Clothes

Where you will be backpacking and the time of year will dictate what you need for clothes, though any 3 season backpacker from any area in North America other than someone from the extreme northern climes will have approximately the same list.  You won't need to take everything on every hike, and those hiking in the Appalachians will generally be able to pack lighter in the summer than hikers in the Sierras, Rockies, or Cascades. Most experts say the key is to bring layers and add or remove them as needed depending upon weather.

Pants - Convertible hiking pants are the best way to save space and weight as they convert from long pants to shorts in seconds via zippers just above the knee.  They are lightweight, some are water resistant, and they generally have lots of cargo pockets.  I recommend those with zippers at the bottom so they can be opened for cool down when it is too hot for long pants and too cold for shorts.  REI, North Face, Columbia and others make them, and they generally retail for around $55, though they can sometimes be found on sale for $39 or less.

Shorts - Though convertibles may be the best way to go, every backpacker should have a pair of shorts for warm trips and swimming.  Those same manufacturers same shorts in the same material, and again, cargo versions can be helpful.  You may decide to carry a swimsuit as well, but that's up to you.

Shirts - You'll need both long and short sleeve, and something very light and breathable for warm days and something a bit thicker for cooler days.  All shirts should be of the type that wick moisture away from the body.  Tech Tees are good all purpose shirts that come in several fabrics and both long and short sleeve.  Running shirts are also popular, and lightweight button up shirts such as fishing shirts with vented mesh backs are also a good option.  You can use your favorite standard T-Shirts such from your favorite sports team, pub or whatever, but they typically don't wick sweat or dry out as fast as the other options.  I like Columbia's Omni-Dry shirts.

2nd layer - A lightweight fleece that is worn somewhat loosely or tighter fitting "skin" made of polyester knits each both provide about the same amount of warmth for the trail, and are perfect for nightime around the campfire when temperatures start to cool but a heavier jacket is too much.  You could even create 3 layers via a t-shirt, the skin, and the fleece on top, and still be less encumbered than with a heavy jacket.

Jacket - If you're above 5000' or are outside of the warmest summer months, a jacket is a requirement.  A number of companies make light down jackets, and as pointed out in an earlier post, I went with the Marmot Zeus.  Just remember to keep far enough back from the fire that sparks won't land on it, because the fabric will melt.  Most of these jackets either stuff into a pocket or come with a small stuff sack, so the jacket can double as your pillow.  Some packers also (or in lieu of) carry a down vest.

Rain Protection - You have to have it as even in California, Sierra summer storms can hit at any time.  There are several choices from a cheap thin baggie-type poncho with hood (I have my Niagara Falls Maid-of-the-Mist poncho in my day pack), to a standard lightweight rain jacket to ponchos specifically designed for backpacking which normally cover the pack as well as yourself.  I purchased the Outdoor Products PackFrame Poncho (normally $33, but I paid about $25), which does cover the pack and can double as a tarp or lean-to shelter.  There are far lighter and more expensive backpacking ponchos/tarps on the market as well, so do your research.  Whatever you choose, make sure it has a hood, and if it is just a standard jacket, you will need a rainproof pack cover.

Socks - If you are wearing mid or full height hiking boots, wool socks made by SmartWool are the dominant brand, though there are a few other choices.  They come in a variety of styles, patterns, thicknesses and lengths, and a word of warning - they aren't cheap.  Make sure you pick one that works well with your hiking boots, and it is recommended to have some at the ready when trying on boots.

Gear Buying Tips

Once you've decided the items you want to purchase, which will likely be an ongoing process, it's time to look for the best deal.  There are a number of options, both at brick-and-mortar retail outlets and online retailers.

Some words I learned to live by:

-know your personal wants and needs

-do a lot of research, especially gear reviews that can be found all over the internet

-consult with experienced friends and colleagues

-talk to the sales staff at your local outdoor store

-read blogs like this one where people share their own experiences

-buy at the end of the season to get last year's models or overstock at big discounts

So, here are some retailers that I've either purchased from or found to have merit:

Stores

REI - the most popular outdoor store in the US, and in my opinion the best.  They have just about everything you'll need, the biggest selection, and knowledgeable friendly staff.  The one thing they don't always have are the best prices, though you can find occasional sales that will save you a bundle.  Additionally, members ($20 to join for a lifetime membership) receive an annual dividend worth up to 10% of their purchases for items that weren't on sale.  Finally and maybe best of all, if you don't like an item after purchasing AND using it, you can return it - no questions asked.

