What To Bring

Pack Trips are all about comfort, and you need not be ultralight, but please keep your gear organized, compact, and under 30 lbs. 

You can download a PDF of this list here.

You can download a consolidated PDF checklist here.

Camping Equipment

  • 30-60L sturdy duffle bag, drybag, or backpack - it often rains in the Sierra, and while we tarp the loads we pack on the mules, a waterproof bag will help to ensure that you stay warm and dry. You can line your bag with a trash bag for added protection.

  • Sleeping bag - the temperature listed on sleeping bags is the temperature the bag will allow you to survive, not the temperature at which you will be comfortable. You can expect temperatures of 20-40° at night, sometimes with wind or rain. Many people sleep cold and will be most comfortable with a 0° bag, others may only need a 30° bag. You can bring a sleeping bag liner or small fleece or down blanket for added warmth. Your sleeping bag should be packed in a waterproof stuff sack and does not need to fit inside your duffle.

  • Sleeping pad - inflatable pads are best for warmth and comfort, but a foam pad works too. Your pad will be packed on the mules, so you can afford some extra padding. Your pad should be packed in a protective bag to avoid rain and punctures, and it does not need to fit inside your duffle.

  • Camping pillow - inflatable or small and compressible

  • Daypack - large enough to carry water, your lunch, warm layers, raingear, and a small first aid kit.

  • Tent - we can provide a 2-6 person tent upon request.

Our packers typically cowboy camp and use a waterproof ground tarp and a bedroll or bivy sack. Sleeping under the stars is a wonderful wilderness experience, and weather often permits us to cowboy camp comfortably.

Clothing

  • Sun hat and Sunglasses - we are closer to the sun at high altitude, and sun protection is essential.

  • Hiking clothes - lightweight, long-sleeved shirt and pants, for protection from sun, brush, and bugs.

  • Hiking boots or shoes - make sure these are comfortable and properly broken in.

  • Camp shoes - sandals, and/or sneakers or crocs

  • Shorts

  • Rain jacket and rain pants - keeping dry is essential for comfort in the backcountry and you will need durable, waterproof rain gear.

  • Warm layers:

    • Puffy - down or synthetic

    • Jacket or pullover - wool or fleece

    • Long underwear - wool or synthetic base layers

  • Camp clothes - comfy sweats, leggings, or a sundress

  • Bandanas - 1 for hiking, 1 for a napkin. Folks who squat to pee often carry an additional bandana to use as a pee-rag.

  • Warm hat

  • Socks - 1 pair per day. No cotton!

  • Underwear - 1 pair of comfortable, breathable bottoms for each day. 1-2 supportive bras.

  • Bathing suit - most people wear their underwear or skinny dip, but you can bring a cute bikini if you'd like

The Small Stuff

  • Maps - Maps relevant to each trip are listed under trip descriptions. Mapping Apps like Gaia, FarOut, Onyx, and CalTopo are fantastic, but guests should carry a paper map in case their phone dies. A compass can be useful for navigation.

  • Water bottle - hikers often bring a hydration pack in addition to a water bottle, and some carry a small cup or bottle for electrolyte drinks.

  • Mug - plastic or metal, for coffee and hot drinks

  • Pocket knife or multi-tool

  • Headlamp- extra batteries

  • Battery pack - and/or solar panel and cables for phones, cameras, etc

  • Water filter - a small filter for on trail, and/or a gravity filter for camp

  • Camera - extra batteries, memory cards, film, a charger

  • Ziplock bags

  • Towel - small, lightweight travel towel

  • Mosquito head net - this + long-sleeved tops and bottoms is the most effective bug protection for both camp and while hiking.

  • Hand sanitizer - there will be a handwashing station in camp, and hand sanitizer at the latrine, but guests should bring hand sanitizer for after using the bathroom and before eating lunch on trail.

  • Bathroom kit - there will be a latrine in camp, but guests should carry a small bag of toilet paper and hand sanitizer for bathroom use on hikes. We will go over how to minimize our impact through LNT principles.

Toiletries

All toiletries should be kept in small plastic containers with close-fitting caps, and stored in a leak-proof, resealable bag.

