Packing list for a High Country

[Mr.Redneck]

Originally posted by YORT40@Apr 2 2005, 01:28 AM
I don't know the elev. in Ohio, but think about something for headaches in the high country. If your not used to hiking above 8,000', it can be a real pain at times.

Aspirin is supposed to be quite helpful, esp. when started about 2wks. before going into the altitude. Plus getting into shape shouldn't be too bad since I live in the hilly part of OH, but only about 1000ft in elevation. I often times trek 3-4 miles of so on a late season stalk hunt, in some of the hilliest areas in OH, and have done some high country hiking in the past without any undue effects. But I do plan on using the Aspirin before and during the trip. And Ibuprofen is always my friend.

 

[MikenSoCo]

Sounds silly, but don't forget to clip those toenails, especially the corners. They can be a great sorce of pain on a long hike!

 

[gonehunting]

Pretty much everything was covered, here is just a couple more suggestions........Ex Lax and antidiarretic pills.....seriously, they can save a hunt...lol also I would recommend getting a water purifier rather than a water filter. Just out of curiousity is that old Army bag filled with down? If so I would recomend getting a synthetic filled bag. As far as space blankets go, the only thing they are good for is laying meat on them when you are butchering. I have had the misfortune of needing to use mine, and to make a long story short, I will never go anywhere without my sleeping bag on a remote hunt again. I don't know how cold it will be their in archery season, but I know last October it got into the teens at night when I was there. I usually buy one of those 4 pack of the small bic lighters and place them in various pockets, rather than matches. And remember, everything is waterproof in a zip lock bag. Freese dried food is a good Idea too, saves a lot of weight. Mountain house is what I use. If you were to bring one to work and eat it for lunch you would probably hate it. But trust me after all day hiking they taste damn good!! A good sturdy walking stick is a good idea, its saved my a$$ more than once. Well I could probably ramble on for ever on this subject but I will just shut up now........good luck on the hunt!

 

[FTTPOW]

This was on BDB's list, but just in case you overlooked it, a good folding pack saw. It'll be used for everything from butchering to cutting tent stakes and poles to walking sticks. Is your pack full enough, yet??

 

[Orygun]

A sherpa to carry everything for you.

Moleskin and or a roll of athletic sports tape. I usually tape blister-prone areas and/or use moleskin before heading up. the tape dries faster than moleskin.

A tube of lip balm. In the high dry country my lips will crack after a day or two. Ankle brace or two. Those ones with velcro. I have bad ankles and roll them even in high-ankled boots. I used them to carry 70+ pounds off the mountaina couple years back. They weigh little and crush down.

Sun screen. The "sweat proof" stuff.

 

[Hoback Hunter]

A good mule with a decker and some soft sided panniers would do ya real good... but Sherpa's are cheaper (good one Orygun). In any case, I suppose thats outside the scope of your inquiry.

BDB covered it already, but it's so dang important -

Stuff fer yer Downunders (Nut and Crack butter) - nothing worse than chafing on a hunt

I carry a small tube of baby powder and a small tube of desitin (for night time applications)... they have saved me on many long distance packing/hunting/fishing trips over the years... I never enter the woods without it.

Not sure what kind of sleeping pad you have, but if its a therma-rest, the Crazy Creek campchair add-on is a must. Makes your therma rest into a chair, which people will fight over in camp. They're super lightweight but not cheap. One thought on air pads is to make sure you have a patch kit for it... flat air pads are useless. The other option is the old-school thinsulate foam pad. The don't pop and are better than nothing.

And you probably know this, but weather in the Rockies can change from great to terrible in the blink of an eye. Here in Wyoming, we often joke that if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. And it's true. I've been in snow storms in every month of the year. CO won't be much different I suspect, so be prepared if you plan to travel far from camp... emergency blankets and something to start a fire with.. for sure. One good thing about the rockies is that even when it's snowing you can usually get a fire to light...

 

[YORT40]

Right on, I thought this was going to be a macho thread, but now we're going in the right direction!

Lets get to the nitty gritty of back country comfort. Make sure you bring a tube of Desitin & a bag full of baby wipes.

You will be thrilled with the results. It could make or break your whole trip.

 

[ElkChaser]

Butt wipe is essential. Pine needles & leaves just don't cut it. Past trips have left me without any of my socks matching.

 

[Mr.Redneck]

Originally posted by ElkChaser@Apr 6 2005, 07:35 PM
Butt wipe is essential. Pine needles & leaves just don't cut it. Past trips have left me without any of my socks matching.

My wife didn't understand the first time I came back from hunting, and one of my long sleeve shirts was sleeveless. So a couple months later same thing happened, and then she had to ask.

Nobody ever said she was a detective!!!

 

[Hoback Hunter]

My wife thinks the sleeveless shirt; patch missing from the underwear; and long-sock-cut-short thing is hillarious... But she always tries to throw them away!! she doesn't realize they have multiple uses!

Between the sleeves and the tails you tunck into your trousers, a fella can make a good shirt last several poorly planned trips!

 

[Mr.Redneck]

Just got my new frame pack from BassPro, and a Mountain Works Ceramic water filter, I am gettin' excited now, I loaded about 60# of stuff in the frame pack and walked around my backyard so the neighbors wouldn't think I was crazy, it's quite comfortable. So I am at a good point, I have:
Tent, Sleeping mat, sleeping bags, camo, scent-eliminating underclothes, frame pack, day-pack, about 30# of deer meat to turn into jerky for the trip, first aid kit, 2 emerg. blankets, sun-shower, water storage bags, camp cook kit, bow, arrows and broadheads, release, bugle, mouth calls, hydration bladder (2, one with each pack), boots 2 pair, ankle brace, wool socks, and sock liners just in case of blisters, binos, GPS, maps, and tag should be coming. Anything I am forgetting???

Man, I will probably go through this once a week, until we leave, and even then, I will probably forget something.

 

[BDB]

I tend to be picky about staying scent free while hunting if possible. Well I used to be but not as much anymore. You will be hiking in and hiking the hills. You will sweat and stink. You have to work the wind. I wouldn't take anything with me that added weight for the purposes of being "scent free". Just my

 

[Mr.Redneck]

They are just underarmour style underclothes, they actually wick away sweat very nicely, and keep you cool in the warm weather and warm in the cool weather. Plus, they help prevent chafing!!!!! highly important, and only weigh about 1# per set, uppers and lowers!!!! So it's not that much weight. I use them for the other effects to, but the scent-free part did prove to be pretty good when hunting OH whitetails. Hey, I'll be happy to bring home a cow, but I'd rather have a nice 6x6 Imperial.

 

[rwmac]

I use to carry the backpack stoves, but not any more. I now carry the homemade alcohol stoves like the cat-can stove and the Bud can stove. They weigh next to nothing and yet will boil 16 oz of water in under 6 min, and they are fun to make.
I will put one in my daypack, keep one at basecamp and I keep one in my car.
Also, think about getting a plastic tube-tent as an emergency or bivy shelter, if you can find one.

 

[GoneBirding]

Butt Wipes

Works great on long trips.

 

[BDB]

The cat can stove sounds like a neat idea. I may have to try that. Thanks of the info rwmac

Cat-can stove

Bud-can (Pepsi in this case) stove