Important to keep your pack weight as light as possible. Weigh everything. A full pack with gear, food and water should be about 25-30 pounds for this 5 day/4 night trip. Use this Gear Checklist when loading the pack, and review the Tips page.
EQUIPMENT
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| Basic gear weighing 15#: pack, water containers, water filter, sleeping bag, tent, tarp, thermal pad, stove/fuel, fanny pack, toiletries/first-aid bag. |
- Backpack: Must fit your body properly.
- Fanny-pack (optional): Worn in the front, under backpack belt, to keep handy your camera, lip balm, Gatorade, and trail snacks.
- Daypack (optional) An ultra-light-weight daypack or stuff sack that can be used to carry water, snacks, etc. while day hiking. If you can’t find one, you can use your fanny-pack and put any excess items in someone else’s daypack. Note: I also use the daypack to stow all my food in the backpack and in the ammo can.
- Tent and rainfly: A tent is needed to keep the critters from bothering you when you are trying to sleep. If the weather is good, you should be able to leave the rainfly at home, cutting back on the weight. Also can leave tent stakes at home as it is nearly impossible to put them in the hard ground; use cord/string to tie to rocks instead.
- Tarp (footprint): The tarp not only protects the floor of the tent, if it doesn't have built-in floor protection, but also provides additional insulation from the ground moisture. It should be slightly smaller than the size of the floor of the tent. Some tents come with a footprint. I use 3.5mil plastic sheeting cut to size.
- Sleeping bag: Depending on the low temperatures at Indian Garden during our trip. Walmart has a light-weight (only 1# 15 oz.) sleeping bag that has a temperature rating for 40 degrees for only $40. If the forecast calls for lower temperatures, use a sleeping-bag liner which will give you an additional 10 degrees which only weighs 9 oz. Or, you can bring long underwear to sleep in for the additional warmth. Keep in mind that the tent also will provide additional warmth.
- Pad (foam or thermal): Insulated foam pads (bulky) or self-inflating insulated pads (ThermaRest).
- Hiking pole(s): Good to have to assist in the downhill steps, to propel you on the uphills, and to assist with boulder hopping at several creek crossings.
- Water bladder/canteen: A bladder bag (Camelback) (2 liters minimum) is recommended to keep hydrated on the go. Some backpacks come with a pocket for the bladder bag; otherwise, it can be placed at the top inside the pack. I also carry a 32 oz. Gatorade bottle in the fanny-pack for mixed drinks (electrolytes). On this trail, the longest stretch between water sources is 5 miles (from Indian Garden to Bright Angel Creek). The high temperatures at the bottom of the Canyon in May could be about 90 degrees. It’s important to hydrate at Indian Garden before going down.
- Nalgene wide-mouth water bottle (optional): Use as a backup to your water bladder and for packing food such as cookies, crackers, etc.
- Water filter: At least one person on the trip (usually the trip leader) will carry a filtration system (pump, gravity-fed, etc.) when hiking the corridor trails. In the backcountry, it is best if there are at least 2 filters available and/or purification tablets/liquid.
- Flashlight: Most people use lightweight headlamps, but small lightweight hand-held flashlights are ok too. Best to have one that also has a Red light to use when walking around the campground. I also bring a solar-powered Luci light for use at camp and in my tent.
- Ditty bags: A small ditty for your toiletries and first aid items, and a large ditty for bagging all your food items for storing in your pack and in the ammo can.
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| Hikers on sand dune on River Trail with black bridge in background. May 2017. |
Only bring what you will wear at the coldest time on the trip. A change of clothes is not necessary; no one cares if you wear the same clothes for five days.
- Boots/hiking shoes: The soles should have a good grip (i.e. Vibram® lug soles), and your shoes/feet should be broken in prior to trip. Note: If your toenails are hitting the end of your shoes on the down hills, you will get blisters under the toenails and lose them.
