If there’s ever a time you realize how much stuff it takes to be human (or maybe how much you could do without), it’s when you have to pack it all up. I generally pack on the light side, but this is the longest trip I’ve taken without hotels and restaurants, so there’s more stuff involved. I split the pictures into roadtrip/hiking and backpacking (there’s some overlap).
First up: Driving and hiking
I’ve split the trip so we have one long driving day, and 3 shorter ones each direction. We’ll be camping each night (a mix of state park, National Forest/grassland dispersed camping, and National Forest campgrounds), then hike for an hour each morning before breakfast and another day on the road (similar flow to our day at home, except instead of sleeping at home Galen will be sleeping in the car. An important general note is that we will be in bear country, so the same practices I use to keep from being raided by raccoons here in Texas become even more important for bears, who have probably the best sense of smell of any animal on planet Earth (about 7x better than a bloodhound).
With that, let’s start with food storage: Engle Deep Blue cooler: This was a gift from my awesome mom. She did research and this brand came out above the rest, and I really like these latches over the more common pull-down rubber ones (they also function as bottle openers). The 35 quart is big for an overnight, so I got a divider (which are not correctly sized, BTW) and put my cool stuff on one side with a frozen gallon of water and all the other food on the other side so everything is together. The gallon is still frozen solid after about 36 hours despite being the only ice in there with all that air so I have no plans to stop for ice on a 4 day trip. It’s also IGBC certified bear resistant when you lock each corner.
Vittles Vault airtight storage container (I think it’s the 35lb one): Usually Galen’s food is in here (in the bag, because I learned after getting a bad bag that mycotoxins can live in the plastic), but on this trip I’ll be using it for dry food items (including dog food and treats) and as many toiletries and other smelly things I can fit. When we stay in Montana we will have bear lockers, and it will be faster to get things in and out with only two containers to transfer. When we’re sleeping in the car with everything (in NM and WY, which don’t even mention bears but are still part of the theoretical habitat), it will make me more comfortable. Aside from storing things properly, we’ll be eating away from camp to keep wildlife-attracting crumbs away from our sleeping selves.
Camera: I’m so excited to take a gagillion pictures and have some different landscapes (especially mountains). I’ve had my Sony Alpha a5100 for a year now (bought used on ebay) and am so glad I decided to go mirrorless. In the end it came down to a comment I saw somewhere about the best camera being the one you actually use. I saw myself getting tired of lugging a DSLR around every weekend, and comparing the entry-level DSLRs to mirrorless (Camera Decision was super helpful) there wasn’t enough of a difference to make up for the mass (and for some things I wanted to do, the Sony outmatched Canons and Nikons with the same target customer). The only limitation that I’ve found occasionally with this model is that it doesn’t have a viewfinder, so if I don’t keep the screen clean when I’m shooting manual sometimes I can’t tell if it’s totally in focus because of the smudges on the screen. For that aspect I wish I would’ve spent the few extra bucks upfront for the a6000 or a6500.
Lenses: I only own two lenses at the moment, and primarily use my Kamlan 50mm f1.1 manual focus. I got this for $140 on Massdrop and for the price I love this thing. Is it super sharp wide open? Heck no! Does it have nice color and perform well in low light? Yaaaaasss. I’m saving for a car right now and wanted something to make softer backgrounds than my kit lens, and this came across Massdrop, so I went for it. The manual focus has made me much better at thinking about things more and prefocusing action shots (I’ve gotten some killer action shots on this lens). I’m also taking my kit lens (the one that came with the camera- Sony 16-50mm f3.5-6.5 OSS). Since we’re still in Northern Hemisphere Milky Way season, I’m thinking some astrophotography might be in order, and I’ve gotten Milky Way shots with this lens before. I have other plans for the wide angle, and the autofocus makes remote shooting way easier (I use Sony’s app + the camera’s wifi to use my phone as a shutter and remote control…far superior to a simple timer).
Tripod (Joby GorillaPod + Andoer Ballhead): I have a flexible tripod for my phone that I used a ton before I got a camera, but it can’t support the weight of my camera, so I got this for myself after months of seeing it sit on my wishlist and using stacks of flat rocks. I found the old version of the GorillaPod 3k (called SLR-Zoom) on ebay for $23. Because I have an Arca-type plate on my camera already (see Capture Clip below), I had to get a ballhead that’s compatible (the one that’s sold in the 3k kit is not). I saved myself about $50 by getting a different brand as opposed to the Joby Ballhead 5k (or older Ballhead X). The combination allows for a ton of freedom to take both landscape and portrait shots, wrap around trees/posts, or just sit on the ground (usually our choice since sturdy trees aren’t a thing on our regular hikes).
