Suggested Gear for "Treks." Although nobody in the 18th-19th century American Frontier used the term "trek," it is widely used today.    One trapper journal used the term "jaunt" to described a trip on foot!

Suggested Trekking             Pack List Foundations: Packframe Light canvas 8x8 ft. tarp Pack ropes, 4-5 4 pt blanket Kitchen: Tin boiler with lid-P Tin cup Fry pan with folding handle-P Tin spoon-P Salt container-P Small pot chain-P Food (each bagged): Coffee-P Sugar-P Salt pork or slab bacon-P Dried meat-P Hardtack or pilot bread-P Flour or cornmeal for bread-P Dried fruit or berries-P Flask of Rum-P Sack for all food bags-P Essentials: Rifle or Trade Gun Powder horn and bullet pouch Knife and sheath Haversack Fire kit -H Belt axe Canteen (H)= carried in haversack (P)= carried in main pack (*)= not period but necessary Clothing: Stout cotton shirt Leather belt Breeches Leggings with waist strap Black silk scarf Broad brimmed hat Wool hood-P Buckskin jacket or wool frock Heavy moccasins Wool socks Light breech cloth-P Extras: Strong cord-H Bundle of leather whangs-H Candles, 3 small-P Sewing kit-H Small clasp knife-H Pipe and tobacco bag-H Burning glass-H Bandages and medicines-H Small cake of soap-P Toothbrush and tin of powder-P Water purifier tablets-H* Bandanna-H In COLD WEATHER consider: Add light wool matchcoat or capote Substitute wool leggings for leather ones Add blanket mittens Add long underwear Add spare wool socks Substitute winter moccasins Substitute wool shirt Add wood snow paddle if necessary

Steve Hill (L) uses a horseshoe roll, while others use simple wood packframes on a trek through the Lakes Basin of the Sierra.

Western trappers almost never traveled on foot, unless forced to by bad luck.  Today, wlaking is our most common way of traveling in wilderness.  Although packframes and knapsacks were likely rare originally, they are essentials today.

Knapsack on left, and a basic haversack seen at the right.

The list shown is only a suggestion, to start building a suitable kit.  With time and experience, many will carry far less.