Baxter 2K Backpacker's Gear List

September 11-16

Brian, Eric, Matt and Bill

B2K Gear Selection:

With four people on the trail this year, the gear list has been adjusted accordingly. All the basics are still there, although some gear has been re-classified from personal to common gear for efficiency. Also, since we will not be carrying a tent, there is an extra tarp for emergency shelter.

Safety and Survival Gear:

Safety and survival gear have been selected to provide a healthy margin of safety in the event of gear problems, severe weather, illness or injury. Gear choices are based on the following assumptions:

The Primary safety and survival gear is selected to provide for the basic needs, emergency shelter and first aid for a group of 4. This includes all of the "common gear" items and "essential" personal items. Please be sure to pack everything on the "Essentials" list. We will run through this checklist before we hit the trail.

The Backup safety and survival gear is in kit form and is considered part of the Common Gear. This kit is to be used in the unlikely event that it is necessary to dispatch a party in search of help. The contents of this "10 essentials" kit are designed to support one or two hikers, traveling light (i.e. no packs) to the nearest ranger station (5 miles max.).

Since we have an all lean-to itinerary, we will not be carrying a tent. We will be carrying two tarps for use as an emergency shelter. For your personal survival kit, I’d like to recommend a relatively new product, the emergency bivvy sack. These are made from the same material as an emergency blanket, but shaped into a bivvy sack. In extreme wind and rain, a sack will keep you a lot drier than a simple emergency blanket. In cold weather, it can serve as a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth. A simple 4 oz. mylar sack goes for $9.99 at Campmor (#81279). The re-usable Thermo-Lite Emergency Bivvy Sack (#89033) offers adjustable venting and a moisture wicking surface at 7 oz. for $19.99. (www.campmor.com)

Estimated Pack Weight:

This gear list should result in a substantial weight savings over previous trips. Weight savings come primarily from staying exclusively in lean-tos (no tent required), one less day on the trail, consolidation of common gear and a larger group size (to distribute the common gear further). With careful selection of gear, a total FSO weight of 45 pounds (plus optional gear) should be achievable.

Common Gear (about 20 pounds total to be distributed evenly)

Cook Kit

Group First Aid (Bill)

Repair and Utility Kit (General repairs, and camp utility equipment) (Bill)

Route Finding

Emergency Shelter (may also be used as a lean-to cover)

Water

Backup Survival Kit (9 of the "10 Essentials". Users should also carry adequate clothing and water).

Personal Gear (Approximately 33 pounds, including water)

Essentials: (Don’t leave home without them!)

Highly Recommended Items: (i.e. Damn near essential)

Strictly Optional Items: (Whatever you are willing to carry)

Common Food (Approximately 28 pounds total to be distributed equally):

3 Trail Dinners
3 Trail Breakfasts
4 Lunches
8 snacks
Other trail nibbles
Misc

Non Trail Food (For the first night & morning at South Branch):

Pre-trip Check Out: