What's your gear list for a 3 night backpack trip into the Uintas?

[Wasatch Rebel]

I'm looking to come up with a comprehensive list for a mid-July trip to Kings Peak. I know what I'd bring, but I don't know if I'm forgetting something and a friend of mine who's going along wants to know what to bring. I don't want to have him over pack, or under pack as he's an older guy like me.:)

So let me know what you'd bring as far as all clothing and gear.

[ibenick]

Here's my list for 3 days/2 nights in good conditions in the Uintas. With about 7 lbs of camera gear included I'm usually pushing 40 pounds wet. With enough beer to keep me happy for two nights, 55 lbs.

Check List for 3 days/2 nights of backpacking

Shelter

• Tent w/stakes & poles
• 50’ of cord
• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad

Kitchen

• Stove
• Fuel
• foldable bowl
• spork
• coffee/cocktail cup
• Hiking bladder
• Kitchen sink bladder
• Tin foil for cooking fish
• Water filter
• Pot w/pot holder

Food

• 2 MH Dinners
• 2 days of Oats
• 1 bag instant potatoes
• 1 small bag Jerky
• 1 small bag nuts/trail mix
• 4 granola bars
• 1 bag candy/simple sugar
• 2 days of coffee
• Lemon pepper for fish

Navigation

• GPS
• Spot
• Paper Maps
• Extra batteries for GPS and Spot
• Compass

Fishing Gear

• Fly rod and reel
• Line clippers
• Fly box
• tippet/leader

Pet Gear

• Food bowls/water bowls
• Dog Food
• Dog Treats
• Dog Backpack(s)
• Dog blanket(s)
• Leash(es)

Camera Gear

• Camera
• Wide lens
• Long lens
• Tripod
• Wired trigger
• Lens cleaning supplies
• Filters
• Extra batteries
• Extra memory cards
  
  
  

Clothing (packed)

• Rain jacket
• Beanie
• Gloves (if cold)
• fleece (if really cold)
  
• Long sleeve wicking shirt
• Spare pants
• Camp underwear
• Camp socks
• Crocks for camp

Clothing (wearing)

• Convertible pants/shorts
• synthetic short sleeve shirt
• Hiking underwear
• Hiking socks
• Hiking boots
• Shade hat
• Sunglasses

Personal Items

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Gum
• Vitamins
• Medications
• Lip Balm
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper

First Aid/Emergency Kit

• Pain killers
• Anti-diarrhea
• Antihistamine
• Bandages, etc.
• Duct tape
• Extra lighters
• Fire starter
• Emergency blanket
• Mr. Incognito's instruction on how to handle a rattle snake bite!
• water purification tabs

Entertainment

• Book (if solo, have time)
• iPhone/iPod
• Headphones
• Cards (if rain forecasted)
• Flask of scotch
• Beer if less than 20 miles (Steel Reserve)
  

Miscellaneous

• Bug spray (don't mess around in the Uintas, get a real can and share it)
  
• Sunscreen
• Trekking Poles
• Multi-tool
• Head lamp
• Lighters
• Thermarest stuff/pillow sack

[Deadeye008]

My list isn't as organized as Nick's...
Tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, rain gear, 4 pairs of socks(one for each day plus one to sleep in), underwear(however many you feel comfortable bringing...), 2 short sleeve synthetic shirts (1 to wear, 1 to sleep in), down jacket(I put this in a stuff sack and use it for a pillow at night), 1 pair convertible pants, sleeping bottoms(shorts or thermal bottoms whichever you prefer), beanie, first aid kit, lighter, knife, mess kit, vienna sausage can alcohol stove and wind screen, alcohol fuel, spork, insulated mug(for hot chocolate at night and in the morning), tin foil, season salt, bug spray!, moist wipes, UL cat hole digger, flashlight, headlamp, small multi-tool, sunscreen, trekking poles, water filter(purification tablets for a backup), toothbrush/toothpaste, lip balm, hand sanitizer, hat and sun glasses, fishing pole with flies/lures, 50' paracord, GPS, paper map(depending on where I'm going), spare batteries and solar charger, kitchen sized garbage bag.

Camera gear is usually my lightest weight body plus standard zoom lens and or fisheye, tripod and remote, extra batteries and memory. Sometimes I'll just bring the point and shoot if I'm feeling lazy.

I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast. I have fish and dehydrated meals I put together for dinners to save on weight. I cook the dehydrated meals in gallon size freezer bags and eat them right out of the bag so that I don't have to wash any dishes. I just eat snacks for lunch.