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

  • Sunscreen - you will burn badly at high altitudes without it. A long-sleeved shirt, pants, and a sun hat are your 1st line of defense, but SPF should be applied to exposed skin several times throughout the day.

  • Chapstick with SPF

  • Hair ties and a comb or brush

  • Baby wipes or face wipes - travel sized, you won't need a pound of wipes.

  • Biodegradable Soap - soap cannot be used in natural water sources, but can be used in camp.

  • Washcloth or scrubby for bathing

  • Travel sized skincare products - decanted into small, plastic bottles.

  • Salve - we swear by Aquaphor. Wind and sun are hard on our hands and faces, and a moisturizer is essential for comfort.

  • Bug spray - No DEET please, it's bad for both us and the wilderness. There are many natural bug sprays, and some of them even work.

  • Prescription medications - please keep a written copy of your medications and their dosages with you in case of emergency. People with severe allergies should carry an EpiPen and inform their guides as to where it's kept.

Safety

Wilderness adventures entail risk, and while guides are trained in Wilderness First Aid and experienced in keeping guests safe, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

  • First Aid Kit - band-aids, pain and allergy medications, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, gauze, eye drops, tape or moleskin for blisters. There will be a first aid kit in camp but guests should be prepared to treat minor injuries on trail. People with severe allergies should carry an EpiPen and inform their guides as to where it's kept.

  • An emergency beacon or satellite phone - guides carry a Garmin, but guests may prefer to carry their own emergency device for solo hikes, or to check in with family.

We recommend that Guests have Medical, Emergency, & Travel Insurance

  • Medical insurance -if you are injured, medical insurance will help you to access affordable medical care. If you are uninsured or under-insured, you can purchase emergency or travel medical insurance.

  • Emergency medical insurance / Air ambulance insurance - this can cover the cost of a helicopter evacuation in case of emergency, and in some cases, your medical costs once evacuated.

  • Travel insurance - wilderness trips are subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions, and the best laid plans can be ruined by a missed flight or illness. Travel insurance can protect your trip, your health, and your belongings.

Insurance providers include: Global Rescue, Faye, AirMedCare, Seven Corners, Allainz

Optional Items

  • Writing and Art supplies - a journal and pens or colored pencils, watercolors, knitting, or embroidery

  • Book or Kindle

  • Lantern - lightweight and compact

  • Gloves - sun gloves for hiking and/or warm gloves for evenings

  • Beer, wine, canned cocktails, or booze - bag wine and flasks pack best, but we've packed many a fine bottle of scotch. Drinks can be cooled in the creek, and your cook can provide lemons, limes, and lemonade or coffee you can top off with a bit of hooch

  • Lightweight hammock

  • Instruments - we've packed guitars, violins, trumpets, mandolins, banjos, flutes, and ukuleles. Instruments should be packed in a durable, waterproof case, but do run the risk of damage during transit. Please inform us ahead of time if you plan to bring an instrument, and we ask that musicians be respectful of people enjoying the sounds of the wilderness, and time their playing appropriately.

  • Apps - there are many phone apps that can help us to understand the natural world. iNaturalist is great for general identification, Merlin is excellent for birders, Northern California Wildflowers is a favorite for plant identification, and there are many Astronomy apps useful for navigating the night sky. You can download podcasts, audio books, and music to listen to on your headphones. We ask that folks avoid playing audio through their phone speakers, and leave Bluetooth speakers at home.

Fishing equipment

  • California Fishing License - a fishing license must be procured prior to your arrival at the pack station, and can be purchased at sporting goods stores in the Owen's Valley, or online here

  • Fishing rod- must be telescopic or collapsible

  • Rod Case - compact, sturdy, metal

  • Reel and line

  • Canvas creel - no tackle boxes

  • Leader material (1-3 lb)

  • Flies

  • Bait - worms or Pautzke red eggs (check these in with your guides, do not pack in duffle) 

  • Egg hooks, worm hooks

  • Split shot

  • Lures

  • Pliers


Please contact me if you have questions or concerns regarding gear.

You can download a PDF of this list here.

You can download a consolidated PDF checklist here.