I'm Gearing Up for a 5-Day Hiking/Camping Trip in Yosemite, Advice?

[Holland]

Wow, that was an awesome post.

[Pottsalot]

it just so happens that I have listed my pack contents for the Mountain to Sea trail this summer - I will share them with you. I hike pretty fast but not ultra-light - my pack weighs about 28 pounds on average - a little heavier with full food and a little lighter walking into town with only half a cliff bar and low on water. For summer hiking on the AT, you wouldn't need the down jacket, the extra platy, the compass, or too much sunscreen - hike your own hike:


rei venturi 50 (liter) backpack:


top of pack / Brain:
pack cover
Aqua Mira for Water Purification in ziplock
I-phone, charger cord, data book, compass, journal, pencil
Little bag including: spare lighter, small pocketknife, headlamp, batteries, spoon, lip balm, soap, spare spoon
First aid zip-lock - 2-3 bandaids, coach's tape, blister pads, gloves, ibuprofen, needle, thread, roll gauze
Sunglasses, Sunscreen
stocking cap


Top of main pack
Food Bag + toothbrush cut in 1/2, paste, hanging cord
1 small platypus bag - kept empty unless water is scarce

Mid Pack
Clothes waterproof stuff sack as follows:
1 -boxers for sleeping
1-long underwear bottoms
1-spare smart-wool socks
1-spare silky t-shirt long sleeve (orange one)
1-down jacket in separate stuff sack
1-light wool icebreaker sweater - stuffed mid pack


MSR Hubba Carbon Reflex Tent
Tyvek house wrap ground sheet cut to fit tent
MSR Pocket Rocket / medium Propane Fuel Canister
windscreen - custom made with W.L. screen
1 @ 1- liter MSR titanium cockpit, strainer lid (doubles as coffee cup)
lighter, pack towel, canister stand, spork


Low Pack:
therm a rest in bag
20 degree down sleeping bag, Mont-bell liner, sack


Pack Pockets:
2 Gatoraid bottles for water
rain jacket - arc-teryx packlight, marmot rain pants
digital camera (hip belt)
crocs
z-poles
sun-visor

oh yeah - - I'm known at times to have a half pint of liquor on me too!



Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk 2

[Click]

I'm not much of help as far as back packing advice goes, although I would like to get into it in the near future. But here is a hdr I did of half dome a few years ago...

[Lof8]

Awesome! Thanks for the very thorough responses guys! And awesome pic of Halfdome!

[mrsleeve]

I am going to say this again


BEAR SPRAY. Make sure you take it, I know yosemite is not grizzly country like glacier is but blackies worry me more than grizzly's

Oh and the point about treking poles in the mountains is a must they are a must as well

[RobertK]

I am going to say this again


BEAR SPRAY. Make sure you take it, I know yosemite is not grizzly country like glacier is but blackies worry me more than grizzly's

That's racist.

[BobombETA]

I am going to say this again


BEAR SPRAY. Make sure you take it, I know yosemite is not grizzly country like glacier is but blackies worry me more than grizzly's

Oh and the point about treking poles in the mountains is a must they are a must as well

More on bears:

- If you are in bear country it's important to not have food smell in your camp.
- This means that you cook downwind from your camp, not in your camp.
- Use a bear canister or hang your food high in a tree (bring paracord), again downwind from your camp.
- Keep any used cookware with your food.
- Keep your garbage bag with your food.
- If you've been fishing, process them downwind from your camp.
- If you've been cooking and your clothes smell like food, consider changing them before you sleep and keeping your "dirty" clothes with your food.
- Don't keep any late night snacks in your tent.

Follow these guidelines and you will be fine. A lot of the time a camp fire and your voices will be enough to keep bears away. But don't take any chances, and keep the bear spray handy. Wear it on your belt or pack when you're hiking. Not in your pack.

[Mr. Burns]

bring "bear bangers"

came in handy for me in Banff Canada.

http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/products/57-Discount-Camping-Accessories/165688-Tru-Flare-Mini-Flare-and-Bearbanger-Launcher-Kits/

[slammin.e28]

You need dis.

[Mr. Burns]

is that the stumpy dad from "Little People Big World" hunched over drunk in that pic?

[slammin.e28]

is that the stumpy dad from "Little People Big World" hunched over drunk in that pic?

Probably. I didn't even see him until you brought my l'attention to it.

[Mr. Burns]

oh yeah.

also, a "Bear Barrel" came in really handy.

comes in great for storing TP and keeping it dry, perfect to sit on after hiking and can stand on it when putting up tarps for tents etc.

they're pricey however, but I use it all the time.
food storage at it's best, also practically eliminates odors from any food you bring, the top is clamped down, and these are easily hangable to a tree out of reach overnight.

oh and they float too.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I didn't see much on medical, so aside from a First Aid kit, make sure to bring an Epi-Pen. Chances are, one of your group might need it and not even know, it would suck to watch a friend die from their throat swelling shut due to an undiagnosed bee allergy. Not saying it will happen, but it's simple insurance, and don't weigh down the pack.

[herbivor]

Wow, Killer first backpacking trip. I've done that hike as well. Absolutely beautiful. No matter how much you prep, you won't really know what you need or don't need until you have more experience. That said, keep your total pack weight and provisions under 40 lbs. Doing so will make you pack what you need. (You don't need bear spray). I pack a Steripen for water treatment, Jetboil for cooking and Big Agnes inflatable sleeping pad, all very lightweight luxuries that make my backpacking trips more enjoyable.
Have fun. 10 to 12 miles per day is very respectable and doable.

[Sailor37]

take a bone saw....just in case.