My pack usually weighs in at 20-25lbs plus my camera gear.

[mr. incognito]

Backpack (impossible to forget, only on the list for completeness )
small plastic trowel cat-hole shovel/ toilet paper (most important items on list you don't want to come up with alternatives in the field)
3L insulated Camelbak reservoir
1l hard bottle (important if you pop a hole in your camelbak, contingency plans...)
Platypus gravity filtration system bags or water filter pump (I would rather take chances with Giardia than take iodine tablets as back up, yeeeech)
two person tent/ground tarp
sleeping bag/sleeping pad
GPS/maps/Compass
100% DEET REI Junglejuice bug repellent (anything else is completely worthless in the Uintas)
camp stove/fuel canisters/lighter
Titanium Mess kit/utensils/can opener
camp kettle/ serious business super mug
swimming suit/towel
biodegradable soap
SOS cleaning pad(s)
several draw string garbage bags
several ziplock freezer bags
3 50' cords and pulley
Headlamp,collapsible tent mini lantern
extra lithium batteries
rainy day card games
Ghost stories
camera
Hat sunscreen sunglasses
rain gear/backpack cover
clothes (your clothes are different than mine so no detail here)
Gaiters
camp sandals (needed for night piss trips )/ hiking boots
backpacker's first aid kit including 2 SAM splints
Mylar emergency space blanket
emergency magnesium tipped strike-in-a-blizzard-or-deluge matches
emergency whistle/signal mirror/colored smoke bombs
Knife
Binoculars (well worth the extra weight to spot critters and folks a long way off in the middle of nowhere)
toothbrush/paste
twine/duct tape
add water type pasta packets or ready to eat trail meals
Quaker instant oatmeal
homemade trailmix
hot chocolate packets (with the little marshmallows )
Jerky
straw type fruity drink mix (think koolaid but it comes in little easily packed straws)
emergency ramen packages
a clue

1st night-in luxury dinner: Giant Beef stew can or frozen chicken breasts/steak
instant mash potatoes
2 cans of pepsi

I don't go ultralight that's for sure on a 4-7 day trip my pack weighs 65-85lbs.
My last trip to King's Peak I went in with 80 lbs. pack and strapped a 20 lb. horse skull plus a trashbag full of clueless dumbasses' litter to it on the way out.

Well I probably forgot something because I am not actually dumping gear out and packing

[Wasatch Rebel]

Nice lists, all three of you. Deadeye, do you also put the oatmeal in the freezer bags? I suppose then you just add the hot water to the bags?

I'm going to print off these lists and share them if you're all okay with that.

[mr. incognito]

First Aid/Emergency Kit

• Pain killers
• Anti-diarrhea
• Antihistamine
• Bandages, etc.
• Duct tape
• Extra lighters
• Fire starter
• Emergency blanket
• Rattlesnake bite kit
• water purification tablet

ibenick, I am seriously concerned and worried about this item on your list, all rattlesnake bite kits are worthless and dangerous. None have been medically approved, all have been evaluated and proven dangerous. no professional serpentologists use anything like this ever.

I know exactly what I am talking about, I am a professional herpetologist and work with venomous snakes on a regular basis. Cut and suck type kits will almost certainly result in an amputation or serious life altering injury and introduce bacteria and infection into a wound with an already compromised ability to fight off infection, not to mention they would be so painful due to increased sensitivity around a bite that it would be nearly impossible to attempt. Sawyer type extractors (any suction) do not get a medically significant amount of venom out from the wound and traumatize already seriously damaged tissue (think skin grafts.) Tourniquets or constriction bands isolate the venom and increase tissue damage locally. serious muscle damage or amputation will result. Don't ever cut, suck, ice, or restrict circulation. Don't take aspirin or blood thinners (alcohol) might cause dangerous blood pressure.
What to do if less than 3 hours from help: stay calm, keep limb lower than heart, remove rings, watches, shoelaces, clothing etc. that might become tourniquets, mark edge of swelling every 15 min. get help, get to hospital (don't attempt to drive yourself)
what to do if farther than 3 hours from help: stay calm, keep limb lower than heart, inject epinephrine (EPI-pen) if available, take Benadryl if available, place compression bandage on wound (not a tourniquet) walk (never run) towards help until unable.
At the hospital you will get CROFAB antivenin for rattlesnake venom.
Most rattlesnakes in Utah have hemotoxin which is destructive to blood and muscle tissue. You certainly would survive a bite unless you have a weak immune system or are very young or old. No venomous snakes anywhere near the Uintas have neurotoxin so tourniquets do way more harm than good we aren't talking Cobras here. Rattlesnakes will rarely be found above 9,000 feet although some have been documented at 12,000 feet the probability of an encounter is drastically reduced in the high basins and peaks. Rarely does anyone get bitten who wasn't trying to pick up, move or kill the snake, you dog is in far more danger as it is dumb enough to poke his nose at the snake.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Mr. Incognito, that's great advice. I wasn't aware of the proper procedure for rattlesnake bite treatment.

