Equipment Needed

Some of you will already have a lot of the gear needed for two months in the woods. Some of you won't. We've put together our two-cents on the issue (as well as our experience) so that you can cut costs. You can take this information for what it's worth or you can ignore it.

Buying gear needs to be planned since it can be expensive. You can limit your costs by checking around for sales on quality products. When you do, realize that the equipment will be used for eight weeks straight, and needs to stand up to field conditions for the duration. Buying two cheap items is not as cost effective as buying one good-quality item. (Note: the top-of-the-line gear is probably over-kill) Borrowing gear is a good way to keep costs down. I suggest you consider, though, what you're borrowing and the cost of replacing it upon return. REI catalog/store (Atlanta) and Campmor catalogs are good places to look for quality products at competitive prices. Smaller outlets are convenient but don't offer the selection and bargains of the larger stores. The items listed below come highly recommended. You may add or subtract as you feel necessary. I need to point out that each student is allowed only two large duffel style bags (no frame packs allowed) and everything must fit in them. Some of the equipment can be found at bargain stores, so keep that in mind when you find out that L.L. Bean is having a 3% off sale on batteries. You might also want to check out an Army surplus store (especially for duffle bags, but get the ones with zippers rather than the top-loading kind). Finally, get everything before the trip starts.

The longest we will go without laundry facilities or shower facilities is approximately 5 days, so plan accordingly. Remember, the more gear you bring, the more you have to haul around at camp and you must be able to carry your gear by yourself! We experience temperatures from 25^oF to 125^oF so be prepared for both. I'm not telling you exactly what to buy or bring, but the following is a safe guideline. Do not wait until the night before to pack this stuff up. If you're late for our departure, your gear will be left behind. (Sorry, it's one of our little "pet-peeves".)

Camping Equipment - Required

• Sturdy tent and stuff sack - It is recommended that you purchase at least a medium quality 2-person tent with a sturdy and waterproof rain fly. In the past, the cheap tents are the first ones shredded in the occasional storms which can bring some serious winds. Also, with proper care, quality tents will last a long time past this trip. At the same time, realize that we aren't backpacking or going into the tundra of the Northern Territories. Also, seam sealer is a good idea!!

• Ground cloth - thin plastic can be bought cheaply in the paint departments of Wal-mart, K-mart, etc. Cut it just smaller than the floor dimensions of your tent, because tarps that extend beyond the edges of your tent fly will create a pool of water under your tent! Practice setting up your tent (as if expecting a big storm with sideways rain and 40 mph winds), with all the pieces, before we leave.

• Sleeping bag and stuff sack - Many people are happy with 0-20^o F bags. If yours doesn't have a rating, be sure that it seems heavy enough to withstand the colder nights. They will need to be machine washable (that is, if you want to wash it) so synthetic filler is recommended. A light sheet is great for the Southern nights when it doesn't get below 80^o F and the humidity is 99%.

• Sleeping pad - The foam pads start at $20.00 and go to $100.00 but, back surgery starts at $3000.00 - 'nuf said'. Inflatable pads like the Therm-a-rest are very comfortable.

• Flashlight or Headlamp - Very important for the midnight dashes to the camper's comfort station, the early morning wake-up calls, and avoiding tent guide wires. Headlamps are hands free and convenient. Mini Mag-lites are bright and you can buy a headband for them that turns them into a headlamp. Might want to bring two, one in your day pack and one in your duffle.

• Pocket knife - Good for camping and required for field sample ID. Don't ask to borrow mine, they tend to get lost easily.

• Mess-kit - Included should be a plate, bowl, utensils and a durable cup/mug. Plastic does not transmit the heat to your hands as much as aluminum does.

• First-aid kits - Keep a kit or Tupperware box in your duffel bags and carry a small sampling with you in your day pack. Your kit should include the usual: Band-Aids, gauze, tape, antibacterial soap and ointment, ace bandages, mole skin, and aspirins. Also include emergency supplies of personal medications. If you're allergic to bee stings, get your doctor to give you an emergency bee sting kit and to show you how to use it. Take some precautions against motion sickness if you are affected by it. We will cover 13,000 to 14,000 miles and some of the roads are quite curvy. Give some serious thought to your first-aid kit. It may be hard to find what you need or want “right now” while on the road. Remember, Mom won’t be there to do it for you!

