Here is a complete list of the gear we took with some explanations about why we chose certain items. If you want to print a copy, the Print function in your browser menu should work.
Backpacks and Water Proof Cover
We used expedition-sized 70+ litre expedition backpacks to carry everything in. I would rather have a bigger backpack with plenty of space for all my stuff than to have to cram stuff in and attach stuff to the outside of a smaller pack.
Lightweight scrambling backpacks – just big enough to hold water, food, a rain jacket and helmet.
The waterproof covers for the big backpacks are easy to put on when it starts to rain and keep essential contents, such as food and sleeping bags, dry.
Tent
We used a 2-person tent by Nemo. We’ve spent a lot of nights in it and love all the space it provides while being so lightweight and small. The fly needs to be carefully staked out to keep the inside of the tent dry during storms.
The frosty mornings made us question whether a three-season tent was warm enough.
Tarp
We were glad we had a tarp. Ours is roughly 4 x 3 meters and we used it to create a dry place to sit and to store our backpacks and other gear. We had a few long pieces of cordelette to set it up.
Sleeping Bag
We used Feathered Friends down sleeping bags for this trip. They kept us pretty warm the first night but I shivered the second and third nights when the temperature dipped below zero and the tent was coated with frost.
Sleeping Pad
I use the Big Agnes Q Core SLX inflatable pad. Its been really great since I bought it 7 years ago. Lighttweight and compact.
Food stuff sacks
We didn’t need any special food storage stuff sacks or containers because Hidden Lake Campground has food lockers where we stored our food and toothpaste safe from animals.
Food
The food we packed is listed here: three day expedition menu.
Kitchen
Stove – JETBOIL with mug attachment for boiling water.
Pot – JETBOIL pot and pot attachment. Used to cook suppers.
Bowls – lightweight nesting bowls that fit in the pot.
Fuel cannisters – We brought a medium sized cannister and had lots of fuel left.
Mug – lightweight and insulated, made for backpacking.
Folding Spork – a single plastic utensil each was all we needed.
Knife/multi-tool
Personal Hygiene
Sample size hand cream, tooth paste and dental floss. Tooth brush with handle cut down. Bug spray, sunscreen. Spare hair elasitc & comb, lip balm. Toilet paper & ziploc baggies to pack out used paper. Leave no trace!
Bug spray, bug spray, bug spray – one small bottle was good for only two days. Not joking.
Book and Cards – We didn’t end up reading a lot but we did enjoy playing cards.
Notebook & pen – to list things I wish I had brought and things I could have done without and to capture inspired thoughts. Also to record scores for card games.
First Aid
Including bandaids & Ibupforen as well as any prescription medications such as inhalers.
Emergency Gear
Duct tape – in addtion to covering blisters, it can be used to repair gear.
InReach GPS signalling device – Can send an SOS to initiate emergency extraction. We also sent text messages to family during the trip.
Lighters and fire starter – Even though there are no fires allowed at the campground, I consider fire starter and lighters emergency gear. Fire can make you a whole lot more comfortable if things go sideways and you’re stuck out at night.
Bear horn – We keep it handy in a pocket on the outside of our packs. We didn’t see any bears on our trip but a few other campers we met along the way had seen them in the area.
Scrambling Gear
Helmets – Rockfall is possible any time of year. Helmets are particularly nice if there is another party ahead of us.
Gaiters – I love a good scree run on the descent but it fills my boots with pebbles unless I wear gaiters.
We didn’t bring crampons or ice axes and didn’t need them.
Electronics, Navigation and Permits
Phone – for taking pictures and for navigating. I had FATMAP and AllTrails with relevant trails downloaded. I also had photos of the guidebook descriptions of the routes we might want to do. A copy of our camping permit from Parks Canada was in my email, available to present if requested.
Fitbit – works as a watch. Also fun to see how many steps I took each day!
Charger cables – for the above and for the InReach
Solar charging battery pack – collects energy from the sun and charges electonics. We plugged it in at home so it was fully charged when we left and it was more than enough to keep our electronics going.
Headlamp & spare batteries – for navigating to the bathroom at night and any other time we needed to move around outside after dark.
Hydration
2-litre hydration bags – 1 each.
A single 1-litre nalgene water bottle for collecting water from streams.
Steripen UV water purifier wand – lightweight, easy and quick.
Clothing
Typically I bring one of every layer I’ll need so that I can wear everything if it gets cold and wet enough. I bring one pair of extra socks and underwear. I also brought an extra t-shirt. This was worth it’s weight the day we got caught in a rain storm. It was nice to have a dry shirt to change into at camp.
T-shirt – Icebreaker wool – is quick drying and lightweight
Long sleeve shirt – another Icebreaker wool, this one a bit heavier for cooler temperatures.
Fleece hoodie jacket – dries quickly.
Rain jacket – lightweight and quick drying.
Puffy jacket – We brought our big ice-climbing belay puffy jackets. We wore them in the evenings and mornings at camp and used them as pillows at night. The coldest night I slept with my puffy on inside the sleeping bag.
Long underwear bottoms – wool so they dry quickly, good for staying warm at night and also dry pants to change into while trekking/scrambling pants dry.
Trekking/scrambling pants – Northbound fleece lined pants with durable water repellent finish. These were warm and comfortable and tough enough to bum slide down some prickly rock.
Gortex pants – Black Diamond, I use these for ice climbing and backcountry skiing too. Talk about multi purpose!
Socks – We have tried many different pairs of socks and we are currently enjoying the Bridgedale lightweight boot socks. Make sure your socks are high enough to cover your legs underneath your boot tops. I had some painful chafing when I tried to wear shorter socks in my boots one summer.
Boots – lightweight hiking boots.
Hut booties – It’s nice to have a comfy pair of shoes to change into at camp. We have puffy booties with hard soles.
Gloves, toque, buff – this is Canada, it gets cold even in summer.
Hat
Sunglasses
Is there anything that you like to bring to the backcountry that isn’t on my expedition packing list? Please share your thoughts and ideas.
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