I am going on a five day hike in the Appalachian mountains and need to bring Equipment with me. I need help on finding what to bring.What equpitment should you bring on an unsupported 5 day outdoor wilderness trip?
Personal gear: spare underwear, pair spare socks, spare shirt,lightweight nylon shorts (as well as what you wear).
Wear lightweiht strong nylon pants. If it is going to be cold, wear a pair of tights underneath (incredibly warm, and cheap 70 deneir tights from a supermarket are as good as any, and weigh next to nothing. If you are male; don't feel embarrassed at wearing tights - many motorcyclists wear them under their leathers.)
Boots/strong walking shoes
Warm top. If it is going to be cold; something warm underneath like a wool skivvy or ski undershirt.
Lightweigh floppy hat or cap
Sunglasses
Lightweight waterproof jacket; but if it is raining, be prepared to feel damp - nothing is totally waterproof; and if if were, your perspiration would be worse.
Small piece soap, toothpaste/toothbrush.
Small personal first aid kit - especially tweezers for pulling splinters and aspirin.
Sleeping bag, lightweight tent (if it is up to you to supply tent)
sleeping mat, plastic sheet for groundsheet
Backpack
Swiss Army knife or small multi-tool
Spoon (or you could take one of those knife-fork-spoon sets; but it's not necessary)
Small container with cotton, strong thread for emergency repairs
Matches in waterproof container
Cooking gear: plate, container to boil water/cook food, plastic mug. That's all you need.
water container - at least 1 litre/quart
Water purifying tablets (if you can't get these; five drops of tincture of iodine works well, but does taste slightly bitter). Leave tablets in water half an hour.
Food: Lightweight freeze dried food, Freezedried peas are good, also pasta or rice. You can take dried tomato paste to mix with pasta plus a little shredded parmesan cheese.
Something to drink hot (instant coffee; tea. drinking chocolate), something to drink cold (powdered cordial)
Chocolate - a couple of hershey bars a day is not too much (good source of energy). Something for breakfast, instant oats are good, or muesli. Something to snack on - dry crisp biscuits, dried fruit.
Margarine, sugar.
Powdered milk
Don't worry too much about a balanced diet - what you need is higth carbohydrate and fats for energy. Eat mostly at night, with something quick for breakfast, and something to snack on during breaks.
It's amazing what you will eat in the wilds that you wouldn't touch at home.
A few press lock plastic bags (available in supermarket). Good to keep stuff dry (put camera inside two of them), or to keep damp or soiled clothes separate from other stuff.
Map, compass, GPS device if you have one
Mobile phone, if there is coverage
Small notebook and pen
Small Camera
Small torch (LED ones are best)
Watch
All this should weigh about 35 pounds. If less than this; take extra shirt. Your food should be about 2 pounds per day.
Most things can be purchased at supermarket; except specialist freeze dried foods from outdoors shop. But a little imagination with pasta will be filling - also absorbs water, which fills you up, so you won't feel hungry. In the wilds, you are after food to supply energy, but it helps with bulk to fill you up.
Wash your spare underwear/socks and leave to dry overnight.
Take all this but no more ; and you'll be a pro.
Have fun! Don't forget the camera.
Edit: Good advice below from Dewclaw. I forgot about the fuel stove; which you'll need if you are in high country of fire restriction area. And practice with it at home first.
Oh. and insect repellant and sunscreen is a good idea. you can get small tubes that combine both.
Freeze Dried food that does not omit much smell (so bears and other wildlife don't follow you for food) small tent, sleeping bag that is cold weather rated, flint and striker, 1st aide kit, mess kit for cooking, small collapsible shovel, clothes, flashlight, utility knife, chord or rope, trash bag, ruck sack, wet weather gear, jacket, canteen and extra water or if you want to save weight, the water purifying tablets if you'll be taking water from streams, map of trail, compass, cell phone for emergencies. Thats all I can think of right now, but I would suggest calling up a ranger station at the Appalachian trail to make sure you have all you need.What equpitment should you bring on an unsupported 5 day outdoor wilderness trip?
You have a great list here already. So let me add some advice.
The bets way to know what you will need is trail and error, which is of course is problematic.
But still trial and error is the best teacher. Different hikers have different ways of doing things. What one person needs to survive and be comfortable will be different then another based on their skill level, and expectations. So the best way to know what you need is to do some test hikes, shorter versions where you test out your gear. (and really you should test all your gear once before you go off on a real wilderness experience. End of hiking day 1 is not the time to discover that your new MSR stove is missing a part or that you brought the wrong filter or fuel)
That is the only way you can figure out things like what temp rating sleeping bag are you comfortable in (yes it can really vary from person to person, at -20F I use a -40 rated bag my partner uses a 20) I hate freeze dried, and will do almost anything including carrying an extra 10 pounds not to have to eat it. But some people swear by it and won't camp without it. There are lots of ways to get safe water, carry it, the pills, different portable filters. WE can't tell you which system will work for you, we can tell you that for sure you need lots of safe drinking water, hydration's important, blah blah blah. You need to decide how to do it. Even what items you carry in your first aid kit will depend on how much first aid you are capable of doing.
Knowing what you need will come with experience, Some people even start with a master list (like the one suggested above) and then take notes after every trip so the can refine the packing list. This can be very helpful, as long as you remember what you need will change depending on geography and season.
Now having said all that here are some thoughts and additions to the above list:
-sunscreen, don't go outside without it :)
-I use an LED headlamp instead of a flashlight, it is hands free, and the light is easy to work by. The small ones use 3 AAA batteries, are very small and light, and you will get a few night use out of it (if you don't use it all night long)
-Not sure if it is legal there but a handgun is on my list (I camp in bear country)
-Bug dope (I am assuming mosquitoes and such will be a problem, but not totally sure about the time of year you'll be hiking).
-I have never taken a cell phone with me, but I do always let a responsible friend know where I am going and when I will be back. I check in with them when I get home so they know I made it. If I don't they can sound the alarm and alert the searchers.
-I almost always take my digital camera
I found these wed sites about packing for the AT,
on this fist one use the 'packing list' link on the left to see all the choices
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthre鈥?/a>
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.m鈥?/a>
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