We happen to have a number of REI stores in the SF Bay Area, and the closest one to me (Saratoga) is quite large.  The store in Berkeley is also very good, and in fact had good backpacking inventory even in winter when many of the other REI stores have converted mainly to winter sports.  I look forward to visiting the flagship store in Seattle some day.

Your Local Outdoor Store - Most metro areas also have one or more independent outdoor sports stores.  Though they may not focus on backpacking, they might do a good job for camping and have enough sundry items of interest that make visiting the store worthwhile.  We have a legendary store in San Jose called Mel Cotton's that has been around forever and has hardly changed over the years.  It is crammed full of items that backpackers and sportsmen and sportswomen would find useful.

Army/Navy Surplus - Again, good for sundry items, though you're not likely to find anything super lightweight.

Online Shopping

Googling any item you're interested in buying will bring up a host of sites offering the item, often with easy price comparisons of the various online retailers.  Of course REI has an online store http://www.rei.com/, but some others I've found that are good alternatives are:

Back Country Edge - http://www.backcountryedge.com/  Of all the online retailers, this one attracted me the most because their prices are very competitive, I liked their story in the About Us section, and they offer 12% off your first order when you join their Inside Edge program.  Between the 12%, free shipping and the good price they had on my Kelty Redcloud 5600 Backpack that retails for $199, I got it delivered for $131.08.  Hard to beat that.

Camping Gear Depot - http://www.campinggeardepot.com/  This site seems to consistently have some of the best prices I've seen. 

Campmor - http://www.campmor.com/  Some very good deals on sundry gear and clothes, no backpacks though.  

Altrec - http://www.altrec.com/  They come up high in the search results and their range of selection is good, but I've always been able to find a better deal on one of the other sites. 

Steep and Cheap - http://www.steepandcheap.com/  Very unique web site where they sell manufacturer's overstock, one item at a time.  Like a QVC for your PC.  Add their widget to your desktop and the sale item will pop up, usually a new one every few minutes til the item sells out.  Advice - get your account set up in advance and then be prepared to move on a product immediately if something comes up that you like as they go quickly.

More on REI - Besides having great stores and web site, REI has some ways to save money well below their normal retail prices.  Several times a year, they have Super Clearance sales where many popular items are marked way down, such as the Half Dome tent I got at $119 instead of the normal $179.  You can often see what items will be on sale online because the price will change to something ending in $XX.83 or $XX.93.

Several times a year they will also give you an online coupon worth 10%-20% off a single item, which can be saved for use on high ticket purchases.  Last year we used it to buy a Yakima Skybox (roof carrier) to help us move across the country, saving us about $60.00.

REI Outlet (http://www.reioutlet.com/) has some significant discounts on overstock and discontinued products and usually has something of interest in every category.

Finally, once a month each store will have a used gear sale in a back room for members only, typically on the first Saturday of every month.  It starts when the store opens at 10 AM, and it is advised to get there before 8:30 and line up, as they only let 35 people in at a time.  When it first opens, it's a mad scramble, but you can get things for pennies on the dollar, such as the Keen Targhee boots I got for $9.99, normally $125, and used just once.

Some Cool Little Stuff I Got

Making the high dollar purchases requires some big decision making and some anxiety over ensuring what you are buying meets your comfort and utilitarian requirements, and that'll do the job for years to come.  Decisions on buying the little stuff don't carry the weight of life or death like the big stuff, and checking all of the options is actually a lot more fun.  A glance at my backpacking list shows there are many sundry items that are required (desired?), each with a host of options.

Here's some cool (and some might think some not so cool) little stuff that I got.

When out on a fairly long excursion, my preference is to hike to a good camp site near a lake, set up camp for a few days, and then day hike to other lakes and attractions in the area rather than move camp every night. I can then break camp and do the same thing at another spot. My preferred region, Emigrant Wilderness, has several such areas, like the many lakes in the Emigrant Lake-Deer Lake-Huckleberry Lake area, as well as those up on Granite Dome.

Update - June 4, 2011 - I decided the North Face Recon is too big/heavy to take as a day pack in my backpack (great day hike pack), so I bought an REI Flash 18 pack.  It is really light (10 oz), has a pouch and tube exit for a hydration bladder, chest strap, and when turned inside out doubles as a stuff sack.  The wide, netted shoulder straps make it really comfortable.  I even use it for hikes in the bay Area when I know I won't need much in the way of cloting options.

