Camping trip upcoming

[RShea]

So a group of us are getting together for a mid November camping trip in Western PA coming up. We will be backpacking in to some shelters that will be about a 5 mile hike. I haven't been cool weather camping in a number of years- there will be some experts among the group and there will be about a 3/4 mile walk back to a single vehicle where some things could be stored for emergency. That vehicle will also have the group dinner stuff and a few items that all will have to help carry into the the shelter area.

Things that will need to be taken on an individual basis in include food for lunch and breakfast, enough water (they close down the well pumps and winterize them due to risk of freezing), all the personal gear needed and the questions I have are these:

Some good suggestions for the 3 meals (2 lunches, one breakfast best as I can tell for now- dinner will be a group effort) I have access to a small single burner stove gas stove and there will be a fire pit or area so thinking a few things hot like instant breakfast packets (oatmeal or cream of wheat) for breakfast, and soup for lunch as well as the normal stuff you would take for a day hike- snacks and some fruit, etc. Other food ideas out there that I may have not thought of that you enjoy?

I only have a 40 degree sleeping bag which I hope will be good enough (there will be a fire/ w wood and we are talking about covering the hut openings with a tarp to cut down on the wind and weather- should I plan on anything else for sleeping if it looks like the weather report will be predicting it much colder than freezing or in the 20's (I do not have any type of pad, may see if I can get one or borrow one or else just suck it up for the one night.)

How much water- I have 2 camelback style bladders (a 70 oz and a 100oz and thinking that should be enough for the 2 days unless there will be clean-up of the group dinner stuff involved.)

Other thing is a list of items to pack- any web sites that have temperature specific lists for a packing check list (I know plenty of layered clothes, etc.) so something obvious is not left behind (like TP)?

[Tye 1on]

Guessing whiskey goes without saying. I always take two thermal mugs, one for coffee, one for 2 instant oatmeal packets. Any streams nearby you could filter if you needed more water? That water shit gets heavy. Go to an army surplus or sumpin and get a plain old ensolite pad. Under 10 bucks, you'll be lots warmer/comfier sleeping. Take a hat.

[dre66]

carry in water is going to be a bitch, even though it isn't over that long of a distance. how much you carry in is going to depend on what you plan on doing (i.e. exercise or sitting around during the day?) when i backpack i usually drink around 3 liters (quarts) a day while walking with a heavy pack (more if I'm climbing, less if I'm skiing), and another 1-2 with breakfast and dinner (plus some to cook with). keep in mind you will also want water for brushing your teeth and cleaning dishes.

for food anything dehydrated works really well. oatmeal, raisins, brown sugar, and some powdered milk in a ziploc means you can boil water and easily cook yourself a really good breakfast. during the day bring eat a lot of trail mix and dehydrated fruits/meats. don't make sandwiches, they get soggy and weigh a ton. eat often but not a lot.

[PNWbrit]

Sounds positively Shackletonian. I predict this is going to turn into some surreal tale of survivors forced to turn to cannibalism or at the very least briefly consider drinking their own urine. Should we call John Krakauer and warn him to blow the dust off his biro?

[RShea]

Sounds positively Shackletonian. I predict this is going to turn into some surreal tale of survivors forced to turn to cannibalism or at the very least briefly consider drinking their own urine. Should we call John Krakauer and warn him to blow the dust off his biro?

Nope,

I'd walk out to the vehicle and get in it before anything like that happened. Then head over to the nearest store or restaurant.

[RShea]

carry in water is going to be a bitch, even though it isn't over that long of a distance. how much you carry in is going to depend on what you plan on doing (i.e. exercise or sitting around during the day?) when i backpack i usually drink around 3 liters (quarts) a day while walking with a heavy pack (more if I'm climbing, less if I'm skiing), and another 1-2 with breakfast and dinner (plus some to cook with). keep in mind you will also want water for brushing your teeth and cleaning dishes.

for food anything dehydrated works really well. oatmeal, raisins, brown sugar, and some powdered milk in a ziploc means you can boil water and easily cook yourself a really good breakfast. during the day bring eat a lot of trail mix and dehydrated fruits/meats. don't make sandwiches, they get soggy and weigh a ton. eat often but not a lot.

I was not thinking about any sandwiches unless I take one to have on the actual hike in- figure we will be getting there and starting out around 10:00 or 10:30 am and the 5 miles hike would be around lunch hour on day one.

A few jugs with clean water could be stored in the vehicle and then brought in as easy as any stream and filtering or boiling the unclean water.

I think plans are to hike in with the backpacks, set up at the shelter/camp and then sometime go back just to the vehicle and get the dinner stuff and and then hike it back into the shelters.

[Kevo]

Get a pad, otherwise you will freeze your ass off.

[dre66]

gear list from the ACMG website for "multi day". there are more there just to help you get general ideas. this is just a guideline but it's a good place to start.


