Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion What's In Your Pack?

After reading and reflecting on the reports of the events on Whitney, and elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra, it got me wondering what other folks carry with them on a day-long hike. Not your neighborhood mountain, necessarily, or Whitney in particular, but a hike that takes you several miles away from any immediate help and into potentially changing weather conditions.

The tried-and-true Ten Essentials from Freedom of the Hills have been the standard for dozens of years, and I used to be religious about ensuring I had all of them. Several thousand miles of hiking in the rearview mirror later, I find that I'm not as detailed as I used to be in some things, and maybe more fussy about others.

For me, a dayhike usually includes:

Trekking poles (I may not always use them, but when you need them you really need them)
Camelbak water bladder (and water filter if necessary)
Extra bottle of water and one Gatorade/Powerade
Varied snacks
Cellphone (you can never tell . . .)
Headlamp and ultra-light emergency flashlight (and spare batteries)
First aid kit (somewhat stripped down to essentials)
Ace bandage (for a sprained ankle or makeshift sling)
Compass
Map (but not always, if I'm very comfortable with the area or trail)
Sunglasses
Whistle and signal mirror on a lanyard (often in my pack, though)
Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
Disposable rain poncho
Emergency thermal blanket (you know - the UL Reynolds Wrap version)
Small spiral notebook and pen
Butane lighter
Vitamin I (Ibuprofin)
Extra socks/liners
3 bandanas (minimum)
Extra base layer shirt
Wind/rain shell, ski cap and gloves (when weather is iffy)

Generally speaking, though, most of these items take up surprisingly little space in my daypack. Many items are incorporated into two very small stuff sacks that fit snugly in the main compartment of my aged-but-dependable REI Traverse 30-liter daypack. Minimum gear comes in at about 10 pounds, maximum at about 16. When I want more weight for a heavier workout I drop in a couple of 5-pound ziplok bags of birdseed (can't take credit for that - it was catpappy's idea), or load up my overnight pack with a bunch of birdseed.

So, what's in your pack?

Great list. I also carry
-Emergency bivy sack(fancy space blanket), http://www.rei.com/product/813511/sol-emergency-bivvy
-Tinder (may or may not carry; depends where I am)
-Windproof matches (butane lighter has problems in cold, so I carry both)

Now that I've had the fun experience of getting a fishhook stuck in my thumb, am thinking of adding a needle to my first aid kit....

Wazzu just reminded me of the 11th essential -- duct tape! I always carry it. Oh yeah, a couple of water purification tablets as backup to my beloved steripen.

What in my pack is predicated on the weather, distance and high point, I always carry enough clothing to make it through night at the highest point in case of illness or injury. When I go for exercise...7 to 9 miles RT, to 8,300', I carry a very light small pack. Most of the weight is water and electrolytes.

When I go out in the winter my day pack can be in excess of 30 pounds on extremely cold days when I am carrying snowshoes, crampons, trekking poles and axe.

A date hike to Mt. Whitney during the summer can get a bit heavy because I will have rain gear, a few extra pieces of gear and enough clothing to survive a night on the summit.

Bulldog, your list is very similar to what I take out during the summer. The bandana thingy is a bit excessive for mostly humidity free SoCal...this weekend being an exception. Also, I stopped carrying an emergency blanket ages ago.

The gear in my pack would look very much like Bulldogs, with the addition of:
rain pants
sierra cup (multiple use item)
lighter & windproof matches
2 ESBIT fuel cubes
trowel (required in some local SoCal mtns to dig cat hole & easier to just leave it in the pack then try to remember where it's optional)
Set of hand warmers
Heat Shield emergency bivy
Light glow stick
Bug net
Deet
Small roll of duct tape
Set of extra boot laces (multiple use items)

The first aid kit sometimes includes an instant cold pack.

Don't forget your TP and camera.

John

first aid kit (with snall notebook, pencil, needle and painkillers)
headlamp
duct tape on my trekking poles
about 30 feet of rope
steripen
water bladder
empty gatorade bottle
snacks
spacy bivy
if possibility of rain DriDucks (lightweight waterproof pants and jacket)
sunscreen/chapstic
cell
small pocket knife
signal mirror
bug net/deet
map, compass and maybe GPS
lightweight skull cap (think beanie)
if gaining a lot of elevation, I might bring along a lightweight down jacket and pants which could double as a bag with my space bivy

TP - the 11th essential...goes along with the trowel

candy.....especially SNICKERS

PeanutButter or Regular Snickers Joe?

Other than general stuff others will carry
Food, water, Map if needed, etc.