Peak Design Capture Clip 3.0: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: this thing is a revelation for carrying a camera. It was exactly what I was looking for in a carrying solution- something that kept the camera readily available but not bouncing around or getting knocked on stuff, and not pulling on my neck or shoulder. I also go this on Massdrop just before version 3.0 released, but I’ve seen it come across a couple times since then if you’re willing to wait (I paid $56 vs the retail $70). I’ve had it attached to pack straps (thick and thin) and belts, small lenses and giant ones, and it’s awesome. You just attach the included plate to your camera’s bottom threads and it slides into the clip on your pack or belt. Since I have an Arca-type ballhead, I just slide the plate in to that and tighten it to get my camera on the tripod. It’s pure brilliance.
Power bank: I got this on a free-in-exchange-for-review site, and it’s been really nice to have. It’s 10,000mAh and will charge my phone 5 times. It’s not available on Amazon anymore (it was $20 when it was). I carry this on hikes over an hour in places I’m not familiar with when I might need to use GPS (I always download offline maps so I can a. actually get there and b. get back to my car because cell data is off on my phone as I share 1GB with two other people). On this trip I can also use it to charge my iPod (yep still using a separate mp3 player), and my camera battery if needed.
Blaze Orange: Kinda covered this in our post about Galen’s gear, but some hunting seasons will start by the time we head back, so we’ll want to be distinguished from things being hunted. I got a mesh vest for about $1.50 at our local sporting goods store and the sweet hat for $7.50 on my good friend Amazon (BTW, links here are NOT affiliate links…I’m not out to make money on this, just provide info and share our stuff!).
Bug Repellant: The last time I visited my dad and we backpacked in Banff, the mosquitoes were ridiculous at our campsite (to the point where we put up our hoods and covered our faces with Buffs…these things gave zero f*#&s about DEET, vitamin B1, picaradin, etc), but dissipated once we were on the trails, and the night it snowed. I’m taking multiple layers of protection this time: Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard, which is also sunscreen (because I am terrible about putting on sunscreen and this way I actually remember). The blue one was cheaper, so I got it, and if you get too much it takes work to get the blue to go away, but other than that the bug aspect works well for our Texas bugs (I’ve been using it for morning walks and weekend hikes and if I forget I get bitten). I’m also taking the Natrapel wipes I got in a Cairn box. I used one on a camping trip and really liked that it didn’t attract dirt and make me feel filthy and gritty at the end of the day (and I also didn’t get bitten).
First aid: I have three first aid kits that nest into each other for various applications. The smallest I got for free from a mailer sent out by a local clinic. I added EMT (collagen) gel to it and replaced the plastic tweezers with the metal ones from the red kit (Stansport Pro II, which I won on an Instagram giveaway), since I use those two items the most. Those both fit into the lunchbox I received at as a party favor at a friends wedding, which has refills for everything, ointments and stuff that I wouldn’t really need but are nice to have, and an expanded pharmacy (having vets for parents has its perks).
Bear spray: Picked up a ding-and-dent for $20 on ebay. Because it’s intended for animals, this is allowed to cross with me into Canada. I also watched a great discussion on bear behavior that was put up on a hiking with dogs Facebook group. Although the chances of actually running into a bear are small, I definitely would’ve misinterpreted a couple behaviors.
Shades: I won these in yet another Instagram contest (from Camping with Dogs…the win that kinda got me into crazily entering giveaways). Since I take a lot of pictures and am pretty much always wearing a hat to contain my hair, I don’t actually wear them much, but they’re always looking sick on my hat, and they stayed on my face when I was getting beaten up by longhorn, so they’re pretty great.
Shoes: I used to hike in boots, but after I retired my beloved 11-year-old Justin hikers, not being able to replace them, and starting to hike in sandals during the summer, I just wasn’t feeling the boot thing. I had seen a lot of thru-hikers and trail-runners on Instagram using Altras, so I found some last-year Superiors on Running Warehouse for a nice discount. I totally get it now. I love my FiveFingers (the crazy toe shoes), and actually did the backpacking trip in Banff in them (with many looks from everyone we passed), but apparently my feet have gotten wimpy and need some padding from the rocks now. When I’m running, the Altras allow me to forefoot strike (which is now the only way I can run without my tendinitis flaring up) without fighting the shoe or getting numb knees (happened with shoes that were fit to correct for pronation). When hiking I feel much more agile and actually not like I need support for my ankles. Somehow they keep rocks from getting kicked into themselves as well, which is a little nice thing.
