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When you embark on a trip into the wilderness and leave the comforts and convieniences of home behind, you need to make sure you are well-prepared. After all, you wouldn't want to be miles away from from civilization only to find out that it is going to dip into the 30's overnight and you only brought shorts and a short sleeve shirt. Likewise, you wouldn't want to spend several days on the trail and realize you didn't pack enough food or that you forgot your water filter. Prior to any trip you need to do some careful planning to determine what your needs will be and make sure you have it in your backpack before you leave. I know that prior to my first hike I spent a couple weeks contemplating what to pack. After the first trip I realized I had no need for a few of the items I had packed, but discovered that there were a couple things I wished I had thought to bring. While everyone will have their own ideas of what to pack, most people's lists will have several items in common. The following list is intended to serve as a general guide, especially for people who are new to hiking/backpacking, and shows the gear I usually pack for a week-long hiking trip. Some things on my list are usually considered "luxury" or non-essential items but I have found them to be worth the extra weight.

• Tent - Kelty
• Sleeping bag - Slumberjack 0° mummy-type bag
• Water filter - PUR Hiker
• Platypus hydration pack - The tube and bite valve make it very easy to drink while on the move.
• 16 oz Nalgene water bottle - Nice to use around camp instead of the hydration pack. It's also nice to have a bit more water during those long hikes or for mixing some Gatoraid.
• Hiking pole - Helps lessen leg and ankle strain while hiking up and down inclines.
• Trail map
• Compass - Silva Explorer
• Camp stove & fuel
• Pots, mug, lexan eating utensils
• Matches
• Candle lantern
• LED headlamp
• Clip-on pocket knife
• Rain cover for backpack
• Small plastic shovel
• 3/4 length sleeping pad - Helps insulate you from the cold ground and is nice for those times when you tent is over an unavoidable tree root or small rock.
• Camp stool - It's not necessary, I hiked for several years without one, but it is nice to be able to sit up off the ground especially when the ground is rocky or muddy.

• Hiking boots - REI Spirit
• 3 pair lightweight zip-off pants
• 2 short sleeve Coolmax® shirts
• Long sleeve fleece pullover shirt
• Several pairs of socks & underware
• Headnet - Keeps pesky, annoying, flying insects away from your face and ears.
• Headband or knit hat - Helps stay warm at night when the temperature gets down into the 30's.
• Baseball hat - Keeps sun out of eyes while hiking.
• Raincoat - I have a lightweight, windproof, waterproof coat from Sam's club.
• "Water shoes" - Nice to wear after a long day of hiking. Can also wear them while wading into a river or lake.

• One or two dehydrated meals
• Instant oatmeal
• Pop tarts
• Granola bars
• Trail mix - Mixed nuts and M&M's (the more M&M's the better).
• Bagels
• Peanut butter
• Tortilla wraps
• Block cheese
• Salami sticks
• Chili
• Spaghetti sauce & pasta
• Hot chocolate
• Tea bags
• Gatoraid - Pre-measured powder stored in a zip lock bag. A refreshing treat after a long day.

• Liquid camp soap - Use to wash hands, pots & pans and clothes.
• Tooth brush
• Tooth paste
• Toilet paper
• Wash cloth
• Small towel
• Bug spray - Preferably something with a high concentration of DEET.
• Bandages
• Ace bandage
• Hydrogen peroxide - Used to clean out and disinfect small cuts and injuries.

• Camera
• Film
• Pen & notepad - If you like to keep a journal.
• Clothes line - Useful for hanging out wet or damp gear and clothes.
• Backpack hanger - Good for keeping your backpack off the wet or muddy ground. Also makes it easier to rummage through your pack because both hands are free.
• Fishing pole
• Fishing lures
• Cell phone - Good thing to have in case of an emergency. (Hopefully the signal can reach a cellular tower).