A metal cup that fits my water bottle.
A contractor trash bag or two. Can be used as a shelter, poncho, bath tub, etc. etc. as good as and more useful than a space blanket.
A means to start a fire and tinder of some sort.
SAK RuckSak model, Bigger blade and has a saw.
Water purification method, iodine.
Para Cord wrapped on my Wooden walking stick.
If I know I will be walking at night, a headlamp but as a spare
I have a couple photon lights on zippers.
Small 1st. aid kit.
Needle and thread, hooks, safety pins, Sp. Shot.
Duct tape.
Small compass.

This sounds like a lot of crap but really is not.
Other than water & cup it will all easily fit into a small belt bag
weighting less than one pound.
I do not count my knife, something sharp goes with me everywhere.

IMO the best deals going for all these items right now is a Doug Ritter
Pocket kit or the new version of SOL kit ( $25.00 +/-) and a AMK 1st. aid kit if you just want to buy and go.
No connection to either Company.

I carry pretty much what everyone else does. But, I also carry 2 SAM splits and 3 rolls of adhesive tape. If I injure an ankle or knee, I can immobilize the joint and hobble out. Hiking poles would double as crutches. I do carry a standard first aid kit, but I probably won't die from a cut or scrape. It's an injury that impedes walking that is scary.

The one unique thing that I carry is a backscratcher.

Of course I carry the standard stuff that was listed above too. Also add my SPOT II, spare petzl headlamp in case I have problems with my BD headlamp. And I do pack two of the cheapy rain panchos....just in case.

I will be adding the trail cup for dipping and sipping

Heading up to tackle Williamson/Tyndall this weekend ( weather permitting )

Normally I carry a heavy pack, going light as possible this time.

Osprey Variant 52 stripped down ( no framestay, hip belt, or top compartment)

z-lite sleeping pad ( inside pack to give more rigidity to back panel )

BD Spot headlamp

cell phone for pictures/possible emergency ( airplane mode rocks for battery saving)

extra pair wool socks

skull cap

softshell gloves

latok alpine shell

meltdown jacket

spyderco tasman salt

2 1-liter bottles ( carry only a liter at a time except for summit attempts)

sil-nylon shelter, basically a tarp with a foot

sunglasses

small bottle of sunscreen

small bottle of mosq repellant

chapstick

200 weight icebreaker pants for sleeping

minimal food in an odorproof sack- dried fruits/nuts/etc. espresso beans for chomping on in the morning

On my person -
200 weight icebreaker shirt
softshell pants ( no gaiters, pants have holes for running cord under your instep)
stout approach shoes

Sleep system is wool baselayer/down jacket with hood up top, wool base layer with softshell pants over them...legs shoved in my empty pack. Wrapped up like a burrito in my silshelter on top of my z-lite pad.

Could prove to be the worst night of my life, but I like trying new things. Going to test at 9200 the night before the climb, spend one night at Shepherds Pass (~12,000ish).

Thoughts?

Hi,

Skittles (extra sour). Discovered these this year from my 9yr old grandson. I think they are better than trailmix. Along with snickers gave us energy when we needed it.

Bill

It never hurts to carry a spare shoelace. It's virtually weightless and has many potential uses.

So far nobody has mentioned a bear bell. Does anybody use these at Whitney, or anywhere else for that matter?

I'd like to get a veteran opinion because I've heard mixed reviews. Sure, bear bells are designed to keep you from accidentally sneaking up on unsuspecting wildlife. But I've also heard them called "dinner bells" because some bears get curious about the ringing noise and might even start to follow you.

I'm planning my first attempt at the summit September 14 and wouldn't mind leaving the bear bell behind!

There have been three deaths attributed to bears in California. Two of these were bears in captivity and one was a wild grizzly bear in the 1870s. None were from black bears. (though black bears have killed humans in other locations).

I'd venture a guess that the bears in the Mt Whitney area are very much aware of your location, with or without bells.

Until you have an actual face to face encounter, you will probably not truly believe this, but any sign of assertiveness from a human will cause the black bears in california to retreat.

I know that I was apprehensive on the trail at night until I actually saw how a bear responds to simply walking toward it.

In other words, no, I don't carry a bear bell.

Did a day hike toward Warren Lake by Castle Peak Sunday. Passed a lady with bear bells on her shoes. The I-80 black bears need help to detect hikers due to the noise from the freeway.

Some years ago, I led a SC outing up Yosemite Falls. Two of the regular hikers were very fond of discussing words/meanings/etymology whilst on the trail. Knowing they were coming, I packed my Webster's New World, 2nd. College edition along, as it only weighs 4 lbs., as opposed to my 20 lb. OED.

We reached the top, pulled up a rock with a view - I silently handed the dictionary to Kathy, and they, without a word, started looking up words. One of the other hikers carried a large back pack. He pulled out a guitar & started playing.

Some young ladies staggered up, clearly exhausted, and one said "what's with the guitar and damn! is that a dictionary?"