To make these day trips from base camp and for use on the many day hikes we do while at our Pinecrest cabin, I wanted a really good day pack, so I got the North Face Recon ($69, normally $89, in cardinal and molten red).  My friend Keith has several Recons, and  for the past few years I've had pack envy.  We have some cheap day packs, hip packs, and a few pretty good Jansports, but nothing like the Recon.  It has side pockets for water bottles, is set up for a hydration bladder, and has lots of small pockets for organizing sundry items.

I don't know that I'll always take it, but I have already figured out that it works well as a stuff sack for my clothes, so it does serve double duty.  If I decide to go lighter, the UltraSil Day Pack from Sea to Summit looks intriguing, though very basic with just one big stuff area and no padded shoulders.  But it's tiny and light, and seems a good choice.



For meals, I got a set of GSI plates ($5.95, set of 4, in case someone is along that doesn't have one)

GSI utensil set (2.50)

and GSI salt & pepper shaker ($3.95).

When I was a pre-teen, I went backpacking with my uncle (im Emigrant Wilderness) who had a little collapsible cup for drinking water, which I thought that was the coolest thing and a great space saver. So I looked for something collapsible as opposed to solid and ended up with Sea to Summit X-Mug ($11.95).

According to my research, it's good for hot and cold beverages, and keeps things hotter longer than a titanium cup, though this is heavier ( 2.4oz.).  A handy feature is that it also has measuring cup markings on the inside.  It's available in 4 colors, and has a matching X-Mug bowl that it nests into when flat (I didn't get that, as I'll use this as my bowl).

Other options I considered were the REI Sierra Cup (Titanium), and the Guyot Squishy Bowl Set , but I liked the organized flatness of the X-Mug.

For water bottles, I think that I may have to carry more water than would fit in the two side pockets of my pack where water bottles are normally stowed, and so additional bottles would need to have hooks to hang outside my pack via carabiners.  At $8.00, the 22. oz. Camelback Permformance Bottle seemed perfect, and in fact my wife and I have used them often on day hikes since we got them more than 6 months ago.  It has the patented Camelback bite valve, which for those of you who know from cycling or other activity, takes a little getting used to but is a great technology for sipping and conserving water.

Even though I plan to hike where water from lakes and streams is abundant, one should always travel with extra water (or other necessary fluids such as wine) and so having a Nalgene bottle or two is recommended.

This may go against the grain of most backpackers, but I like to be clean at night before I crash.  If I'm at a lake where I can swim or a stream where I can clean up, that isn't a big deal.  But if it is early or late in the year and the water is too cold, or I just want to be more comfortable, I looked for a portable shower that is lightweight enough for backpackers and gave a good enough shower to be worth the trouble.  The Sea To Summit Backpacker's Shower ($26.95) looked pretty good, though it seems from the reviews I should rig a better way of hanging it.  It warms the water in the sun, has a 10L capacity and weighs only 5.25 oz.  FYI - I've read that it is best to have a plastic placemat or something to stand on while showering, so I'll grab one from the kitchen before heading off.

Being slightly on the fanatical side when it comes to backpack organization, I needed a system that easily allows me to find things - little things - without having to rip my pack apart to find them.  Most backpackers use stuff sacks, and I may still get a few, but when shopping at REI one day, I came across some zippered Eagle Creek Pac-It Sacks on sale, so I bought 4 in various sizes.  I considered them a better choice than stuff sacks for me because a) I can see what's inside them, b) they are flat, and so fit better in the various pockets of my pack, and c) they have clips in case I want to attach them to something.

Anyone heading out into the back country will have to do some kind of repair, rigging, or general maintenance, and so a multi-tool is a necessity.  Leatherman is the old standby, and Martha got me a nice two tool combination set as a gift, one of which is really small.  I'm not sure which one I have, but the bigger one is something like this, and I keep them in a zippered waist belt pocket for easy access.

Next post - some shopping tips.

Researching the Gear - What Did I Get (the main big ticket items)?

