights who save the weight and eat cold food)
Extra clothes, especially socks
Rain gear
First-aid/gear-repair supplies
Hygiene supplies
Light source (headlamp, flashlight, whatever)
Sandals (to wear in camp, get out of those hiking shoes)
Water bottles
Water treatment
Camera
Hiking poles
Cell phone (which may not get signal)
Bug dope
Lip balm

Really.... you need ALL this stuff for overnight. Only difference between overnight and long hike is in the amount of food carried. For the AT, I'm figuring on about 5 days' worth at a time, to last me till the next resupply town/crossroads.

I should detail every aspect of my pack in a separate post, and probably will.