Q: Where can you buy or rent equipment
A: see Equipment Stores

Q: Do we need to get maps, or will you or Sierra be providing them?
A: There are topo maps at our web site you can print out:
Sand Ridge Lake (https://donsnotes.com/tahoe/sand_ridge_l.html)
Lola Montez Lake (https://donsnotes.com/tahoe/lola_montez_l.html)
They are also listed on the itinerary page.
See also maps on the trails page for USGS quadrangles.
The USGS quadrangles you would need are the Soda Springs and Webber Pk 7.5' maps,
but they are not necessary.

Q: Do we also need a day pack?  
A: Day 6 is a layover day where you will have opportunity to do a day hike
   or just hang around camp, swim, read, ...
So, you might want to bring a day pack or fanny pack for your lunch and
some water if you needed a carry-on anyway, however your backpack will work by just synching down the compression straps.
I'll throw a couple of extra day packs  if you want to borrow one.

Q: Are you typically able to do carry-on with your backpack on the airplane, or do you have to check it?
A: You will probably have to check it. Since airlines have been charging for checked baggage people have started using more carry-ons and they are cracking down now. Check with your airline.
See: http://www.luggageonline.com/about_airlines.cfm

Q: Can we leave things at the lodge while we are camping?
A: Yes - You can leave things in your room.
There are lockers you can use if you have valuables, but you need to bring your own lock.

Q: Should we bring a water filter? I think it mentions it on the supply list.
A: No. We will start each backpack w/ full water containers from the lodge, so there really won't be that much extra that we will need, and we will mostly treat the water we do need with iodine pills or by boiling.

Q: Do I need a tarp for under my tent?
A: A ground cloth (piece of plastic), or footprint (usually coated nylon sold by the tent manufacturer) is useful for:
a. Protecting the tent floor from the abrasion of sticks and stones, and it adds an extra layer of waterproofing below your tent.
b. Use with the rain fly only to reduce weight, however this arrangement will not protect you from insects.
Francy uses a piece of clear plastic that she cuts to the exact ( or slightly smaller) size of the tent bottom.
Note: Be sure to tuck the ground cloth a little bit under your tent so that it doesn't stick out and collect rain that will run between the ground cloth and your tent floor. You want rain and dew to run below the ground cloth so that it can soak into the ground and not collect under your tent.