Ok, we've established the fact that I'm not a minimalist or a lightweight backpacker, preferring some creature comforts and opting for affordable, but quality name-brand gear.  After putting together the generic list of everything I could possibly need as shown in the previous blog, I spent hours (enjoyable) researching what makes and models of everything on the list, focusing first on the main items, the big ticket stuff.  I also relied heavily on my colleague Dave Miller, who between his own gear (quite a variety of choices for many items on a checklist) and the gear that he maintains for his son's Ranger Boys group, has experience with a lot of the current technology and major brands.  FYI - Dave is a great nature photographer and has a web site with some great photo sets at http://www.baoutdoors.com/. My favorite sets are the Firefall at Horsetail Fall and the poppies in Merced River Canyon Wildflowers, but there's tons of other really good stuff here as well.  Check it out.

Here's what I bought.  I list the prices just to show that you can always find bargains at well under normal retail prices.

Main Items

Backpack - Kelty Redcloud 5600 (6 lbs.) - I wanted a pack that I could use for trips of a up to a week or maybe even a little longer, so it needed to be fairly large.  At 5600 cubic inches (a little over 90L as many packs are measured), the Redcloud qualified.  I wanted lots of individual pockets, especially on the outside, for storage, organization and quick access for whatever item might be needed at a moment's notice without having to unpack all of the inside contents to get to something - plus a separate sleeping bag compartment.  And, a pack that allowed access to the inside from places other than the top.  As I talked to outfitters and read reviews, it was clear that I should look for a pack with a hip belt that has the strength and stiffness, yet flexibility to comfortably support whatever load I might be carrying.  Finally, I wanted a decent brand at the best price possible.  Kelty is a good, sturdy, reliable, middle-of-the-road manufacturer that has been around forever.

I got a recommendation on the Kelty Redcloud from a friend of a friend and studied some reviews which were generally quite favorable, especially at that price.  I looked at a number of other backpacks, and tried on perhaps half a dozen in my price range, but none of them measured up to the Redcloud for what I wanted.  Additionally, with its "CloudLock Suspension System" the frame length is adjustable so you don't have to order in a short, medium or long like many other brands.  FYI - the top of the pack unhooks and doubles as a day hike hip pack, but I am not a fan of hip packs and probably won't use it that way.

List Price and REI Price - $199.  I paid $131.08, including shipping and sales tax.  Incredible deal.  Going into this hobby, I thought my pack would be much more expensive.

Here's the Kelty product link.  http://www.kelty.com/p-22-red-cloud-5600.aspx 

If you go to this link, there's a really nice video demonstration and review of the pack.  http://www.backcountryedge.com/video-Kelty-Red-Cloud-5600.aspx


Tent - REI Half Dome 2 (5 lbs., 11 oz.) - I love to sleep outside, but tents are often necessary to keep off moisture and mosquitos.  The Half Dome is one of the most popular backpacking tents ever made, and considered by many (including Backpacker Magazine) to be one of the best bargains as well.  2 person, 3 season tent with 2 large vestibules (with the rain fly) for storing boots, clothes, packs, etc. just outside, and separate openings on either side of the tent.  Not the lightest tent, but not the heaviest either.  The payoff though is the inside spaciousness.  Don't forget the tent footprint to preserve the bottom of the tent from the elements.

Normal REI Price - $179.  I paid $119.  Waited for one of REI's big sales, happens maybe twice a year on this item.  Got the footprint at that sale as well, $16, down from $24.50.  I'm glad I got the '09 model, because the 2010 version has an extra pole in the center, and has met with some unfavorable reviews.  I'll have my son Ethan help me set it up for the first time in the back yard next weekend when he come home from college cuz he's better at figuring that stuff out than I am.

At some point I will also get a bivy of some type to cut down on the weight.  They come in everything from bivy sacks favored by rock climbers, to poncho/tarp cover combinations, all the way up to something more akin to a tiny single person bivy tent.  You'll even see some of the old style tube tents used as bivys occasionally.  Below are some links to various bivy photos.

http://www.campmor.com/the-north-face-backpack-bivy-2009.shtml?source=GAN&cm_mmc=GAN-_-Google%20Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Primary-_-

