Backpacking Checklist (page 8)
• Towel: It’s useful to bring at least one, for drying yourself, cookware, or anything else that gets wet. Don’t grab one of your plush bath towels, find a small camping towel. These are super-light, absorb a ton of water, and dry amazingly fast.
• Moist towlettes: Individually wrapped moist towlettes can seem like an amazing luxury on the trail. Even if you come across some lakes on your hike, many of these are snowmelt and are far too cold for full immersion. When going for days without a bath or shower, being able to wipe yourself down with something clean and moist can seem like a godsend.
• Tissues: If you tend to get allergies, you might want to bring along at least one pocket-sized pack.
• Tent footprint: If you’ve spent all that money on a nice tent, you want to be able to use it for many trips to come. Many tents have footprints which are sized to its size and shape which can be purchased separately.
• Hat: Helps keep sun and sweat out of your eyes.
• Raingear: Check the weather report before you go, and pack it if you need it. This includes a rainproof cover to put over your pack to keep the gear inside dry. Many tents come with a rainfly which can be left at home unless needed.
• Stuff sacks: Pack small items like utensils and condiments into smaller nylon sacks to keep them from wandering loosely around your pack.
• Watch: It’s likely that you won’t be on any sort of time schedule on the trail, but if you plan to be up at certain times or just generally like to keep track of the time, bring a rugged watch along.
• Fishing gear/license: If it’s allowed on the trail and you plan on doing some.
• Playing cards/travel games: If you want. Keep it something small and lightweight.
• Hiking poles: If you think you’ll need them.
• Bandanna: I’ve found these can be nice to have. You can tie them around your forehead to keep the sweat out of your eyes, or dip them in cold water and wrap them around your neck to cool down
• Gloves: Especially nice if it’s cold in the mornings.
• Extra shoelaces.
• Gaiters: These are waterproof “leggings” that strap around your legs over your boots. If you have waterproof boots, you can strap these puppies on and wade knee-deep in a stream and still have dry feet.
• Flare gun or Personal Locator Beacon: It is not bad to have one of these in case of serious emergencies, where you will need to signal for help. A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a small transmitter than can send out a distress signal to satellites. Unfortunately, they tend to be heavy (about a pound) and are will likely cost you over five hundred dollars. But if you are camping on snow in avalanche-prone areas, it may be a wise investment.
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