[ibenick]

Wow. Thanks Mr. Incognito. Getting rid of the bite kit! I had a couple of incidents years ago where I ended up with rattlers literally between my legs on two separate occasions, hence why I picked up the kit. One of which was literally on the top ridge line of the Wellsville mountains at about 8600 feet. Fortunately, neither incident ended up in a bite.

Do you know anything about the rattle snake vaccine shots that vets give to dogs? From what I was told it gives them a bit of an immunity that really just gives you more time to get the dog into the vet for treatment. I've been getting all three of my dogs the shot annually. Wondering if that might be a waste too?

[gnwatts]

No one brings a Crazy Creek?!! I never leave without my chair. Most of the items have been covered in the previous posts, but I thought I would ad a few. I have a circular "bear proof" food container that is small and fits nicely in my pack, I got it from the NPS. Btw you can use a rock if you forget TP. I never have carried a snake bite kit, but now I have a reason not to, thanks Mr. Incognito. I use a MSR gravity filter, which has almost changed my life (I detest pumping). My dromedary is bomber, never felt the need for an extra bottle. If I carried as much as Nick I would be dead by now, Muy Macho senor. My Jet Boil is another cherished member of the family, that and ancient titanium pot (my 40th b'day present). The organic "curried lentil bisque" is my favorite dinner. My western mountaineering 40 degree bag has kept me warm into the low 30's, so I use it most of the time. My pack is about 28lbs before water.

[Dr. Nebz]

ibenick, I am seriously concerned and worried about this item on your list, all rattlesnake bite kits are worthless and dangerous. None have been medically approved, all have been evaluated and proven dangerous. no professional serpentologists use anything like this ever.

I know exactly what I am talking about, I am a professional herpetologist and work with venomous snakes on a regular basis. Cut and suck type kits will almost certainly result in an amputation or serious life altering injury and introduce bacteria and infection into a wound with an already compromised ability to fight off infection, not to mention they would be so painful due to increased sensitivity around a bite that it would be nearly impossible to attempt. Sawyer type extractors (any suction) do not get a medically significant amount of venom out from the wound and traumatize already seriously damaged tissue (think skin grafts.) Tourniquets or constriction bands isolate the venom and increase tissue damage locally. serious muscle damage or amputation will result. Don't ever cut, suck, ice, or restrict circulation. Don't take aspirin or blood thinners (alcohol) might cause dangerous blood pressure.
What to do if less than 3 hours from help: stay calm, keep limb lower than heart, remove rings, watches, shoelaces, clothing etc. that might become tourniquets, mark edge of swelling every 15 min. get help, get to hospital (don't attempt to drive yourself)
what to do if farther than 3 hours from help: stay calm, keep limb lower than heart, inject epinephrine (EPI-pen) if available, take Benadryl if available, place compression bandage on wound (not a tourniquet) walk (never run) towards help until unable.
At the hospital you will get CROFAB antivenin for rattlesnake venom.
Most rattlesnakes in Utah have hemotoxin which is destructive to blood and muscle tissue. You certainly would survive a bite unless you have a weak immune system or are very young or old. No venomous snakes anywhere near the Uintas have neurotoxin so tourniquets do way more harm than good we aren't talking Cobras here. Rattlesnakes will rarely be found above 9,000 feet although some have been documented at 12,000 feet the probability of an encounter is drastically reduced in the high basins and peaks. Rarely does anyone get bitten who wasn't trying to pick up, move or kill the snake, you dog is in far more danger as it is dumb enough to poke his nose at the snake.

Awesome! Thanks for posting this. I think this is very valuable information. 10/10!