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=207&langId=-1&partNumber=ADXN&cm_mmc=ShoppingPortals-_-Froogle-_-Product_Terms-_-Flight_Bivy

http://www.prolitegear.com/alpinlite-microburst-poncho-tent.html

Sleeping Bag - Sierra Designs Arrow Rock +30 Long (2 lb., 9 oz) - I wanted a 3 season down sleeping bag (as opposed to fiberfill for size and weight)  with at least 600 fill.  Most of the good brands were up around $250-$300 for their 30 degree bags, but I lucked out on this one by getting it at steepandcheap.com for $124 (normally $239), a sort of web-based QVC where an item pops up on your screen (via a widget) and you usually have just seconds to beat the other buyers around the world to the small quantity they have.  Reviews on the product are very good, especially on the comfort and flexibility (not binding) front, and the only complaint I have before using it is about the color, kind of a bright orange.  Comes with both a stuff sack and a cloth storage bag.

http://www.sierradesigns.com/p-34-arrow-rock-30.aspx

If I plan to backpack into October and beyond, at some point I'll need a warmer sleeping bag.  The arrow Rock +15 looks like a good deal in that category as well.

Sleeping Pad - REI Trekker Regular (2 lbs., 8 oz.) - Sleeping pads are designed to provide comfort in the way of padding as well as insulation from the ground for retaining heat.  I considered both the REI trekker and some of the Thermarest pads, which were really nice and considered superior, but when REI had the Trekker on sale for $39.95 (from $64.50), I couldn't pass it up.  It is self inflating, though a few breaths into the valve top it off nicely.

http://www.rei.com/product/778148

Camp Kitchen:

Stove - Snow Peak Lite Max Stove (2 oz.)- There two popular several stove technologies to chose from, liquid petrolium based stoves and liquified gas cannister stoves.  I went with the gas cannister for size, weight and stinkiness reasons, but the other burns hotter and works at lower temperatures (gas cannisters have trouble below freezing).  For cold weather outings, I'll need to get one.

This one I paid full price for, arond $60.  But at 2 oz plus the way it folds up into a tiny bag are what sold me.  Reviews were good.

http://www.rei.com/product/768603

Here is an article that gives you more detail. http://zenstoves.net/StoveChoices.htm#BackpackingStoveTypes

Cookwear - MSR BlackLite Gourmet (23.5 oz.) - Because I plan to fish (and hopefully catch), I wanted a set that came with a frying pan, and 2 pots for meal flexibility if I'm with a group.  I can always leave whatever I'm not using at home if I want to travel lighter.  Comes with a potgrabber handle, and towels that double as insulation between the non-stick pots when stored.  http://www.rei.com/product/768603

If really light is a bigger concern, then aluminum and titanium are better choices, but they are more expensive and harder to clean.  Normally was $59.95, I paid $39.  It seems to be discontinued for something different, but you can still find them on the internet, and for a real bargain.

Water Filtration - MSR Sweetwater  (11 oz.)- Seemed like one of the most popular water filters in use in many other blogs I read, good reviews, and recommended by some REI personnel.  Had a 20% off coupon, so it cost around $64 as opposed to $89.95.  Supposedly needs cleaning from time to time or it will clog, so I have to learn to do that.  I'll take purification tablets as a backup.  http://www.rei.com/product/617913

Down Jacket - Marmot Zeus (12 oz.) - 800 fill light down jacket, almost like a down sweater, most experiened backpackers consider a down jacket as an essential item for Sierra trekking any time of year, and so do I.  You can get cold weather any time of year up there, and it will keep you comfortable outside the tent at night if you don't have a fire, if slept in it makes your sleeping bag even warmer, and could it even keep you alive in an emergency. 

There are a number of choices in a light down jacket, such as Montbell and North Face, but the Zeus got better reviews, I liked the baffle design better, and everyone raved about its freedom of movement.  Best of all, a good friend bought one and loves it.  I can attest to the fact that it is extremely comfortable, and warm for its lightness.  I waited until spring to buy this jacket and it was extremely hard to find in Black XL, in fact Zeus jackets of all sizes and colors were scarce.  I called the manufacturer who said they had no idea they would sell that many in the product's 1st year, and they wouldn't be shipping them again until July.  Found one at Berg's Ski Shop in Eugene, OR (great service by the way) for $128, a good savings off the $160 REI and list price.   http://marmot.com/products/zeus_jacket?p=110,170

Still Need to Get or Already Have:

Trekking Poles - I have a really nice Eucalyptus walking stick that works great, but I think I'll eventually need poles.  I can borrow my wife's Leki anti-shock poles if she's not on the trip with me.

