Backpacker's/Camper's Checklist

WINTER CAMPING - List of basic items necessary for comfort and survival:
• Wool Clothing
• Wool Cap
• Warm coat (down or polyester filled)
• Mittens or gloves (preferably wool)
• Socks with extra set (preferably wool)
• Boots or equivalent (snow boots are best, tennis shoes are worst)
• Food, including some extra
• Eating Utensils
• Water bottle with water - minimum 1 qt.
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Toilet paper
• Tent with necessary pitching equipment or tools for building an appropriate shelter (Note: Tents can be shared. It is not necessary for everyone to have his own tent.)
• Winter type sleeping bag with stuff sack
• Sleeping pad (full length to insulate the whole length of your body)
• Sponge - A very handy item when the temperatures are bouncing around the freezing mark. When its raining and you have your rain gear on, you quickly get into your tent only to find that the puddle building up in the corner is being caused by the rain dripping off your rain gear (scary if someone has a down bag)!
• Loud Whistle for summoning help in an emergency (thanks Kirk)

OPTIONAL ITEMS (depends on the trip and the person involved):
• Sleeping bag straps
• Backpack with frame
• Ground sheet (minimum 5' x 7')
• Air Mattress (must be foam or down filled if for winter use)
• Set of liners for mittens or gloves
• Over mitten shells
• Shell parka
• Gaiters or anklets
• Rain Gear
• Extra wool clothes
• Wind pants
• Face mask
• Down clothing
• Over boots or snow boots
• Down or polyester batting filled booties
• Goggles or glasses
• Extra eyeglasses
• Eyeglass straps
• Sunglasses
• Innersoles
• Boot liners
• Moleskin
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Hand cleaner in tube
• Soap
• Comb or brush
• Sunburn cream or lotion
• Handkerchief(s) or facial tissue
• Chapstick
• Water purification tablets
• Water purification pump
• Antifog compound for glasses
• Emergency kit
• First aid kit
• Day pack
• Pocket knife
• Map in case or plastic bag, onionskin paper, pencil
• Compass
• Stove or fire building necessities appropriate to the area (saw, hatchet etc)
• Fuel in can
• Watch
• 50 ft. nylon cord
• Bivouac sack
• Foam pad for bivouacs
• Saw
• Shovel
• Skis
• Pole(s)
• Snowshoes
• Camera
• Film
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Nature and area guides
• Thermometer
• Barometer or Altimeter
• Alarm watch or clock
• Protractor
• Fire starters (matches, lighter, flint and steel)
• Can opener
• Lantern
• Candles with holder
• Candy
• Binoculars
• Mirror
• Magnifying glass
• Pedometer
• More matches (in waterproof container)
• Plastic bags for trash, etc.
• Changes of some clothing like socks, undershorts etc.
• Medications, vitamins etc.
• Bowl or plate
• Salt
• Sleeping bag cover
• Large plastic bags
• Extra batteries
• Extra fuel container
• Extra stuff sacks for organizing supplies in pack
• Water bag to hang in tree
• Pocket sharpening stone
• Some money for emergencies
• Bungee cords
• Hobby items: (eg.,telescope, geologist hammer, spelunking equipment, etc.)
• Lightweight rubber sandals (thongs) for wearing around camp.
  

General repairs of equipment are facilitated by:
• Hank of parachute cord for laces, packs, tent ties, etc.
• Length of strong malleable wire for ski, binding, snowshoe, pole and pack repairs
• Duct tape
• Needles and thread for repairing rips
• Adhesive tape from first aid supplies makes repairs if warmed to body temperature so that it sticks
• Pocket knife (already being carried)
• Spare parts that may be necessary for stoves, pack, etc
• Tools needed for installing the above

A basic first aid kit includes:
• Waterproof container
• Surgical gloves
• A ziplock "Bio waste bag"
• Summary of first aid and emergency medicine
• Book of basic first aid procedures
• Large roll of 2" wide cloth adhesive tape--not waterproof--on cardboard roll which can be collapsed (can be ripped into narrower strips--warm near skin before using)
• 4" x 4" sterile gauze pads--at least 10
• Ace bandage
• Moleskin
• Band-aids
• Triangle bandage
• 2 single-edged razor blades in sterile packages
• 1 pair tweezers
• 1 pair scissors
• Thermometer
• Aspirin
• Betadine antiseptic
• Aqueous zepharin-clear antiseptic
• Antacid tablets
• Milk of magnesia tablets
• Tube of Vaseline
• Instant ice compress (in summer)
• Sterile moist wipes in foil