I have never seen a snake in all my travels the Uinta's, so I have never really worried about them up there. I have seen them here around 7,000 ft in the Wasatch. But never higher in elevation. And I have hiked all of the 200+ miles of trail system here in the Tri-Canyons. I have never bought a snake bite kit because the training I have had echoed your sentiments, they are worthless and do more harm than good. Generally from my encounters, that most of the time I have ran into them, they let you know where they are. I always stop, and look around when you hear them rattle. The sound usually after looking around helps me locate them, and I give them a wide girth. According to what I have learned, they can strike about half the length of their body. So giving them plenty of room and watching where you put your hands and feet is about the best protection you can have. The Western Diamondback that I ran into in Arizona in March didn't seem agitated like the ones I have seen here in the foothills. It gave me like two shakes, kind of a "Hey, I'm over here, don't step on me." I think I was more scared of that one, because it seemed to have no fear of me. Spooky to say the least.


Here is the guy I ran into in Arizona in March

[ibenick]

No one brings a Crazy Creek?!! I never leave without my chair.

Ugh. So wish I had a chair. That's the one thing I really miss when backpacking. I bought one of those crazy creek style chairs and it didn't work for me. I think I'm too big and tall or something. Just not comfortable at all. Last year I bought one of those folding thermarest foam mats, the Z-lite I believe. I cut it in a couple of pieces and bring it to use as a chair against a rock or a log. Then at night I let my dog(s) sleep on it and it helps them to keep a lot warmer.

If I carried as much as Nick I would be dead by now, Muy Macho senor. .... My pack is about 28lbs before water.

Yeah, I end up with a heavy pack with all that camera and fishing gear. Oh, and the booze, now there's some weight. But without that stuff and water I'm in the mid high twenties as well. My philosophy on it is to to buy all the lightest possible equipment I can and then throw in all the luxuries I want. And as my friends always tell me, since I'm so much larger then them I should be obligated to carry more weight.

[Dr. Nebz]

Wow, seems like everyone brings everything and the kitchen sink. I have learned that every ounce counts. As I do not travel as light as some of my friends do, I do manage to keep my pack weight to a minimum. I basically pack the following:

Tent- Kelty Dart 1- 1.8 lbs

Sleeping Bag- 30 degree rated- 2.2 lbs

Therma Rest Sleeping Pad- got a 3/4 pad for this season, and I have a REI sit pad, combined I have a full length insulated pad, and something to sit on during the day.

Arcteyx Alpha SL Goretex Packlite Rain Jacket, and Sierra Designs Rain Pants. Super light, very rain proof.

North Face Optimus Redpoint Jacket- Packs into a pillow and is great for those nights where it is a bit chilly, weighs almost nothing.

3 liters of water- though, I usually hike with a half full res, then fill it full when I get to camp. I also bring a 32 oz and 16 oz Nalgene empty, which I fill up at camp.

I generally pack in dehydrated meals, but I like fresh veggies out there, so I will do a sweet potatoe, maybe a red pepper, and a lemon with my fish. I have found that palm or olive oil is far better than butter when doing a tin foil fish for dinner. Meat stays moist and comes right off the bones. Snacks range from cliff bars to almonds to fruit rolls to sour patch kids. Gotta love em! I basically figure out how many meals I am gonna need, breakfast, lunch and dinner for the days I am going to be out there, then pack an extra day worth of food, just in case, you never know what is going to happen, or if you just decide to stay another day. It will be interesting this season for sure because I now have a food dehydrator, so gonna be making my own jerky and dried fruits and veggies for my trips. I also found dehydrated Coconut Water, so that is going to save on the weight as well. Packing probiotics instead of yogurt this season, saves weight too.

First aid kit, which is stocked with everything from bandages, pain relief, sun and burn treatment, and I include a stitch kit and heavy duty medical tape in case I need to set a break and make a splint. And I also pack an antihistamine, never a bad Idea in case you run into something that is making you allergic.

Stove, Snowpeak fuel, and Snowpeak mess kit. All super light weight.

Sweet Water filter. And I do have emergency tablets to purify water if the filter fails for some reason. Hasn't yet, but not taking any chances, and the Katadyn Tablets are small and very powerful, will kill anything in the water if used as directed.

Fishing pole, bubbles and fly collection.

Nikon D90, and Benro Tripod, weighs less than 2 lbs.

Of course a topo map of the area and compass. I have a gps, and will map a route if it is an area I am not familiar with. If it is someplace like the Unitas, I generally just wear my Sunnto which has an altimeter and barometer.

Ipod Shuffle and some small speakers.

Flask of Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey, and Pink Country Time Lemonade to mix it with. Supplies for a safety meeting and something to make fire with.

And last year, I packed in Starbucks Via's. Makes quick coffee and is virtually weightless.