Trekking belt: I just got this less than a week ago (another thing I won, this time on Facebook…I know I have a problem and I have no desire to quit). I have now used it both running and hiking and it’s definitely great for hiking, but for running I definitely want something that has leg straps to keep it in place (I did love that the bottle holder held a full poo bag instead of me carrying it home to the dumpster). I usually hold Galen’s leash (when he’s on one), and don’t mind if he pulls a bit on hikes (after all, he’s in a harness and he helps me up hills when I’m lazy). With this I can let him pull for real and not tire myself out…in fact I was cruising on our hike and really liked it. My phone fits well enough in the zipper pocket to not fall out while running, but not enough to zip.
Pack/hydration: My Camelbak is like 15 years old, so the model has changed a ton, hence no link. I replaced the bladder about 8 months ago with a Platypus Big Zip 3L. It barely fits, but I love the closure and removable tube. It did start leaking when I drink a couple months ago, and at first it was hard to get a good stream for Galen (we don’t waste time or space with a water bowl on the trail), but overall I like it.
Now for sleeping and backpacking
First aid: This is the middle-size kit with the small kit inside.
Tent (Kelty Trail Ridge 3): I also won this as part of the Camping with Dogs giveaway I got my sunglasses in. It’s pretty big for just Galen and I, but we’ve kinda gotten used to the extra space to put all our gear inside. At some point I’ll probably get a 2-person to take backpacking and save a pound and a bunch of space. These and the Salidas come across Massdrop pretty regularly (along with some other very popular backpacking tents).
Sleep system: Galen doesn’t stay under blankets, will not seek them, and is not a curl up dog, but one time I misjudged the amount of insulation we needed and he figured out I was warm, so he’ll stretch out under a sleeping bag with me when he gets cold. Obviously a normal mummy bag is not going to fit an adult sized person and a dog with straightened legs, so I took the idea of a quilt and saved a crap-ton of money by picking up a 70s-era REI goose down rectangular sleeping bag on ebay (for $65 shipped). Based on loft and experience, it’s probably a 0-degree bag, so you can find out for yourself how much a quilt would’ve cost. It was…musty to be generous, and I had to wash it twice and break my dryer motor to get it smelling nice, but it was still worth it. The bag is unzipped to about my knees and the zipper goes on the bottom. I finally got an Alps Mountaineering compression sack (via Amazon Warehouse) for this trip. My pad is a Klymit Static V. I’m a side/stomach sleeper and don’t get numb hips with this, it folds up to the size of a Nalgene, I love it. I overlap my pad with Galen’s Therm-a-rest Ridgerest and he usually takes up part of both. I also use a Klymit Quilted V Sheet that goes over the pad and provides both comfort, since I don’t have sleeping bag under me, and insulation in colder months (and it holds the pillow in place). I have a Buff and beanie to keep my had and face warm, since there isn’t a hood on the rectangular bag. I learned the importance of pillows once I switched to the Klymit pad and actually slept instead of tossing and turning; I woke up with intense ear pain (side sleeping) or jaw pain (stomach sleeping) using a stuff sack of clothes, so I got a small Therm-a-rest pillow. It doesn’t pack as small and isn’t as light as other pillows on the market, but it’s as comfortable as my pillow at home.
Pack (Osprey Xena 70): This was another gift, from my brother and sister-in-law, that I’ve been waiting to really use. At the end of backpacking season here (our camping seasons are fall-spring) I was in physical therapy for my back/neck after my longhorn encounter and couldn’t carry anything more than my day pack, and by the time I got that figured out it was a thousand degrees outside. I do know that it fits, and I’ve loaded it to practice packing- I though I forgot the tent or something major because I just couldn’t feel the weight. It has all the features I wanted: multi-day capacity, removable day pack, hydration compatible, waist belt pockets, etc.
That’s most of the big things! I’ve double checked the Canada and pet policy with the rental company, the stuff is being piled up and packed, camera memory card is pretty much empty, music and stand-up comedy is downloaded, and I got to shred all my subpoenas for the days I actually work next week! I might stop at a Starbucks or McD’s to use the free wifi for a sec, but I may not post til I get to Canada. A break from social media will be a good thing I think.
fostering grreatness 