- Socks: Only what you will be wearing is necessary, but a second pair is acceptable. Rinse them when we get to Bright Angel Campground. Socks wick moisture from the feet (like SmartWool) and should fit tightly. Loose socks may rub blisters. Apply moleskin on existing calluses prior to hike or immediately when hot spots that develop.
- Camp shoes/sandals (optional): Wear light-weight sandals when we get to camp and while washing out your socks. You should also be able to walk 2 miles in these, so test them ahead of time. (Trips to the canteen for lemonade, etc. will be 1-1/2 miles RT.)
- Underwear: Only what you will be wearing is necessary if you are using panty-liners to keep them clean, but a second pair is okay. You could rinse out a pair during the heat of the day.
- Long pants: Recommend long pants for hiking on the trails for protection from the sun and from scrapes. Only what you will be wearing is necessary. If you want shorts while in camp, you could wear pants that convert to shorts, or bring a pair of light-weight shorts. The Bright Angel Creek may not be warm enough for soaking your body for any length of time; but, it will be good for your feet. An alternate to shorts for lounging at camp is a lava-lava, which can double as a lightweight sleeping blanket in hot weather.
- Long-sleeve shirt: Recommend long sleeves for protection from the sun. Suggest a light-weight breathable material.
- T-shirt: Something that you can sleep in and wear around camp.
- Hat: A light-weight wide-brim hat to shade your face and neck.
- Bandana: May be used for cooling by wetting it, but it is most helpful to mask the dust when mules pass on the trail. It also can be used to freshen up in the creek, shade your neck from the sun, and many other purposes.
- Cooling cloth (optional): One of those new-fangled materials or filled neckerchiefs designed to provide cooling for extended period of time.
- Wind breaker: Recommend a compact light-weight breathable material windbreaker. Use this in the evenings over both long-sleeve shirt and t-shirt. If additional warmth is needed, use sleeping bag.
- Cool weather clothing: Wool shirt, knit cap, gloves, thermal underwear (top/bottom).
Note: Any items not being worn to bed (wind breaker, hat, socks, underwear, etc.) can be placed in the sleeping bag stuff sack to use as a pillow.
TOILETRIES (travel size, or repackaged for only what will be used)
Brush/comb
Toothbrush
Travel size toothpaste (partially used)
Lip balm
Sun block
T-paper (1/4 of roll or less)
Wet-wipes
Hand sanitizer
Bandaids
Medicine (aspirin, Advil)
Moleskin or Duct tape, or gauze tape for taping Bandaids on toes
For women - panty liners
ETC.
Spoon or spork (plastic) (If you will be eating from a freeze-dried food bag, get a long-handled spoon/spork to keep you hands clean)
Sunglasses/eyeglasses (If you wear contacts, leave them home)
Camera and extra batteries or battery charger
Cash and credit card
Plastic bags for trash (grocery bag or zip lock bag)
Notepad / pencil
Emergency Card: Create and pack with your ID a card-size piece of paper listing:
Medications you are taking
ICE contact info
Insurance info
Age, height, weight and blood type
ADDRESSES
When visiting Phantom Ranch., you have the unique opportunity to mail letters/postages with the notation “Mailed by Mule from the Bottom of the Grand Canyon.” So bring along the addresses of family and friends you want to impress.
NOTEPAD
Use a small notepad to enter all the things you will be taking on the trip: Gear, clothing, toiletries, cooking supplies, etc. Include a list of the quantity of each food item to pack and your daily menus. Enter the addresses for the Phantom Ranch postcards (above). The notebook also can be used to make note of actual times, elevation and distances, things you saw along the way, what you want to do on your next hiking trip, and/or whatever you shouldn’t say to the person next to you in camp.
Note: Leave the wallet at home. Just bring the photo ID, credit card, cash, and emergency card in a small plastic bag, and place this in one of your fanny pack pockets.
Note: Leave the wallet at home. Just bring the photo ID, credit card, cash, and emergency card in a small plastic bag, and place this in one of your fanny pack pockets.