Help me pack:) What am I forgetting?

I had an inflatable pad once. A tiny spark burnt a hole in it and that's the last time I use one. The blue CSF is what I use as well, cheap, and million of uses as well.
 
I second the old style foam pads for winter camping. In a head to head I had a old foam, girlfriend had fancy inflatable. Way cold 2/3 up Brockway mountian in the depths of a U.P. winter. She froze her a** off literally, it was pretty funny her caboose was red for several days.

Enjoy Bennington I worked there for several months a couple of years back, beautiful country out that way.
 
I recommend you bring that wicked Super NES in the corner of the photo...Just kidding. Have fun on your first solo...never soloed before myself, be safe! Do you have some sort of radio JIC?
 
You could save some room and weight by tossing the bulk of your mess kit. The little pot inside is all you really need. Pack stuff inside the pot too. Fi you are going to take the Nalgene for just keeping water warm in your sleeping bag and it will be empty on the way out, put some of your food in it or caribiner it on the outside, or both.

I keep an old Jansport external frame rig for those times what it just won't all fit--- family outings seem to accumulate gear exponential to the number of people going! Of course winter camping takes a lot more clothing and heavier sleeping bags. Bear cans and UL packs don't mix well either. When we go out to the Olympic National Park Beaches, the hike is short and cans are required, so the big frame works good. I've been picking up Kelty, REI and Jansport external frame packs for $10 and less at garage sales and thrift stores. I had to stop-- I'm running out of room!
 
Good lord, it's evil out there. Just got internet and cable back! And the runner up for worst job in a snow storm is.....

DSC_1801.jpg


CABLE GUY!

Dale, I planned on actually keeping the Nalgene in my inside jacket pocket. Keep it from ice building up.
 
Is there a way to attach the rolled up pad to the pack, like on the bottom?
Most bags have loops and things, you could easily tie it on with some paracord.
 
Time to order a Portable Singularity. Same load, but a LOT smaller. You can order one form Lawrence Livermore Labs-- a steal at $22.6 billion :D
 
I suggest taking lithium batteries instead of the alkalines - your headlamp will run on them, and they last a lot longer at temps around/below freezing.

If you want to cut down on weight, ditch the nalgene and use a regular plastic soda / water bottle. I don't know if they've improved recently, but my 3-year-old 32oz Nalgene weighs half a pound (yes, empty)!
 
I know you're carrying some serious knives, but you might want to take something specifically for cutting firewood - perhaps a decent folding saw and a little wire saw for backup. If anything goes badly wrong in such a cold environment your ability to quickly make a long-lasting fire will be crucial.
 
Liam Ryan said:
Is there a way to attach the rolled up pad to the pack, like on the bottom?
Most bags have loops and things, you could easily tie it on with some paracord.
Click to expand...

Hey Liam, I played around with a few arrangements packing wise and think I'm going to tie it off on the side of my pack, vertically along with my camera tripod. Should work out assuming the dimensions on some of the mats I looked up are true.

Zip7 said:
Don't forget to pack one of those books!
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That's been my toughest decision so far! I have a huge backlog of reading to catch up on. I'm thinking a little Thoreau. I have a book with "A Week On The Concord And Merrimack Rivers", "Walden", "The Maine Woods", and "Cape Cod". Sounds perfect for a solo trip :)

Kat013 said:
I suggest taking lithium batteries instead of the alkalines - your headlamp will run on them, and they last a lot longer at temps around/below freezing.

If you want to cut down on weight, ditch the nalgene and use a regular plastic soda / water bottle. I don't know if they've improved recently, but my 3-year-old 32oz Nalgene weighs half a pound (yes, empty)!
Click to expand...

I thought about the Lithiums but the Duracells were on sale. A 16 pack of those was the same price as 4 of the Lithiums :o I thought about a water bottle or something. I find the Nalgene's so much more convenient though. It's worth a few extra oz's IMO.
 
jh205 said:
I know you're carrying some serious knives, but you might want to take something specifically for cutting firewood - perhaps a decent folding saw and a little wire saw for backup. If anything goes badly wrong in such a cold environment your ability to quickly make a long-lasting fire will be crucial.
Click to expand...

I would bring a saw if I was planning on larger fires but, the BM-E makes short work of building a small to medium size fire. I am VERY comfortable with it. It's become my right hand when I'm out in the woods.
 
Have you already got the pad? I have a Ridgerest and can recommend them,they weigh next to nothing,insulate well and are suprisingly hard wearing also you could maybe wrap it around your tent and then lash that to your pack !!!
Do you have a small radio? They are a nice luxury !!!
 
