Nice to take along items, or
"You want to take WHAT?!"
(there's a reason that's in pink)
Different strokes for different folks. What one considers essential, another may consider a luxury. My rule-of-thumb for deciding which is which, is based on our ministry to boys. Although a backpacking trip is not the same as camping in the backyard, or going to a Pow-Wow, helping the young men decide what to take can be the key to their enjoyment, and opportunities to minister to them.
  • Inflatable mat or mattress (you usually can find some compact foam or blow-up mats in specialty stores)
  • Folding chair
  • Portable, outdoor shower (the kind you fill with water, put in the sun to warm, hang it up and shower away)
  • Candle lantern (can get oil reservoir insert) or small Coleman (or similar) gas lantern (great for helping to heat your tent when it gets really cold)
  • Your own personal tent
  • Hammock (light weight)
  • Camera with extra film, or digital camera (memories!)
  • Binoculars
  • Fishing gear (don't forget something to clean the fish with, although a spoon does nicely for cleaning scales off)
  • Hatchet (only if you have a Cut & Chop card) and file
  • Two-way radios (FM types may experience problems in mountainous areas since FM is line-of-sight, and the signal does not go through mountains)
  • Tape or CD player (why would you wanna do that, just listen to God's creation and relax!)
  • Tape recorder
  • Camcorder
  • TV (get real!)
  • Spare batteries for the previous-items-you-shouldn't-take-anyway
  • Celphone
  • Beeper (probably not a good idea, I don't recall seeing any pay phones along the trail, and besides, you can't eat it, it won't keep you warm or dry, and you could hold a couple of extra candy bars in its place)

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Nice-to-have List

Backpacks

Clothes to Wear and Take

Food

Stoves

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Water Purification

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