• Day pack - High volume book bags are fine, but have a good one as they will take a beating pretty much every day. Waist belts help carry the load on hikes.

• Sitting lawn chair - These are necessary for lectures, sitting at study tables, dinner, and relaxing in camp. This is an item to label, or I'll be sitting in it.

• Emergency whistle - Put it on a necklace and wear it.

• Laundry detergent - POWDER ONLY !!!! (Bio-degradable recommended)

School Equipment - Required

• Video i-POD (check with staff for current memory requirements)

• Protractor - Used for mapping project

• Small calculator - Don't bring an expensive HP mini-computer.

• Colored pencils - A small set will do, nicely.

• 1 Hard cover notebook - 3-ring binder style is the best.

• Paper - 200 sheets of notebook paper and 25 sheets of graph paper.

• Pencils and Pens - duh

• Textbooks - A list will be provided before departure.

• Rand McNally Road Atlas - Made in standard notebook size so you can keep track of where you are.

Provided by the program:

• 2 Field Notebooks

• 10X magnifying lens

• Rock Hammer

Clothing - Required

• Hiking Shoes - A supportive hiking shoe is required. Obviously, boots work nicely, but "approach" shoes are also quite versatile. I prefer leather boots. They keep your feet dry and keep cactus spines out. You absolutely must break-in your shoes long before the trip begins. This means wearing them everyday for at least a month before we depart.

• Other Footwear - You'll certainly need something other than your hiking shoes. Chacos or Teva sandals are really nice for tourist walks and in the van, but closed-toed walking/tennis shoes are better for short hikes in sand and gravel, and they keep bugs from biting your toes! Note: You will definitely want to bring some cheap, throw-away shoes for our salt marsh hike the first week, at Sapelo. I'm bringing an old pair of tennis shoes.

• Socks - 8 pairs of hiking/regular socks will work nicely. One or two pairs of polypropylene liner socks or knee-high nylon stockings (the US Army recommends these) help prevent blisters when wearing boots.

• Shorts - 3 to 4 pairs should do it. Some of the nylon ones with the zip-off legs can serve as both shorts and pants…

• Pants - 2 to 3 pairs will do, depending on how much you really like pants. They do help keep off the bugs if you don’t like dripping with DEET, and a lightweight pair can be cooler than a thick coat of sunscreen. Remember, it will be cold in the northwest, so bring at least one heavy-weight pair!

• Regular Underwear - If you wear any.

• Long Underwear - believe it or not, we will need these.

• T-shirts – duh, but you can buy souvenirs as we go.

• Long sleeved shirt(s), at least one for protection from the sun, one for warmth.

• Gloves - for warmth, and work (on Mt. St. Helens).

• Sweatshirts/Sweaters - Fleece is lightweight and warm.

• Rain gear - It has rained on us for 6-7 days straight, in a wet year. Need I say more? Rain jackets also double as wind-breakers (i.e. for the Mt. St. Helens hike). Gore-Tex seems to work nicely but, it is expensive. The choice is yours. Remember, if it's raining cats and dogs and we need to get up and pack and move on to the next site, we do it. The $3 plastic ones won’t survive long.

• Wide brimmed hat - Great shade for your face, neck, and shoulders. You will make a mistake by not bringing some kind of hat! Prevent sunstroke!

• Wrist watch – you will need to keep track of the time so you won’t “miss the bus”.

Miscellaneous - Required

• 2 or 3 one-liter bottles - Wide brimmed bottles allow you to put ice in them. You will find that the more water and Gatorade you carry during desert field work, the happier you'll be. Label them or another camper will acquire them. These are a dire necessity in Death Valley and The Grand Canyon. I prefer the Nalgene bottles.

• Durable lunch sack so we don’t waste paper and plastic (this is an Ecology trip).

