First solo trip

Hey there folks. I'm a bit of a newbie around here so forgive me if I break any unwritten rules or anything. ANY advice is appreciated.

In about 12 months (early august) I'm planning a 2 week long hike from my hometown to a national forest roughly 90 miles away. I plan on the trip itself taking 3-4 days there and another 3-4 back. I plan on being the only one to do this trip.

I'm not new to backpacking or hiking long distances, I'm an eagle scout and spent quite a bit of time in the back country. The longest I've spent under the stars was 8 nights in a row, so this will be a new experience for me.

I have a very basic grip on what to be bringing, but I would like some ideas I have an external frame backpack that I've used for roughly 7 years now. If you were going on this trip, what would you recommend?

Thanks a ton in advance guys.

Is this trip on roads or is it on backcountry trails? Where will you be sleeping? Campsites, trailside, motels? Equipment and advise will vary depending on conditions.

It would help to know where you're going and what your current set of gear is. My guess is that you'll get lots of helpful advice about your destination, and a lot of tips on how to lighten your load/upgrade equipment.

Regarding equipment, I'd offer one general thought. If you've been using what you've got for a while, and it's not worn out, don't rush to change your gear. You say you have significant experience, so clearly what you have works for you and you don't find it horribly burdensome to carry - so there's no compelling reason to change it out.

Having said that, I won't deny that trying out new gear is a pleasure all its own - I'm not sure a 6 or 8 day trip is the time to do it.

Backcountry trails to and from, and medium density woods. Im from wisconsin so im expecting anywhere from 40-80 for the temperature. Sleeping will be trailside for the trip, but once I'm at my destination it will be riverside.

Sorry for not having details.

Im kind of hoping to revamp my gear since i've really never done this. I've always had another person to split loads with. and those trips have only been 2-3 days.
This is roughly what I'm planning on for gear (so far)


-2 day clothing supply
-compact hammock (insulated with ziptop, weighs roughly 10 pounds with the rigging )
-rope, 5/16 Manilla (2 pounds worth)
-fishing tackle (2 pounds)
-MSR Superfly campstove
-map and compass
-SOG Tomahawk (2 pounds)
-Pocket knife, zippo blu lighter
-3 trash bags for waterproofing
-bear canister
-baggy of pixie dust for fire (gasoline soaked sawdust, 1 pound)

That's the basics that I know are what I'm bringing. I prefer hammock over a tent simply because of the environmental impact.

Food and cookware is what I'm lost on. I am quite good at catching fish on the Wolf River where I am headed, so I planned on catching and cleaning while I'm up there.

Also worth mentioning that part of my trail will run past a gas station in case of last minute needs.

As far as navigation, a map and compass will do I think. I have a small flip phone for any communication needs or emergencies.

Any advice for food, cookware, additions or subtractions is more then welcome.

You can definitely get a lighter hammock setup with tarps, suspensions, insulation, etc. My hammock setup is at 2.6 pounds not counting the insulation. Insulation consist of sleep pad, and top quilt or sleeping bag. With insulation it still not breaking 5 pounds. I can still go a lot lighter once I upgrade hammock, by the time I do it will weight around 26 ounces? Warbonnet is the hammock I'm looking at getting.

Also, I never heard of anyone carrying gasoline soaked saw dust..... Is it legal to burn gasoline soaked materials in a national forest? Probably be easier/less volatile and less smelly to carry fuel tabs, Vaseline soaked cotton balls, etc.

Thanks, I'll look into that. It is definitely the largest bit of gear in my pack.

In response to the gasoline soaked materials, it is illegal in the nicolet national forest, however it is more of an emergency tool than anything. The destination is actually a bit of land that is owned by the BSA and I have already spoken with the camp ranger and gotten most of this cleared. For me, it is more about the journey than the destination.

I take the same gear on every 3-season trip regardless of duration. The only thing I may vary is my sleep clothing thickness, which doubles as my insulation layer if necessary.

You may find my paper useful reading perhaps.

I'm curious what the (heavy) rope and tomahawk are for?

The rope is for general use, I find that a good length of rope will help in nearly any situation. The tomahawk I've brought with on nearly excursion, and I find it useful for choppin up bits of wood and hammering things. That one is a bit more of a personal item than anything.

Ok--well, you may choose these things as "personal items" but most of us here like the idea of traveling light. And right off the bat I'll bet that your pack is a lot heavier than most of ours.

You might try weighing all this stuff and seeing how much the total weighs--I think you might be surprised. My wife and I did an 8 day trip earlier this year in the High Sierra, with a much larger temperature range that you are likely to see. Our packs, combined, did not weigh sixty pounds.

If it were me, I would leave the rope, the pixie dust (you're an Eagle Scout right? You should be able to make a fire with a single match...) the tomahawk and go with a simpler hammock system and leave about five-8 pounds at home.

My wife and I have a tent, two sleeping pads, and two sleeping bags, and the total is under tens pounds. Instead of heavy rope, 50 feet of paracord. No Tomahawk, just a decent small knife.

You can choose to take all these items...but in the last ten years of backpacking, I have never wished I had that much rope, firestarter, tomahawk, or a heavier sleeping system.

Does your hammock include the weight of a sleeping bag (or quilt)? If not, are you taking one (it's not shown separately on your list.)

I concur with the general idea to lighten up, but, if you want the tomahawk and rope, that's your decision.

Alright so the rope is unnecessary got it. I will go with the paracord instead. I can ditch the pixie dust. I will weigh everything out tonight and get back to you. Last trip I went on it was 41.3 lbs.

The hammock is a homemade one, and that includes a sewn in quilt that I've found to be perfect for august conditions.

Like Balzaccom, my total pack weight with 7 days of food in the Rockies is about 25 lbs.

Are you uncomfortable carrying 40 or 45 pounds for the number of hours and miles you want to hike in a day? Are you exhausted at the end of that hike? If the answer is "no," and you like the way your quilt and hammock work, then don't let us talk you out of it.

Are there lighter options? Yes.
Would most of us choose those options? Yes.
Does that mean you must make the same choices we would? No.

You need to go to hammock forums or one of the online hammock vendors, or read the Ultimate Hang (available at amazon). Paracord is NOT going to work for a number of reasons - you're putting more than 700 lbs of pressure on a hammock suspension, and that will either streeeeetttttttch (it's nylon, and never stops stretching) or snap.

There are PLENTY of other ways to hammock without hurting yourself.

Lori--I don't think he was bringing the rope for the hammock. He had fifty feet of it on his list.