Bear Container - Required for food storage in Yosemite, and maybe easier than hanging food in other locales.

Got the Bear Vault 500 on 6-26-10.  It's pretty big, so if you won't fill it with food and other things such as toothpaste that smell good to a bear, you can use it for storage of other items as well.

GPS - I have a 7 year old Garmin E-Trex that still works pretty well for me.  I need to learn to use it better, and since it's a bit dated, I may need a technology upgrade in the future.  But I am able to download my routes to Trimble Navigation and Google Earth.

Down Vest - Seems like a popular and handy thing to have.

In addition to the big stuff, I got a whole bunch of other cool little stuff that I'll have in the next post.

Researching the Gear - What Do I Need?

Getting my thoughts organized on what equipment I would need to purchase or scrounge up from things I already had on hand was not an easy task.  If you have some idea of what a potential new venture is all about via vicarious observance of others and some minimal exposure yourself, you may have just enough knowledge to be dangerous. But with backpacking in the Sierras, you can't afford to be dangerous.

So, I began working on an exhaustive list of anything I thought I might ever need in my wildest dreams so as not to be caught without.  To start, I just began listing things on an Excel spreadsheet, beginning with the obvious - pack, sleeping bag, tent, stove, cookwear, etc.,  I soon found that as the list grew, it needed to be separated into categories, such as Main Items, Camp Kitchen, Clothing, Sanitation/Hygiene, Hydration, and Sundries. In addition to my own list, I reviewed a number of lists I found on the internet (including REI's, though theirs is less thorough than others) and added new items to my list, which then got me thinking about other things that I might need, and so on and so on.  And, I got a lot of information from my work colleague Dave Miller, who is an experienced backpacker - more about him in the next post.

As I did my research, I learned that there are several approaches to gear that one carries into the wilderness.  Traditional standard weight/size gear is still the most popular, though this stuff is still much lighter and more efficient than your father's traditional gear.  A fairly recent trend (since the late '90s) toward Lightweight, UltraLight, and even minimalist Backpacking has driven manufacturers to design lighter, multi-purpose (and more expensive) equipment, and some enthusiasts to pack fewer items, taking only what they absolutely need and doubling up on function wherever possible.

If you are interested to read more, a few resources on backpacking light are:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/index.html

http://www.backpacking.net/

 http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/

http://lightbackpacking.com/ 

For minimalist backpacking, Ray Jardine seems to be a legendary pioneer (though he doesn't consider himself a minimalist), having hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail with his wife in just over 3 months with as little as 8 lbs of gear.  You can read more about his ideas here:

http://adventuresportsjournal.com/content/?p=380

http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Backpack-Kit/index.htm

Clearly I do not fall into the Minimalist, UltraLight or Backpacking Light categories, as my list is now approaching 150 items. This is more than I could ever hope to carry on a single trip, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna get caught out there with something I wish I had, so I have the ability to pick and chose what comes along, depending upon the trip.  And many of those items on the list are tiny and insignificant (rubber bands, safety pins, etc.) that don't really count against pack weight and space, so the 150 isn't really as bad as it sounds.  Quite the opposite of one Ultralighter I read about whose advice went so far as cutting the labels off shirts.  I mean, c'mon, really?

Another reason I don't qualify as a lightweight backpacker is that I simply can't afford it.  I've found that the good lightweight equipment generally carries a price tag of at least 2-3 times more than conventional gear, and sometimes even  more - essentially, the less it weighs, the more it costs.  If I enjoy backpacking as much as I anticipate I will, I can gradually replace items with lighter counterparts as finances allow. Still, it seems that for most trips under a week, even with my current gear, I should be at no more than 40 lbs.

Below is a link to my list along with a poor jpeg copy.  I don't yet own everything on the list (and probably won't ever) and I won't everything I have with me on each trip, but didn't want to forget about anything.  And, though it might seem like there are some odd things to be bringing on a backpacking trip (such as pillow and pillowcase), they are really just placeholders to remind me to bring something that can be used for that function - in the case of pillows, maybe a stuff sack that I can put some clothes and my down jacket in.

Next post - what equipment I actually got, and why.

Dennis' Backpacking List

Getting Started - Who's Gonna Join Me?

Ok, the decision was made that I'm really going to do this, one that I'd been putting off far too long. The next steps were to recruit some partners in crime, and research and purchase the equipment I'd need. 