Later on, as it became cooler, our group was pleased to loan the ladies some extra warm clothing...

Kokopelli,

Leave the bear bell at home. The Whitney bears are not impressed with bells.

Best knife I ever owned. Let my Pop use it to clean fish ONE NIGHT, and he left it at the fish cleaning station, never to be seen again.

Thanks for reminding me I need to get me a new one.

I agree about not carrying the bear bell in the Sierras, but Steve C has a fun story and a souvenier to show from a black bear in the Sierras who did not get the memo that most of them follow about backing away from assertive humans. Steve, care to share?

Brent

Care to share...?

Well, it is a long story, I have the text somewhere. It was originally called "Trail Rage on the JMT". But the short version is:

I charged a bear who was about done cleaning out my snack bag that I had forgotten to stow in the bear box. He ran away, but first took a swipe at my leg, missing the skin by a hair, but ripped my pant leg.

I was hoarse for days from all the yelling and screaming at the bear as I charged and chased him away. This was all back in 2004. Here's a picture of my "bear shorts"


I still wear those pants--a nice patch over the rip. And of course, I'd NEVER try that stupid trick again. I was a full day's hike from Onion Valley. It could have been a very painful trip back.

Not to hijack this thread, the topic here is what NOT to keep in your pack -- at least overnight!

There is an significant difference between preventing a bear from getting food in the first place and taking food away from a bear that has already acquired the food. Proper attention to the first will avoid the dangers of the second.

Dale B. Dalrymple

> taking food away from a bear that has already acquired

That was a serious and dangerous error on my part!

What he said.

Haven't read the whole thread here, but to the initial post, I would add toilet paper and one or two bags to double-bag it in (along with the solid waste). Leftover unused wag bags handed out at wilderness visitor centers are perfect for this if you still have them. Alternatively, and only if appropriate to the area, a small compactable hand trowel/shovel to dig a cathole for the whole mess would also work. Also a small travel size bottle of hand sanitizer.

To the snacks, I would add a bag of M&Ms (the smaller chocolate ones, not the larger peanut ones -- my opinion is that the smaller ones chew up and go down easier, and esp at altitude, where most normal "good" food feels like chewing sawdust, "easier to chew" and "easier to swallow" is always better, as well as tastier being better).

CaT

No prob, such a great knife for climbing. Only 2oz, I think. I've went with the serrated edge - cuts through rope and webbing like butter.

Burchey, call me crazy, but I generally try not to cut my rope or webbing when climbing. I'm funny that way.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, though, can you expand on that? I have only a limited amount of technical roped experience, but I'm trying to picture a situation where I'd need to do that.

Some really interesting responses on the thread, and good ideas. I didn't clarify, but I was initially speaking of general summer dayhikes in non-snowy conditions. All that additional winter gear can load up the pounds real fast.

Steve - you clearly didn't go about it right. Take a page from Steve Searles book and practice shouting, "You bad bear!" That'll do the trick . . .

Hey Bulldog! You're crazy!

Seriously though, there are a few situations where cutting webbing/rope would be necessary. I recently revamped my umbilical system - used my knife to cut the webbing then, and I noticed how easily it sliced through it. On the mountain, there are rare occasions on maybe a multipitch climb where rope could get caught, etc. You may need to get loose somehow.

On Rainier, we ran across a very dangerous spot beneath seracs, where I was ready to cut myself off the rope ( tail-gunner ) if they came down so I could escape the falling ice backwards while the other guys continued forward to escape it. We were crossing a chute, basically, and if one guy's on the other side, and I'm just starting the chute, ice comes down and drags us all down the mountain even if it misses falling on us directly.

EDIT: This is the spot, we were crossing where the river of ice went River of Ice

No Knife = we never would have heard of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates and the book/movie: Touching the Void. One example where carrying a knife to cut a climbing rope.

Bulldog:

A good question. I think a VERY small knife is always good to carry on a multi-pitch or alpine route. I keep a tiny knife made by Metolius clipped on my "sh_t happens biner" along with two prusik cords, a small screw link, and a Petzl E-light.

There could be cases where you would need to cut your climbing rope, but that would be extraordinarily rare. If your rope gets stuck in most cases you have to figure out how to get it back in order to get down, (i.e re-leading the pitch with rope you have left, or God forbid prussiking back up...can be very sketchy).

The most common use of a knife while climbing would be to cut away old rap tat so you could replace it with some new cord or webbing as well as using the knife to cut off pieces of a cordellette or webbing to use for rap anchors. A lighter is also useful to burn the ends after cutting.


Take care,
Kent

Last year, my buddy used a knife to cut out a small rock that had become firmly embedded below my knee after I "crashed" into a large granite boulder. So, yes, a knife and a good first aid kit can work wonders when you need them.