• Sun glasses - Protect your retina and get 100% UV protection, at least.

• Sunscreen - Don't worry, you'll get a tan even with sun block 15. Make it stronger, depending on your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Remember, a lot of this trip is a much higher elevation than Georgia!

• Alarm clock - you'll see a lot of sunrises this summer (I promise).

• Towels

• Health Insurance card

• Drivers license or passport.

Camping Equipment - Recommended

• Toiletries - You know what you need. You might add lotion, lip balm, and wet wipes. Do not use glass containers. Screw-on caps work best (i.e., bottles are less likely to explode in your bag as we change elevation). We will be stopping to shop about once a week, so travel-size works well (and makes less mess if it breaks). Putting them in a Rubbermaid or Tupperware container helps protect them, and the other gear in your duffle bag.

• Medications, for colds and/or allergies: decongestants, antihistamines, Pepto Bismol, Imodium, etc. We can buy them when we stop to shop, but that may be a day or so after you wish you had them on hand.

• Blanket - You will appreciate having a thin sheet when we're in the Southwest.

• Laundry Bag - Makes life easier.

• Mirror - It's best if you bring one that isn't glass.

• Rope/Twine - You may need some.

• Plastic Bags - I find that this is the ideal way to keep stuff dry, within my bag.

• Rip Stop Tape (a.k.a. - Duct Tape) - The name says it all.

• Sewing Kit - These are real handy and don't have to be elaborate at all.

Clothing - Recommended

• Spare eyewear - extra contacts, glasses (because dust and contacts are a bad combination)

• Short gaiters - nice for keeping dirt or ash (Mt. St. Helen's hike) out of your boots.

• Warm hat - These really help retain body heat.

• Bandannas - Great all-purpose headband, etc.

• Swim suit - There are lots of opportunities for relaxing in the pool/river/lake/ocean.

• Jewelry - You must be very careful with what you're bringing. Minimize! We’re not going to any fancy parties.

Miscellaneous - Recommended

• Pillow - duh.

• Insect repellent –DO NOT get 100% DEET, it will melt plastic (really!). Get the 25-30% DEET and you should be safe from mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers.

• Camera - You won't want to miss the shots at the places we're going. Also, you'd be surprised at the amount of animal life we get to see.

• Walkman/iPOD - Don't bring any other kind of radio. Boomboxes are not allowed. Headphones are required.

• Quarters - You will need many of them for laundry, showers, etc.

• Batteries - duh

• Stamps and envelopes - You may want to keep in touch with family, friend, etc.

• Vitamins -Good to have: you may want to discuss this with your physician. Some extra iron helps with altitude acclimatization, some vitamin C may help fend off colds.

• Journal - This is a great way to remember your trip.

• Recreational Stuff - plan on bringing something like a soccer ball, frisbee, etc... Remember, though, that you have to keep up with anything (in your bags) all summer. Musical instruments are OK, but please let us know if you are going bring a guitar. Things get banged around, so don't bring your finest. Sorry.... No Bikes.

• Binoculars - The smaller they are, the easier to manage.

• Compass - A simple one works.

• Extras - General extras of anything you might need, like shoe laces!

• Shower shoes (i.e., cheap flip-flops)

O.K., you have a job to do. Remember, this is not a comprehensive list. I suggest you really think about what you might need and plan accordingly. It's not fun buying gear on the road. Please be ready with questions when we get together for the pre-trip picnic, or e-mail us for more information.

Two final recommendations....(1) Set up your tent, even if you have used it before. Be sure you know how to do it quickly (in case of rain), and that you have all of the pieces. (2) Once you have packed all your items, take them outside. Next, pick them up and carry them around the house two times. Upon your return, think.... " do I really need all the things I'm taking?".

Sincerely,

Nikki Elkins and Sandy Whitney

Check out the web sites (call for free catalogs)
REI 1-800-426-4840 | Campmor 1-800-526-4784 | LL Bean 1-800-221-4221 | Land's End 1-800-356-4444 | Sierra Trading Post 1-702-355-3355