Planning and Preparation for Wilderness Packing and Travel
Anil Mitra 1980—2021

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Long version of this document with itineraries   |   trip preparation with weights   |   knots   |   solo wilderness medicine

Planning and preparation

Reasons—special places, nature, culture, travel, physical and social activities, sharing, projects: physical, psychological, and intellectual experiment, discovery, and writing.

Travel plans and aids—select location, dates, times &OR open trip; booking and reservations for travel (auto, ride, taxi, bus, sea, air, and schedules), motel, etc; guides; documents, passport, visas, permits, tickets-passes, insurance; social contacts; check weather, hazard, air & forest conditions.

Personal preparation—physical preparation—flex, strength, endurance, skills; vaccinations and documents; medical check-up; hair, nails, and calluses.

Gear & supplies—check, repair, buy (first get information from books, internet, outdoor stores for advice-needs-fitting). Prepack—navigation, information, pack, health, knife, stove, shelter, wear. Pack / check—wear, sleeping bag, food for conditions and duration (details), cash, keys, sun / glasses, cap, get perishables just before leaving.

Information—paper, pen, watch, computer, phone, camera with spare memory card, USB flash drive (‘My Documents’); charged batteries, spares (chargers optional); phrase book.

Cash—credit cards (notify bank of travel location and dates).

The essentials*

Navigation—map, compass, altimeter, GPS, locator beacon; headlamp, batteries, spares.

Backpack—appropriate to kind and duration; rain cover; travel duffel; trekking poles.

Health—first aid (solo wilderness medicine), emergency kit; meds, foot care, insect repellant; hygiene, grooming, towel; sunscreen (SPF 50).

Knife—and gear repair kit (general, tent, stove…).

Stove—fuel, lighter, matches; alternative: tinder.

Shelter—tent, tarp, or bivvy, sleeping bag, sleeping pad; see knots.

Wear—general clothes for wilderness, town; spares; special clothes for rain, heat, cold, x-country, insects; UV protective sunglasses and clothes; boots, shoes, or sneakers, sandals.

Food—minimum plus, some ready to eat, cookware, utensils. H₂O containers, treatment system; breakfast-dairy, fruit, cereal; snack-carb, protein; lunch-carb, fruit; snack; dinner-protein, fat.

* The essentials are adapted from https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html