Even though a number of people from our usual Pinecrest rowdies have expressed interest, getting them to join me isn't so easy given everyone's busy schedules and the fact that they too, would need to acquire the necessary gear.

The suspects (and their excuses) are: 

Martha - my wife, who is in much better shape than I am and hikes more often than I do - weekly in the Bay Area.  She's thinking help on the gear from the Kennedy Meadows Pack Station sounds good.

Holding me upright, as usual

Ethan - My son, who I imagine will show me more about surviving in the wild than I will show him. 

Ethan, at Powell Lake, Emigrant Wilderness, with sister Justine who I would

love to convince to come out for a short trip

Chris - brother-in-law who will keep us laughing with (at?) him, and who has college days backpacking experience in the Rockies. He's dusting off some old equipment, but most has probably seen better days. I think he needs to make some serious trips to REI.
                                              

Chris, Pinecrest Lake,  dreaming of an overnighter

Keith - easy going guitar shop owner (great boutique shop with his own line of guitars, and repair center - www.keithhollandguitars.com) who has quite a bit of experience from years past. With no guitar, he'll just have to entertain us A Capella.  He already has most of his gear, but needs to get his cranky knee fixed first.  His wife Joni is a hard-to-keep-up-with hiker, but likes the Kennedy pack mule idea for gear as well.


Bill - the prankster, we'd all better watch our backs, and our packs. He's just gotta get off his duff and make it happen. That gear isn't to show up on its own, so dump the dirt bike, invest the $$ in equipment, and switch to foot power.

Bill and Keith, trail-ready?

Dr. Jimmy - brings the good gadgets (portable blender for margaritas at the back of Pinecrest Lake was classic) and would be good to have in case of emergency. If it's his emergency and it's up to us to take care of it, he's in trouble.

Jimmy, but I don't think he'll be bringing Ruby

Kent - an east coast White Mountain hiker, but it'll be worth his while to fly out from Massachusetts.  Little does he realize that many of our trailheads are about 2000' higher than the top of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

Kent, on a summit in New Hampshire, but I'm gonna get him to 10,000 ft.

Mike - another east coaster from New Jersey, a cigar aficionado with some Yosemite day hike experience.  Bet he's never smoked one in the the kinds of places he can see on these overnighters.  We might have to do something about those boots, though.

Mike, getting ready to head down to the valley from Glacier Point

Ingrid - A California high tech executive transplanted to Alaska, with lots of hiking and a little backpacking experience.  Since she's used to living in the midst of bears, we'll elect her the designated Yogi handler if they come visiting.

Ingrid, Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood, Alaska

Ed - Another east coast friend who has done a two week Alps trek with his son from lodge to lodge (hut to hut?), but this time he's gonna have to sleep outdoors with the critters.  We both wish there was a tap handle with a good English bitter at the end of each day like we've enjoyed together so many times in the UK.

Ed, hiking in the Alps with his son.

The rest of the Lambert clan needs to get involved - Bob, Matt, Dave, Chris Jr., Nick (so long as there are no bees), Jerome, Danny....in fact we could use Jerome's Eagle Scout expertise. Plus, we need those young bucks for hiding the beer in the bottom of their packs so they can unknowingly tote it up the hill. And of course Kristina can come along because a) she's a really good hiker, b) is fearless when it comes to natural waterslides, and c) because Chris Jr. certainly can't look after himself.

Some of the other suspects, I mean prospects

Seriously, we've all enjoyed many great hikes together and whoever is up for it would be most welcome.

Backpacking for Beginners from a Beginner - Introduction

I'm a lifelong lover of the outdoors, and I've been wanting do more backpacking ever since I made a few Sierra Nevada trips as teenager. Our family is fortunate to own a cabin in the Sierras at Pinecrest Lake in Tuolumne County, and we often hike in the area, especially in Emigrant Wilderness which borders the north boundary country of Yosemite. We've done just about everything we can in a day hike, and so the only way to see more is to get out and do what I've been dreaming about and putting off for 40 years!

If you're a beginning backpacker and want to read about what I've learned, or you're an experienced one who wants to laugh at my travails, follow me as I recount my progress through the decision to do this (and convince my wife this is a good thing to do), researching equipment and trips, and ultimately making my first few excursions as soon as the snow melts. I'll try to post every week or so until I reach the ultimate goal of a post-trip post.  On to the adventures!