[CarpeyBiggs]

yes, crazy amounts of weight being carried by folks. however, there is two types of backpackers. those who like to move effortlessly, and camp minimally. and those who like to carry everything they can, and camp in style. i greatly prefer to camp minimally, and move quickly. my base weight is right about 10 pounds, and i carry 2 to 2.5 pounds of food per day. add a few pounds for camera gear, and i'm still below 20 pounds for a 2-3 night adventure in the uintas. water is easy to obtain in the uintas, so i see no reason to carry more than 1 liter at a time. steripen the next liter when you need it... (or aquamira, pumps are worthless imo, especially in the high uintas)

good stuff here - http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/5159...ng-gear-items/

[ibenick]

One more tidbit I thought I'd share. On my list I have a hiking bladder and what I call the kitchen sink bladder. I use the MSR Dromlite bags. A 4 liter (usually 1/3-1/2 full while hiking and then a 6 liter around camp. The 4 liter is 4.6 oz and the 6 is 5.7 oz. Super light. I like to carry both for a couple reasons, first so that I have a backup in the event of damage to one (hasn't happened in 7 years of use). And second, because I so passionately hate pumping water. Once I'm to my camp, or close to it, I try hard to find a spring so that I don't have to filter at all. If it's a long walk from camp it's okay because I have a 10-liter capacity and I'll only have to do it once. And if I really have to pump, I'd rather do a lot of it all at once and not have to pump again for as long as possible. Anyway, point is, I dig those dromlite bags.

http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/water-...e-bags/product



Talking gear is helping with my overwhelming urge to go backpacking lately. Or maybe its making it worse. Good stuff.

[Dr. Nebz]

And as my friends always tell me, since I'm so much larger then them I should be obligated to carry more weight.

Nick can pack in the weight. Dude you can carry some beers for miles that is for sure!

[ibenick]

Nick can pack in the weight. Dude you can carry some beers for miles that is for sure!

Yeah. After that Cuberant trip I packed a bunch of those Steel Reserves all the way into Death Hollow. Worth every ounce!

[Dr. Nebz]

yes, crazy amounts of weight being carried by folks. however, there is two types of backpackers. those who like to move effortlessly, and camp minimally. and those who like to carry everything they can, and camp in style. i greatly prefer to camp minimally, and move quickly. my base weight is right about 10 pounds, and i carry 2 to 2.5 pounds of food per day. add a few pounds for camera gear, and i'm still below 20 pounds for a 2-3 night adventure in the uintas. water is easy to obtain in the uintas, so i see no reason to carry more than 1 liter at a time. steripen the next liter when you need it... (or aquamira, pumps are worthless imo, especially in the high uintas)

good stuff here - http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/5159...ng-gear-items/

Yeah my friends Collin and Chris make their own shelters, and pack super ultralight. I think Collins bag to Red Castle last season was a hair under 20 lbs on the way in and in the teens on the way out.

I think i sit in the middle between the kitchen sink and ultralight. My pack is usually 20-30 lbs, (before beers if I take any). Most of my gear is light weight. So it is usually food or being silly and packing in a bunch of beer which make my pack swing in the heavy range. Most of the time I just do the whiskey thing, lighter, and a little goes a long way.

[Deadeye008]

Nice lists, all three of you. Deadeye, do you also put the oatmeal in the freezer bags? I suppose then you just add the hot water to the bags?

I'm going to print off these lists and share them if you're all okay with that.

Yep, I put the oatmeal in the smaller size freezer bags and then just add water to them. One other thing I forgot to put on there concerning freezer bag cooking is a "cozy". There are lots of different kinds but what I found works best and is cheapest is to get a 8.5x11 plastic bubble mailing envelope with paperclips to hold the top flap closed. You just put the freezer bag inside it and it insulates the freezer bag so it rehydrates faster and allows you to handle it without burning your hands.

[Dr. Nebz]

Yeah. After that Cuberant trip I packed a bunch of those Steel Reserves all the way into Death Hollow. Worth every ounce!

Those Steel Reserves are the way to go. They are tasty and they pack a punch that is for sure.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Yep, I put the oatmeal in the smaller size freezer bags and then just add water to them. One other thing I forgot to put on there concerning freezer bag cooking is a "cozy". There are lots of different kinds but what I found works best and is cheapest is to get a 8.5x11 plastic bubble mailing envelope with paperclips to hold the top flap closed. You just put the freezer bag inside it and it insulates the freezer bag so it rehydrates faster and allows you to handle it without burning your hands.

Cozy, huh? That's something I never would've thought of.