Haven't bought a pad yet. Going to go shopping either tomorrow or Friday after work. The Ridgerest is one of the pads I'm going to check out based n Dale's recommendations. Seems resonably priced and they have them in stock at my local sporting goods store :) As for the radio, I think I'll pass. I prefer total quiet and solitude out in the woods, especially this time. Need a little hermitage ;)
 
aaronjayl said:
Good lord, it's evil out there. Just got internet and cable back! And the runner up for worst job in a snow storm is.....

DSC_1801.jpg


CABLE GUY!

Dale, I planned on actually keeping the Nalgene in my inside jacket pocket. Keep it from ice building up.
Click to expand...

Yup, I've been with Verizon, Ma Bell for 28 years. Been out in a lot of storms. The Electric Power guys are the real heros, gets dangerous in the ice and snow messing with primary power.

Aaronjayl,

-The sleeping pad is a must, the thicker the better.
-it's gonna be wall to wall snow, have you considered rigging a little sled?
-Snowshoes? (not kidding) we have family in Montpelier, they have snowshoes hanging by their backdoor.
-Cell phone
-I know you have a lot of this figured out, but even if I'm being redundant, sleep with your nalgene and bladder, or they will freeze rock solid.
-Pee bottle. In this kinda cold you don't wanna be out middle of night gettin icicles on your Johnson.
-High Fat, High caloric food. You eat a lot more when it's cold, appetite really can kick in.
-Lots of tinder, pack of esbit tabs, and the rest of the firemaking stuff.
-Didn't see multitool?

good luck!! sounds like an adventure. plan on being cold.
 
SkunkWerX said:
Yup, I've been with Verizon, Ma Bell for 28 years. Been out in a lot of storms. The Electric Power guys are the real heros, gets dangerous in the ice and snow messing with primary power.

Aaronjayl,

-The sleeping pad is a must, the thicker the better.
-it's gonna be wall to wall snow, have you considered rigging a little sled?
-Snowshoes? (not kidding) we have family in Montpelier, they have snowshoes hanging by their backdoor.
-Cell phone
-I know you have a lot of this figured out, but even if I'm being redundant, sleep with your nalgene and bladder, or they will freeze rock solid.
-Pee bottle. In this kinda cold you don't wanna be out middle of night gettin icicles on your Johnson.
-High Fat, High caloric food. You eat a lot more when it's cold, appetite really can kick in.
-Lots of tinder, pack of esbit tabs, and the rest of the firemaking stuff.
-Didn't see multitool?

good luck!! sounds like an adventure. plan on being cold.
Click to expand...

Tinder and multitool both taken care of though forgot to list above. Well, the tinder is part of my little firestarting kit. When hiking in the Winter in the cold, I keep my Nalgenes inside my jacket to keep them from freezing. I had planned to keep that and my bladder in my bag over night. Don't want to wake up to either of those frozen solid. A pee bottle is something I hadn't thought of. Though it's pretty tight in the MH PCT1 tent, might be easier just to slip on the boots and duck out then perform a contortionist act. I like to go out for short hikes a lot at night. Nice and peaceful. I've taken #1's and #2's in A LOT colder temps then they're calling for next week :) All this talk is getting me more and more pumped! I want next week here already. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. MUCH appreciated :D
 
Good counsel above - esp. about a foam pad. Contact heat loss is fastest. It also gives you a warm seat for lunch.

How deep will the snow be? Assuming the boots will keep your feet dry (Do not guess.), they have to be high enough -- or supplemented by gaiters as suggested, or you will have a short trip. Snow in the boots is a real bummer.

Be prepared for the preducted temps - especially as to your sleeping bag.

I have some doubts about alcohol hand purifiers in Winter. We treated two cases of frostbite last weekend that resulted from using such products. The evaporation caused flash-freezing in the -20 wind chills -- superficial fortunately but no fun.

(I can't recall if it was mentioned, but I presume that you will leave a map with your route and schedule with a responsible person so someone will know if a misadventure took place.)

Whistle mentioned? (It was; it was! )
 
Alright, you caught me on the whistle :o Added to shopping list. I have no doubts about staying dry and warm. Just today I was walking through knee deep snow in places with no problems. The shell pants I have have internal gators with good grip. No snow gets in. I will be leaving a map of my planned trip and timeframe with my relatives. They insisted on this already. I'm used to hiking fairly cold temps no problem. Windchills lately have been dropping to -30 at times. Had no problems with my gear. I plan on bringing an additional layer to what I've worn even on those trips just as extra protection.
 
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