8-day elk camping trip: critique my packing list

[Matt G]

Just bring a clean hacksaw blade for your folding bowsaw. Double duty saves weight.

Have you actually studied the maps to see where you're going? Do you know the terrain? I made the mistake of assuming that I was going to be making long shots, the first time I went to Colorado, and most of my hunting was in black timber. Spent one VERY cold morning at a canyon mouth, but it got snowed out.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I recommend finding a tall building, and carrying the full pack up about 50 floors.

 

[Bwana John]

I think rwc is on the right track.
You got way too much stuff.
If you want all that stuff in camp I would suggest paying a packer to spot pack your gear in. Might also try to have him pack you out on a specific date with the meat.

I would suggest using Vern's list, AND arranging for a mule to pack out the meat.

 

[Bill2k1]

I would suggest .22 revolver with ammo (you can carry alot of it), if you get in a survival situation you can live along time with it.

 

[pete f]

not to give us a bad name, but did you think about some whiskey or brandy. not a lot, not talking about getting snookered, just a dollup in the coffee or Tang to make the bed a little softer? I always take some with. maybe 4 to 6 oz in a flask.

Also, video cam is good idea, but does yours take stills too? mine does, means you only need one, or you take still and he takes video....

first aid meds. I would ask your DR for an order of Tylenol 3, an order of vicodin, and a Z pac of azithromyicin. You get cut or sick and having some antibiotics and some pain pills will be wonderful. My brother stepped in a hole while canoeing in the BWCA and having a few days of pain pills made it possible for us to manage him despite a broken foot. the pain pills are there also for safety. you get hurt bad, pain pills can help offset shock and get you to where you can function.

hockey tape, you know the white stuff for taping ankles...allsorts of uses and cheap and light. also some mole skin or molefoam. both will make it possible to have fun despite a skin problem.

Tagaderm sheets. clear plastic wound protectors. i have some that are 9x9 or so. just two would allow me to dress most any wound. weigh nothing and can save your life.

food suggestions

powerade or gatorade powder. great stuff. makes purified water taste ok. also keeps you going better.

i would add few of those little dry soup-in-a-pouch sort of things, when you cook your rice, add a little more water and a packet of soup and you think you are eating a meal.

clothing.

I now go camping and canoeing and bring hardly anything non synthetic with anymore. no cotton, (just a bandana) no cotton, it gets wet smelly cold and after a few days in the bottom of a pack often moldy. the new fleeces and microfibers keep you warmer, dry faster, weigh less, do not rot, and feel better on you after a couple of days. Plus if you get them wet they will still keep you warm.

if you find water you can wash fleece by hand, swing it around your head and in a minute it is dry. get cotton wet on camping trip and you are wet for the rest of the week it seems. I personally also would pack some sort of flip flops or ultra light shoes. you get your boots wet you are going to want something else to wear around camp till you get them dry.

 

[Coltdriver]

I am packing my back pack this evening. I am going Elk hunting this weekend and am planning on four days max. First rifle season in the Colorado rockies.

I would say that for an 8 day hike in trip that you have a great list and I have taken a few pointers from it.

You can get a mosquito net for your head at wal mart for a dollar. There are not likely to be any bugs left by the time you go hunting but I hike a lot in the mountains and they are excellent for just keeping the breeze off of your face.

Will your tools allow you to tweak your scope if you need to?? I have two screwdrivers, a hex key and a torx key for that exact purpose.

I am also taking a pair of gators. You will sometimes find yourself in snow as you climb or descend and a pair of gators are great for keeping dry. If it is calm you may well have the experience of just hunting in a shirt or very light cover with something warmer available in your day pack.

My biggest problem in the mountains is that I have to pay attention to not working so hard that I break out in a sweat because then the chill is sure to follow. It can go from calm to extremely windy to calm inside of a few minutes in the mountains. It will also be windy at some point if not most of the late day so a wind breaker is good too. I am bringing a pair of leather mocassins along for camp shoes.

Good luck and let us know how you fare!