australia:camping_checklist
Table of Contents
overnight hiking camping checklist
see also:
- tips for packing your back pack
- don't take too much gear - take only the essentials
- pack in order of when you will need it - for most that means packing your tent LAST so it is readily accessible and you are not forced to unpack your whole pack in the rain
- pack your wet fly SEPARATELY in its own bag (or outside your pack) to your dry inner tent to keep the inner dry
- use a waterproof pack liner or garbage bag to help ensure your clothes etc stay dry inside the backpack
- make sure your water filter (assuming you plan to drink stream water en route) and first aid kit is readily accessible
leave no trace principles
- plan ahead - small groups, prepare for extreme weather, avoid high demand, repackage food to avoid waste
- camp on durable surface (established camp sites, rock, gravel, dry grass) at least 200' from a stream
- dispose of poo waste properly
- bring a small shovel and dig at least 15cm deep cat holes for toilet 200' from stream and cover see how to poo in the bush
- better still bring “poo pots” and take your poo back to a toilet
- a non-collapsible waterproof container you can carry waste in
- poo into a corn starch bag, then you squash all the air out of the bag and put it into the poo pot
- you then can put the corn starch bags into the toilet as they are biodegradable
- use small amounts of biodegradable soap
- scatter strained dishwater
- leave what you find
- minimise campfire impacts - use a stove and also a candle lantern for light
- respect wildlife and avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter
- be considerate to other visitors
- see also camp ground etiquette
essentials for hiking overnight
- backpack
- tent 2 person tent is perhaps ideal for most if hiking this should be under 2-2.5kg
- tent pegs 110g
- sleeping bag rated down to expected minimum temperatures 600g
- sleeping bag liner - silk or if very cold region, consider a thermal liner 60g
- insulated sleeping mat 590g
- +/- pillow 120g
- head torch and batteries 100g
- trekking poles 480g
- total excl. backpack = 3400g
photography gear
- camera 650g (eg. Olympus OM-D E-M1 mark II + 12mm f/2.0 lens)
- telephoto lens (eg. Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 with MC14 1200g)
- camera batteries 50g ea
- tripod for above camera using trek poles 500g
- total = 2500g +/- 350g for extra lens such as fisheye
navigation and survival
- map in water proof container
- compass
- GPS device
- radio beacon EPIRB 280g
- whistle
- mylar type thermal blanket (reflective surface also works well for signalling) 45g
- inform others as to where you are going and when you will be back
- if you wear glasses, take a back up pair in case they break or get lost!
UV protection
- sunglasses
- sun hat
- sunscreen
wet weather gear
- rain jacket 350g
- waterproof overpants 150g
- total = 500g
hydration
- 1L water bottle
- 3L water wide neck flask to carry water to camp site for cooking, etc
- consider water filter or sterilisation tablets (but these do not kill cryptospiridium cysts nor viruses)
- consider Camelbak All Clear UV sterilisation kit and bottle
- unlike tablets or filter devices, kills >99% viruses, bacteria and protozoa (giardia, cryptosporidium) and does it within 60secs with agitation of the 750mL bottle
- 1 full USB charge will do 60L water
- BUT adds 256g to your kit and requires clear water - if cloudy, pre-filter then run through micro filter twice, then do 2 cycles of UV
- 450g + 2000g water?
food, snacks, stove and kitchen
- mug 90g, spoon, knife +/- fork
- bowl 90g +/- plate
- consider chopping board, tea towel, scourer
- stove
- fuel
- matches
- pot / frypan / kettle
- sink
- food
- snacks
- rubbish bag to bring home any rubbish
maintenance
- multi-tool knife 100g
- repair tape 30g
- scissors
- needle and thread
first aid
- blister patches
- band aids
- cotton buds
- tissues
- analgesics
- aspirin
- usual meds and adrenaline epiPen if anaphylaxis risk
- compression bandage for snakebite or injury
personal care
- consider toilet paper or wet wipes (gas lighter to incinerate them)
- trowel for toileting hole 100g
- toothbrush (for ultralight, use a childrens bamboo handle brush) / toothpaste (consider chewing toothpaste tablets then brushing) / floss / comb
- take care of your feet in particular on long hikes
- keep your toe nails trimmed otherwise you may get black toenails or cause skin damage to adjacent toes - bring nail scissors or Swiss army knife with scissors on long through hikes
- keep your feet washed and dry as often as possible
- always take your socks off while you are having a break from hiking so your feet can breathe and dry out
- clean your socks regularly
- always take two pairs of socks - one for night and one for hiking and then alternate socks each day
- prevent blisters by ensuring:
- feet are as dry as possible
- if a part starts to hurt, stop and address it as soon as possible - look for the cause and fix it, consider adding protective elastoplast or similar
- if you get a blister, pass a needle and thread through the blister and leave the thread in there whilst hiking to keep it draining so fluid doesn't accumulate resulting in the blister de-roofing and cover with elastoplast or similar - obviously remove the thread as soon as you can get it managed properly - a blister can be a source for life threatening cellulitis infection so prevent them!
- elevate your feet when having a break to freshen up your feet and leg muscles
- tips to stay clean see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrNF9ZScXk
- use a bidet instead of toilet paper on long through hikes
- saves carrying soiled paper home with you in your backpack
- cleans your butt better than paper - aim the water stream so it is not under your butt but hitting it from the side - don't want soiled water falling back onto your bidet
- can attach a bidet device to a drink bottle or have a separate bidet bottle
- take a super-concentrated biodegradeable liquid soap - can store it in a tiny eye drops plastic squeeze bottle (make the hole larger) which will last a week of hiking a few drops at a time
hiking clothes
- boots or sturdy runners
- socks
- gaiters 210g
- shorts or lightweight trouser
- shirt
night time gear for socialising, keeping warm and for relaxing
- candles if communal hut - not so safe for tents!
- snacks
- +/- wine
- music, earphones (?smartphone and power pack 130g)
- +/- book
- warm dry clothes:
- dry shoes and socks
- thermal long pants and top
- trousers
- down vest or puffy jacket 520g
- beanie 120g
- gloves 120g
- spare shirt?
- total = 1000-1500g
total weight
- Aarn body pack
- rear backpack:
- shelter, etc 2900g
- wet weather clothes 500g
- water 1000g
- warm clothes 1000g
- miscellaneous excl. food, stove 800g
- tripod 500g
- total excl. backpack 7.5kg
- front packs:
- water 1300g
- photo gear 2500g
- snacks
- hike wear:
- gaiters, trekking poles 750g
australia/camping_checklist.txt · Last modified: 2024/09/02 16:17 by gary1