Hikers load up on supplies at Kennedy Meadows to head into the higher mountain passes. Once down the other side, unloading and re-packing again is common. CD was kind enough to record his supply list from his stop at Pooh Corner, Donner Summit, north of Lake Tahoe.
Here is the list!
Backpack: Granite Gear Ozone (please remember this was 2004). It weighed 3 lbs, as compared to the 2 lbs packs that most people carried. The weight was a trade off for having a frame and increased comfort.
Sleeping bag: EMS Mountain Light 20 degree bag, down. 2 lbs.
Bag liner: Coolmax, 9 oz. A 6-7 oz silk liner was more common among the group
Z-rest full length: Most hikers used 3/4 lengths but for the couple of extra ounces CD chose warm and comfortable feet
Evernew Titanium pot, 1.3 L: The trail standard in 2004
Stove
3 pair of socks: CD alternated between 2 different pair of bike socks while hiking and had a separate pair of camp socks. He insists on separate sleeping socks when we camp as well and it really is much better!
Wind shirt: Marmot DriClime
Rain jacket: Marmot PreCip
Convertible pants: Mountain Hardware. CD still has these. The shorts faded so much that when he puts the pieces together it looks like he is wearing shorts over different pants.
Tee shirt: Techwick
Hat: fleece
Gloves
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
AquaMira water treatment
Chapstick
Burt’s Bees Res-Q ointment
Picture of family
Permit
Safety Pins
Needle and thread: He had recently used to fix his pack after he fell off the trail while looking through his camera
Compass: CD said he never used it but felt it was important to have handy
Headlamp
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Spoon and fork: Apparently most people didn’t carry a fork but CD found it helpful for hard ice cream. Was this before the invention of the spork?
Tyvek: ground cloth, 5 oz
Tarp Tent: two person model. Floorless, ~2 lbs.
A Book: People’s History of the US, by Howard Zinn: broken into sections and mailed along in bounce boxes
Teachings of the Buddha, pocket guide
Trail Guide: broken into sections and mailed along but CD wrote that he often ended up with the wrong section. “I accidentally sent the Echo Resort to I-80 section to Pooh corner” … and so on.
Data book: The quick reference guide, broken into sections
Bug repellent. This was a new addition to the pack
Ursack Bear Bag: replaced bear canister at this point and was mainly for keeping out rodents. 9 oz.
Dromlite 6 liter water bag: overkill size wise here but was needed in the desert.
Nalgene: 16 oz. Mostly for dipping water and mixing drinks
Gauze, duct tape, hand trowel (for digging holes to use the restroom), hand sanitizer, ibuprofen.
Camp Sandals: 3 oz
Things that were left or replaced at this point on the trail:
Bear Canister (replaced with Ursack Bear Bag). Chaco sandals (they needed to be re-soled). Heavy long underwear. Ice axe. Crampons.
Rambling Footsteps 