Essential Items
·
Solid Hiking Boots- Boots should have high ankle support with a solid
Vibram®, or equivalent, sole. Gore Tex®, or other waterproofing, is
recommended to have for wet days as well as added insulation. Be sure to
break your boots in at least 4
WEEKS prior to departure. Additionally, bring a spare set of laces.
·
Day Pack –The most important things to look for if you need to purchase
one are size (30L is good), hydration pack compatibility, hip and chest
straps, good padding on shoulder straps and bottle holders.
·
Water/Wind proof Jacket - Your water/windproof jacket is your outer
water repellent layer. Gore
Tex, seam-sealed is recommended as well as a hood for added warmth.
·
1 duffel bag – This is for all your items that are not in your day pack.
Please bring a soft sided bag and try to keep the total weight under 25
lbs. per person.
Things to Keep in Mind about the Essentials
Look for items that will add less volume to your overall pack. Heavy
synthetic materials will be very limiting and could cause issues when
packing up for the hike. If you have any questions about an item you
currently own please call (858) 356-9411.
Clothing & Layering
·
3 pair’s synthetic warm weather trekking socks - These socks are for
trekking in the warmest part of the day since they are made of a
Coolmax® fabric. What is Coolmax®? - CoolMax® wicks moisture, dries
quickly and breathes well, keeping your feet dry and preventing
blisters.
·
1 pairs heavier synthetic or wool blend
socks - Your wool socks are ideal for around camp when the
temperature drops as well as on cold mornings. Merino wool is very
comfortable and dries quickly with fewer odors than synthetic blends.
·
1 pairs long underwear top/bottom - This will be your base layer for
colder mornings, evenings, and days where the temperature drops. The
material is lightweight, tight fitting, moisture wicking, and
comfortable.
·
Fleece Top - This Polartec® 200 weight top will provide added warmth
during the evenings. Please look for fleece material and stay away from
cotton sweatshirts. Ideally,
this item is worn over the thermal base layer and underneath your
water/wind proof jacket.
·
2 pairs Shorts/Pants for Hiking- These convertible shorts/pants will be
what we hike in every day. They should be of a lightweight, quick drying
nylon material. Some come with UPF protection and mosquito protection.
·
2 pairs long or short sleeve shirts for the trail - The shirt is
moisture wicking, light weight, and designed for multi-day hikes.
·
Mid-Layer Top - This shirt is a long sleeve version of the one
recommended above. The long sleeve trail shirt offers added warmth, more
protection from the sun, and an additional layer for evenings and early
morning starts.
·
Sun hat– Your sun hat should be worn throughout especially on the water
in the kayaks. A full brimmed hat is good for added shade and increased
sun protection. Additionally, a neck scarf should also be considered to
protect the back of the neck.
·
Sun Glasses – Your sun glasses should have 100% UV protection and should
reduce glare as well as visible light. The frames should be lightweight
with a wrap-around design for enhanced grip and staying power.
Things to Keep In Mind for Clothing
Less is more!!! It is important to bring the essential gear discussed
above, but it is more important to refrain from bringing items that are
not recommended. Items to stay away from are cotton socks, jeans,
multiple pairs of shoes, and heavy sweatshirts. Look for items that are
moisture wicking and quick drying fabrics as opposed to cotton fabrics.
Additional Items
·
Head Lamp- Petzl® and Black Diamond® make several models of small and
efficient head lamps. Look for ones that have multiple lighting levels,
LED bulbs and uses AAA batteries.
* Please bring at least 1 set of spare batteries.
·
Water shoes (Teva, Crocs, Sandals) - These are great for around camp and
in the kayaks. We recommend closed toe and straps for getting in and out
of the boats.
·
Hydrator - Hydrators are ideal when hiking for several hours because
they enable you to drink slowly and frequently. 2-3 liters is a good
size and should fit easily into your pack. All Camelbaks® come with a
bite valve, or on/off switch, as well as a large access port for
filling.
·
Bug Spray - DEET based products work well and we find that the spray on
versions last longer and are less messy. 4-6 ounce repellents that are
perspiration and splash resistant are great.
·
Sun Screen - 30 SPF or higher is recommended as well as water proof and
sweat proof. 8 ounces will be plenty and we typically carry one with 45+
SPF for our faces and a 30 SPF for other exposed areas. Banana Boat,
REI, Kinesis and All Terrain are good options.
·
Wide mouth water bottle - A 1 liter water bottle is essential for
hydrating at lunch, around the camp, and refilling throughout the day.
Stay away from glass and heavy metals and look for lexan® for
durability.
·
Pillow– A Thermarest® pillow that compresses down or folds into itself
is ideal. A good benchmark for size and weight are 18 X 14 inches and 9
ounces total.
·
2 Dry Bags - A 20 liter + dry bag is great for ensuring your personal
items are safe in case of rain as well as when we are on the water.
Cameras, wallets, money, and any other valuables can be kept dry at all
times.
·
Pack Cover - The pack cover is an additional item we recommend everyone
carry in case we encounter heavy rains.
The pack cover should have a drawstring cord and elastic edges to
fit firmly over your bag. A 40 liter cover will work well on any day
pack.
·
Trekking Poles - Collapsible poles are great for steep downhill terrain
and assistance up hill. If you have knee problems they reduce the impact
on your joints by 20-30%. A nice soft foam grip will help prevent
blisters and the ones with an aluminum shaft are durable and light
weight.
·
Camp Towel - the camp towel should be of a polyester nylon blend that
dries quickly and compacts tightly in your pack. The large (50 X 27
inches) is a good size and can be used to wash up at the end of the day.
Stay away from house or beach towels.
Optional Items
·
Camera
·
Paperback book
·
Journal with pen or pencil
·
Person First Aid Kit (band aids, mole skin or second skin, Ibuprofen,
Aspirin)
·
Hand sanitizer
·
Sani-wipes – These should be used for using the bathroom as they have
anti-bacteria in them and are bio-degradable
·
Bandanna
·
Flavored chocolate/energy bars for snacks
·
2 extra garbage bags for waterproofing and separating dirty laundry
·
Ear plugs
· IPod or MP3 player