I would really appreciate a critique of my gear list for my upcoming 3 day grand canyon rim to rim hike for a group of 6 people. Some gear will be "community" gear so we done each need to carry individual (ie, 1 pocket rocket stove for all of us, and 3 tents to sleap all 6 people). Even things like sunscreen, hand sanitizer and first aid will be community gear.

So, here goes. Am I missing anything essential? Is there anything I can cut out.

Clothes
Socks 3 pairs
Underwear
Fleece (for north rim night)
Gloves (to protect hands from sunburn)
Rain Gear
Zip off pants
Shirt
Undershirt
Sports Bra
Sleep pants
hat
bandana (to keep sun off neck and ears
bathingsuit (?)
hiking shoes
camp shoes (crocs)

Shelter
tarp
2 man tent


Sleep Center
sleeping pad
Pad stuff sak
sleeping bag/blanket
Bag stuff sak
pillow


Pack
Backpack
128oz Hydration Reservoir
32 oz water bottles (2 each)
Freezer bags (for stuff sacks and garbage)
hiking poles

Cooking
Cook stove
Cook Pots
eating utensils (spork)
bowl
large dish
Matches
Campfuel


Personal effects
toothbrush
toilet paper
soap
handy wipes
hand sanitizer
towel
headlamp
playing cards
medications


Essentials
First aid kit
swiss army knife
moleskin
sun glasses
body glide
lib balm
towel
toilet paper
bullfrog sunscreen/bugspray
rope
duct tape
purification tablets
electrolyte suppliments

Food:
Breakfast day 1:
Lunch day 1:
Snacks day 1:
Dinner day 1:
Breakfast day 2:
Lunch day 2: (pickup at Phantom Ranch)
Snacks day 2:
dinner day 2:
Breakfast day 3:
Lunch day 3:
Snacks day 3:

dried fruit
jerky
tortilla
peanut butter
jelly packets
trail mix (no chocolate)
power bars
oatmeal w/ dried milk and protein powder
cheese packets
pepperoni slices
dehydrated spagetti dinner
freezerbag pizza ramen

Navigation
GPS
Compass
Maps
Paper, pencil

Hi! This looks pretty good - Just a few comments:
1) the 2, 32 oz bottles seem like overkill when you have the 128 oz reservoir
2)Bathing siut could be left behind if you are not afraid to do the underwear and sports bra thing
3)cook pots - make sure you don't have more pots than you absolutley need
4)towel - if you have real towel keep it small. like a hand towel. Even better is a Packtowl - much lighter and they wrok great.
5) GPS - you won't need this unless you're going off the main trails, as things are well marked and easy to follow
6) do you need both bowl and large dish?

Have fun!

I think you have all the basics to be safe and comfortable. From here it's just a matter of what you're willing to do without to save weight and that's pretty subjective. Some of the fanatics here will tell you to ditch everything except the duct tape. But here's my 2 centavos:

Why a tarp and a tent? One or the other should be adequate.

I never saw a need for camp shoes, especially if I'm using trailrunners. But that's just me.

I agree, no bathing suit. Your shorts and sports bra (assuming no cotton) will dry quickly. You'll want to rinse those items out anyway.

A large cup could probably replace the bowl and the plate.

Don't forget your camera <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, at first we were going to tarptent camp and I made the first tarp out of silnylon. But then my nervousness set in and the thought of a snack or scorpion joining me in bed at night freaked me out. I did some further investigation at the GC hikers forum and the general consensus wasn't the fear of snake or scorpion so much as the nusence of the rodents climbing over you at night. So, they idea of a tent was better.

I want to still bring one tarp - it is 8x9' and only weighs 5oz. I can set it up with a couple treking poles for shade if we need it. Should we find we can't get from point A to B before the sun gets too hot while we are there, we can take shelter under the tarp for a few hours until the sun goes down and it cools off. The tents are for sleeping. Hope that makes sense.

Camera - that isn't on my list, but it is certainly coming along. My Digital SLR is comign along, that's an additional 4lb weight cost - but I am willing to sacrifice that. My first trip to the canon was without my 35mm and only my cheap point and shoot - I was NOT happy with those pics. This trip, my digital slr w/ lenses is coming! (the point and shoot too, but one of the boys can carry that).

As for bowls/plate stuff - as I think about it, if I use those steam bag freezer bags for cooking - we could essentially eat out of those and save the need of the dishes. Good point! Thanks,

Theory: Water held in reservoir in pack as needed (and only filled to the point needed to get from water source to water source so in some cases, maybe only 2 liters). 1 bottle filled and held as emergency reserve on 2 of the days when we do have longer distances between water sources and the temps could run 100+. This is a safety measure. Bottle #2 is for electrolite suppliments. I do not like putting additives (other than water purification tabs) into the camelpaks, as we won't have means to clean them. So, the plan is, you take water from the reservoir and fill your water bottle, add an electrolite suppliment and drink from that. Also, by filling and carrying the one bottle it will encourage water intake and refrain from over intake from "hose in mouth"


Theory: I don't mind the sportsbra/undies thing - but... we have two 15yr old boys on the trip who probably would rather not see their mom's in their skivies. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Honestly, for me, personally - unfortunately, I don't "need" a sports bra, so I could simply wear my bathingsuit the entire trip in lue of skivies. The other mom, is a different story and needs the support. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Theory: 1 pot that can boil water in is all we are planning to bring. All we really need to do is boil water for the meals for all 6 of us. Something that can hold 1lt of water is all we probably need.


Planned on the small hand towel/pack towel. Possibly even share a couple of them. I don't mind sharing with my husband.


Geek toy - don't leave home without it. I've got my garmen forerunner 201 wristmount. Its more of a techno geek statistic thing for me. Goes along with my HRM that will also come with me, the digital SLR and lenses, but I didn't add to this list. Contemplated the sat phone, but decided to withhold that.


As I think more about this - we could simply eat out of the freezer bags once the meals are hydrated saving the need for bowl/dish.

cruzenbye:

I have no doubt that you know what you're doing. Why? Cause of you said you're bringing gloves to prevent sunburn.

We got back from a bp trip a few weeks ago and my wife burnt her hands so bad -- sans gloves -- that they actually blistered. She used her hiking poles, and that exposes the tops of your hands directly to the sun. I think they'd otherwise not burn (as bad) if they were at your side while walking. She's definitely bringing gloves next trip.

If you're doing the North Rim down the North Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch, you do know that after a couple miles you're walking next to the stream (Roaring Springs that turns into Bright Angel Creek) that is the extra or "overflow" from the water source for ALL of the tourist spots on the South Rim?

We were shocked to be hiking next to so much fresh, clean, clear water -- that we filtered anyway. Plus you've got water sources at the camp spots on the Bright Angel trail climbing out to the South Rim, too, so no need to hoard water, letting you lighten your load.

Sounds like a great trip!

We are actually going the opposite direction, so that stretch from Roaring springs to the NR is probably our longest stretch without a water source. It is also on the 3rd day of our trip, (tired), and likely the steepest uphill grade.

If.. we find the temps aren't that bad and we don't need to fill the reservoirs full, then we certainly won't hoard water. But I'd rather be safe, than sorry. Ya know. Boyscout code - "always be prepared"...