Backpacking Checklist (page 4)
• Bear canister: If it is required on the trail, you may be able to rent one at the ranger station if you don’t have one of your own.
• Camp soap: It’s hard to clean oatmeal out of your only pot with only water. Do not bring dish detergent from home, it pollutes the water sources. Instead, bring camp soap, which is concentrated, biodegradable and works on both your pans and yourself. A small bottle will usually last you several trips.
• Pot scrubber or sponge.
• Water purification system: This is essential, there is no way you will be able to carry all the water you need with you! Water is heavy, and you will be drinking a lot of it. And do not drink wilderness water without filtering it; that is just asking to get sick. 
There are some different options when it comes to water purification. The first is tablets, which are made of chlorine, iodine, or oxidizers. These are lightweight and easy to use: you just drop the tablets in the water, wait about twenty minutes, and drink. Many, however, dislike the time lag and the taste these tablets leave behind, and opt for a water filter. (Even if you have a water filter, it’s still a good idea to bring along some tablets as a backup in case the filter malfunctions.) There is an amazing array of water filters out there. When shopping, look for one that is lightweight (preferably less than a pound), easy to use, sturdy, and that has readily available replacement cartridges. A newer option is the electronic purification “pens” which use UV-C light rays to instantly kill bacteria. Unlike the filter, you do not have to pump the water through; just the water with the device and press a button. These are much smaller and lightweight than a filter, but they don’t filter out particles, so don’t improve the taste the way a filter does.
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 |