Group
( ) Tent or Shelter
( ) Light Tarp - For cooking shelter
( ) Ground sheet - optional
( ) Multi-purpose cord
( ) Stove
( ) Stove Repair Kit
( ) Pots
( ) Fuel
( ) Lighter and Matches
( ) Cooking Utensils
( ) Pot Lifter
( ) Water Filter
( ) Cleaning Scrubby and Soap
( ) Spice Kit
( ) Group Food
( ) Food Hanging Setup
( ) General Repair Kit - to repair packs, tent, clothing, thermarest, etc.
( ) Saw or Axe if fires appropriate
( ) Fire Starter
( ) Boot Waterproofing

Personal
( ) Large Pack
( ) Sleeping Bag
( ) Sleeping Pad and/or Thermarest
( ) Extra Clothing - socks, underwear, top and bottoms base layer
( ) Eating Bowl, Cup and Utensils
( ) Wash Kit - soap, towel, brush, toothbrush, paste, shaving kit
( ) Insect Repellent - optional
( ) Ear Plugs
( ) Personal Medicinal Drugs - pain, cold/flu, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory etc.
( ) Toilet Paper
( ) Reading Material - optional
( ) Writing Material
( ) Headlamp or Flashlight - spare batteries and bulb
( ) Hut or Camp Shoes
( ) Candle

[PNWbrit]

ACMG

Just a smidge of overkill?

Just ask a brownie with half an arm of merit badges.

He's talking about a November night sleeping in a PA shed within spitting distance of a parking lot.

[RShea]

Thanks dre66 that is the type of listing I was looking for to get a starting point- and specifically if there were any for colder weather camping.

[RShea]

Just a smidge of overkill?

Just ask a brownie with half an arm of merit badges.

He's talking about a November night sleeping in a PA shed within spitting distance of a parking lot.

I can edit it and add/remove items that may not be completely neccessary or could be left in the vehicle for use only if needed.

Don't be too hard on him if I knew some brownie's, I'd ask them too for a list....

[dre66]

I didn't feel like typing up a list so i just took it from the acmg website (closest thing i had on hand). Yea it's massive overkill but that's better than missing something, and he can adjust it as he needs.
If i was that close to the car I wouldn't even be worrying too much about weight since you can probably just do two runs and bring a bunch of beer to make sure you have a good couple days. the gear list is just a good point to work from for other shit you are going to forget about.

[hutash]

Shit!, you are not going to "the pole", all you "need" is a sleeping bag, everything else is just for comfort. Take what you want for comfort, but don't over do it, you will be miserable carrying all that stuff.

Why are you backpacking for 5 miles when the car is 3/4 miles from the shelter? Why not just go for a nice hike with a day pack, them get your gear out of the car? Is there any water near by? Spring, creek, lake? I rarely walk with more then a liter at a time. Bagels, instant oatmeal and Ramen are the backpackers staples. I have cooked bacon and eggs (this is TGR after all) on backpacking trips, as well as some pretty fancy meals, it all depends on how much effort you want to expend.

A pad will help, sleep in your jacket if it gets too cold, eat a candy bar before bed so you have calories to burn. Fill a nalgene with hot water and put it in you bag. Sleep with the hottest chick in the group.

[RShea]

Shit!, you are not going to "the pole", all you "need" is a sleeping bag, everything else is just for comfort. Take what you want for comfort, but don't over do it, you will be miserable carrying all that stuff.

Why are you backpacking for 5 miles when the car is 3/4 miles from the shelter? Why not just go for a nice hike with a day pack, them get your gear out of the car? Is there any water near by? Spring, creek, lake? I rarely walk with more then a liter at a time. Bagels, instant oatmeal and Ramen are the backpackers staples. I have cooked bacon and eggs (this is TGR after all) on backpacking trips, as well as some pretty fancy meals, it all depends on how much effort you want to expend.

A pad will help, sleep in your jacket if it gets too cold, eat a candy bar before bed so you have calories to burn. Fill a nalgene with hot water and put it in you bag. Sleep with the hottest chick in the group.


Well yes, I probably could survive with only a sleeping bag (and some water) and nothing else- but food will make that survival better, and hot food would be even better and a few camping comforts.

As for the hike- here will be 12 or so of us and only 1 vehicle will be allowed driven to park close, not sure what the rules are for the park/parking area but that is how it is set up- so max of a few people and gear in 1 vehicle can "get close" up the dirt trail road. The rest are leaving from the other area which is a 5 mile or so hike...

[uppernotmaster]

If you’re having a fire there’s really no limits what you can cook. The cold can be your friend as far as food goes. Meat won’t go bad, fruit/veggies stay fresh. Don’t half ass it, bring some good food. Forget that dried up shit. Cooking & eating will be the brunt of your entertainment.

Sausage, shrimp, potatoes, onions/peppers, etc. really anything can be cooked on an open fire. Pre-wrap veggies in foil with a little olive oil or butter, throw right on the fire. Preparation is key. You’ll be much happier eating good food. Great alternative to bread are tortilla wraps. They’ll travel very well.

As others have said, get a pad to sleep on & lose all that water. If there are in fact “experts” on this trip, they’ll have a filter for water & most shelters have a water source nearby. Have a good trip.

[RShea]

Some good comments uppernotmaster. I forget about wraps and tortilla since they are not on my regular list of things. I do not want to be bringing a survivor book along and going out to scavenge berries and plants for 2 days- and depriving the wild animals of some winter food sources when it is all of a 5 mile hike in.

As for the water, even the one expert leading this has mentioned that we all need to bring in water- so not sure of the full arrangement. He has been there before, I have not. I'm thinking that the 2 bladders will be a start, and back at the vehicle maybe some containers of water. If we run low after one of the meals, then a hike back to get the stored water, or if someone has the filters, etc. pull some from the stream or area as an option.

[Blatant]

not to be a naysayer, but that sleeping bag may very well not cut it... unless alot of things line up. I'd keep that in mind.