50 essential items to bring for treks in the north
What equipment do I need to bring on a trek in the far north this time of the year?
Summer time when nature just has rid itself of spring colors and getting ready to invite an even more colorful autumn?
Most likely hot days, on and off rain, but still quite crisp and clear nights?
These were questions I ask myself whilst packing this week for a two week hike in the Scandinavian mountains. A great hike I have done many times over. So, I browsed through my old papers from my time living in the north and found this one, which I would like to share with my readers. It is based on the knowledge of flooded rivers, still some snow at high altitude, possibly continuous rain, mist and difficult orienteering.
The list is based on two people sharing stove, tent, axe, saw and gas.
- Backpack
- Raincover for backpack
- Garbage bag plus 2 spare ones, to pack all things in and tucked in the backpack
- Tent (3 season)
- 3 season sleeping bag
- Therma Rest plus a traditional foam pad (Not the thickest)
- 2 layered Gore tex jacket with hood and trousers
- Gaiters
- Boots
- Trainers or type Teva sandels
- Trousers
- Long sleeved shirt
- Vest
- Underwear (3 pairs, one long john and two shorties, we will wash along the trek)
- Socks (2 thin, 2 thick)
- Tophat (Termo)
- Baseball Cap American style or similar (light is strong on the mountain)
- Gloves
- Warmer style top hat
- Towl (small one)
- Toilettries (personal use ,e.g small soap, tooth paste, toothbrush, 2 rolls of toilet paper)
- Medical bag (aspirin, bandaid, bandage, rennies, Compeed, tape for feet, mosquito repellent, Volcan knee cover)
- Sun lotion, small tube
- Lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Plastic cup, utensils ( I only bring a spoon)
- Stove and gas
- Lighter
- Jukka stick
- Leatherman tool
- Compass
- Map
- Mapcover in plastic
- Headlamp (even though we have 24 hours of daylight almost, but a simple back up)
- Camera
- Binocular
- Mobile phone
- Satellite phone
- Small solar panel
- IPAD
- Dry bags to carry these items in
- A book
- Axe
- Saw
- Food for ten days (You said you would bring your breakfast, I will get lunch and dinner. Pack breakfast for 12 days in good sturdy bags, 2 as backup, trip will be 10 days. On top of that, what do you want, coffee and/or tea? And also do 10 bags, one for each day of trail food, like chocolate, nuts and so on. I will get bread here with some stuff to stick on. 2 slices per day per person.)
A slideshow from the spring of 2011.
A slide show from the autumn of 2011.
