Equipment List

WHAT TO BRING (*optional) Personal weight limit for each participant is 30 pounds for the mules plus whatever you want to carry yourself.

Clothing
☐ Hiking boots (waterproofed, high top) [1]
2-3 pairs of hiking socks (and liners)[2]
☐ camp shoes (old sneakers, sandals or sanuks)
☐ * Water shoes for swimming
☐ Rain jacket or poncho (Including a waterproof backpack cover - Sierra squalls can blow up quickly.)
☐ Rain/wind Pants
☐ Heavy jacket or down parka [3]
☐ Lightweight jacket
☐ Sweater, sweatshirt or fleece
☐ Long-sleeved shirt
☐ Short-sleeved shirt [6]
☐ Long Pants and Shorts or zip on legs (2) [4]
☐ Underwear (2) [6]
☐ Long Underwear [6]
☐ gloves (thin)
☐ Sleepwear
☐ Swimsuit (bring an old beater because the bottom of the hot tub can rough it up a bit).
☐ Hat with brim [5]
☐ Warm hat (wool or fleece) for early mornings or evenings outdoors
☐ *Camp Chair (e.g. Crazy Creek or Thermarest)

Miscellaneous
☐ Small Towel, washcloth, Biodegradable soap, shampoo
☐ * Extra Towel for swimming or spare
☐ Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, comb,
☐ Earplugs (in case of loud snorers)
☐ Watch or travel alarm
☐ Extra Personal Snacks for the on-trail portion
☐ Books [10]/journals/notebook & pen/pencil

As few electronic devices as possible.

We will provide:
Water purification
Eating Cntainer

Backpacking
☐ Daypack 1,500+ in³ or backpack [7]
☐ Rain cover for pack (a large garbage bag is sufficient)
☐ Tent with rainfly (sharing preferred)
☐ ground cloth
☐ Sleeping bag (20°) (see weather)
☐ Sleeping Pad
☐ Duffle bag (36" max) to load on mules
☐ Water bottles (2 qt [64 oz] total) or bladder (e.g. camelback)
☐ Covered Mug/Cup/ Bowl
☐ We will provide an eating container
☐ Eating Utensils - Spoon (knife and fork optional)
☐ Water filter (iodine will be supplied)
☐ Insect repellent
☐ * Bandanna
☐ Toilet paper and baggie
☐ The Ten Essentials - see below
☐ *Nature guides [10]
☐ *lightwieght Camera, film, charger
☐ *Binoculars
☐ *Hiking poles

THE REVISED TEN ESSENTIALS [11]
☐ Sun Protection - (sunglasses, sunblock (≥SPF 15), lipscreen) [5]
☐ Insulation - (extra clothing)
☐ Hydration - (water and purification system)
☐ Signal device - (whistle)
☐ Navigation - (map and compass or GPS)
☐ Illumination - (flashlight and/or headlamp)
☐ * Nutrition - (extra food)
☐ * First-aid kit - (wound management and medications) [9]
☐ * Emergency shelter - (trash bag or space blanket)
☐ * Fire - (matches or lighter)
☐ * Knife
☐

1. You should already have purchased your boots and taken them on many happy hikes, walks with the dog, or trips to the store. You'll be much happier if they're well broken in BEFORE the trip. You won't need heavy-duty hard-core stiff all-leather boots - nylon uppers are fine, as we won't be hiking more than 8 miles or so, and all of it will be on trail. However, high-top boots are recommended over "walking shoes".
2. Socks that wick moisture and don't chafe are best. Many people like a light-weight polypro or equivalent liner socks (also to prevent chafing).
3. I use a down vest with a softshell, but if you tend to chill a parka would be better. (see weather on the main page.)
4. Long pants (Avoid jeans. If they get wet out on the trail they take FOREVER to dry).
5. The sun can really burn you at this altitude (10-11,000'), so a wide brim hat and sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) are important. (The tops of ears are particularly vulnerable.)
6. Cotton which retains moisture and takes a long time to dry is not recommended for outdoor activities. Polypropylene (PolyPro) and Polyester (Capilene, ...) are the favorites. PolyPro has the disadvantage of retaining odors, including body odors. Nowadays it seems to have been replaced with specially treated polyester, like Patagonia's Capiline, or other less expensive polyester materials or natural fibres such as merino wool or silk.
See Clothing in recreation
7. Backpack - If you plan to do an extra overnight to Desolation Lake you will need a larger pack 3,000-3,500 in³. See donsnotes.com/recreation/backpacks.html#volume .
9. Basic, personal first-aid kit, along with whatever over-the-counter and prescription medications you may need. If you are bringing a prescription medication, it is best to bring a spare set in the event that your primary set gets lost, wet or unusable. Moleskin for blisters (It will also be carried in the First Aid kits.)
EpiPen - Anaphylactic Shock - It may take well over an hour to evacuate people from some of our hikes, so if you are allergic to bee stings you will want to make appropriate plans. See EpiPen - Anaphylactic Shock page.

10. Some popular books are:

    * Sierra Nevada Natural History by Tracy I. Sorer and Robert L. Usinger.
   * Wildflowers of the Tahoe Sierra by Laird R. Blackwell.
   * Geology of the Sierra Nevada by Mary Hill
   * History of the Sierra Nevada by Francis Farquhar.
   * My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir.

11. Ten Essentials:
See: backpacking.net, REI

Other lists
This list at donsnotes.com/sierraclub/outings/humphreys_basin-bc/equip_list.html
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Kathie Fowler and Linda Conklin for most of this information.

Last updated 1 May, 2010