Above is a photo of our two packs: a 70L Yukon CT pack and a 75L MEC Vektor pack. In these packs is everything we needed for a week on the West Coast Trail.
Cooking stuff:
– 2x 1L Nalgene water bottles
– 2x aluminum coffee cups
– reusable coffee filter (Amazon link)
– loose leaf tea diffuser
– Mini camping stove and pot set (Amazon link)
– 16oz isobutane fuel cannister
– plastic cutlery and bowls
– tongs
– pan with folding handle
– 3L Katadyn BeFree water filter (Amazon link)
Med Kit:
– Polysporin
– Advil
– Tinactin
– Benadryl/Afterbite
– waterproof bandages
– gauze
– rubbing alcohol
– tweezers
– medical tape & kin tape
– Moleskin
– Blister-healing Bandaids (Link)
Clothes (per person):
– rain pants
– rain coat
– hoodie
– fleece sweater
– track pants
– 2x shorts
– 2x t-shirts
– long sleeve t-shirt
– 5x underwear
– 5x pairs of socks
– Crocs
– hiking boots
– hat
– mosquito net
– sunglasses
Breakfast/Lunch/Snacks:
– coffee grounds
– loose leaf tea
– sugar
– apples
– pepperettes
– beef jerky
– Crispers
– Gold Fish
– granola bars
– protein bars
– energy gels
– trail mix
Tools:
– Gerber multitool (Amazon Link)
– compass
– folding shovel (Amazon link)
– hatchet
– 6x bungee cords (2-3 feet)
– 2x long ropes (40 feet)
– lantern
– 2x headlamps
– waterproof matches
– 2x bear bells
– mini airhorn
Miscellaneous:
– toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lip chap, camp suds, etc.)
– 2x MEC ultralite chairs (link)
– books
– playing cards
– hammock (link)
– camping journal
– Canon EOS Rebel T7 (with 18-55mm & 75-300 mm lenses)
– portable solar power bank
– Apple watch
– GoPro Hero 4
– Spot GPS
– 2x quick dry towels (Link)
Post-Trip Thoughts:
We didn’t forget anything major this time. We actually packed too much. We had gone on a shorter trip the week before and didn’t think to take some gear out that we wouldn’t need on the WCT. We had our full camping kitchen set (bowls, pan, tongs, etc.) which we didn’t use this trip because we ate only dehydrated meals right out of the bag. So we really only needed the stove and utensils.
There weren’t many good places for the hammock so we probably wouldn’t bring it here again. There was also a fire ban because of the drought so no need for any fire-starting or firewood-gathering tools (matches, newspaper, hatchet, etc.). Because there were outhouses everywhere there was no need for the shovel either. Never a bad thing to have these tools in case you get lost/stuck out there.
It never rained so there was no need for any of our rain gear or tarps. But I wouldn’t count on that to happen again so those items will probably stay on the packing list.
Moleskin and blister-healing BandAids were a life saver. Will pack even more next time.
What else would you have brought?
2 Responses
What about pillows?
We just use dry bags filled with our clothes as pillows. Though there are some nice, low profile camping pillows available now.