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A Short List of Essentials, Planning, and Preparation for
Wilderness and Town Packing and Travel
Anil Mitra 1980—2025
home | list of places | forty places, worldwide | trip preparation—nutrition and weights (excel) | map and compass | knots | wilderness medicine
long list of travel documents
Contents
Planning | The essentials | Town | Backcountry | Local
Planning,
preparation, recording – for quick planning: shade/check
essentials
1. Meta c review this, systems, places, journals for need-adequacy; allow redundancy c reasons special places nature-wildlife-spirit, culture-world-immersion,
portal-to-the-ultimate—disengage-ego c kind
experiential, pack, camp, living, travel, tryout, early season,
minimal-attitudinal change, expedition – month (or more) immersion / in a cabin,
retreat, nature (beyul) or vision quest c group-invite-solo
c activities physical, social, sharing c projects physical, health, psychological,
spiritual, discovery, photo essays, essays, work.
2. Documents
c guides / apps for travel / wilderness
c get sunrise and sunset times (1st
/ last light: 1 hr) c print
twb c travel docs passport, visas,
permits (wilderness, fire…), tickets-passes, insurance / cards, driver’s
license, ID c cash
credit cards (notify bank), blank checks c social contacts c booking travel (ride; hta, trinity-transit, bus times), motels…, local storage
Itinerary c backcountry-town plan, dates – vs open (per
weather…) c travel
conditions weather and hazards, road-air-forest (alertness,
trail info-usfs: closures, water, fire, snow, wildlife)
c day plan first review, dedicate, b’fast,
adl’s (now or later: wash clothes) day new camp v day hike, beyul, ext
meditation-hiking, nature observation-photography, rest – swim, ideas,
reflection, writing pm meditate on-review issues, dinner, cleanup,
prep for next day—regular or pulling up camp.
3. Personal
preparation c physical yoga, flex, strength,
weight bearing, endurance, skills-local hikes, climbs health, diet,
weight medical check-up, vaccinations, docs c culture awareness, languages c attitude review, meditate c body hair- nails-teeth-feet.
4. Gear
and supplies – preparation and
return c plan
(books, internet, stores), minimize base pack weight, food, fuel c group plan confirm invitations c essentials expt, test, check, repair, launder, acquire,
buy, and prepack (top, clothes, tent, sleeping bag, ground insulation, H2O bag, water proofing c efficiency minimize, organize
modules; heavy gear-center, freq used-top c final prep, packing for travel clothes, laundry, documents,
keys, reading glasses, cash, and tickets; charge batteries and chargers; get perishables c analyze re/weigh
c return clean, repair, replace, buy, replenish;
write, place, upload notes; edit, upload photos; trip review for life, TWB, plan and work on next trips
now; bin for things not used on the trip.
The essentials
– with options; may ¯ on
short trips (for details, see gear, supplies, and health)
(arranged by module, adapted from REI’S ten essentials)
1. Pack,
pouches, duffel, cases…
bear cannister, H2O containers, sacks, w’proof liners, straps,
daypack, trekking poles, trowel.
2. Pack
top (mostly) c info, comms c paper pen, notes-projects,
manuals – paper/phone, reading, glasses c watch c phone,
camera, spare memory card c
computer, USB drive (docs, p-words, contacts) c batteries, spares, chargers, cables c phrase book / phone c navigation
c maps-compass-apps c binoculars c altimeter-GPS-locator beacon c headlamp, batteries, spares c tools c knife, can-bottle opener, needle-nose pliers c toilet razor, mirror,
toothpaste-brush, comb, towel, nail clippers.
3. Small
items sack c first aid & kit c meds tubes/pkts (bp, allergy, cortisone,
antibiotic, antifungal, anbesol, insect repel, SPF 50, Chapstick,H2O purifier/filter, salt tabs) c repair (general, duct tape, sewing,
tent, stove) c rope c garbage and spare w’proof liners.
4. Food & prep c stove, spare parts c fuel c lighters,
matches, optional tinder c
filters c cookware c utensils c principles
balance protein-carb-sugar-fat expt with
alt foods – esp for camping, variety, quick or no prep ideas check stored
food for freshness c Food
and meds plan – see gear, supplies, and health c Quick minimal food plan one week, 4d @2,000 cal 3d @43000 cal) c = cup, pkt = packet c breakfast dairy / 2 pkt milkman, coffee 10 oz, 7 teas bags, 3 pkt Kool-Aid,
granola 24 oz, vitamins-meds for short trips (7 glucosamine, 14
multivitamins, 8 days of bp meds, emergency meds) c lunch and trail sesame
sticks-nuts 26 oz each, dried fruit 12 oz] c supper cheese, instant rice and beans 16 oz each-may sub
some ramen, broths 7 pkts, spices and salt std 3oz collection, fresh
onion-garlic-jalapeno, lime, olive oil 2 oz, jerky 3 or 7 oz, 7 fruit bar or
substitute s 8.4 oz] c water
per day 3 us qt + 1 qt
every five miles, more and salt tabs in warmer weather.
5. Shelter c tent, tarp, or
bivy c sleeping bag or quilt c ground pad (sleep and sitting) c knots c animal protection.
6. Clothes,
spares, layers c feet (sox, shoes-insoles / sandals [only]) c legs c torso (belt) c
hands (gloves) c head (cap,
hat – shade, warm, bandanas – one or two, facenet) c grunge designated clothes places c wilderness c
town, camping (dress clothes, clothes hangers, sleepwear, swim trunks) c special conditions rain, snow, ice, heat, cold, x-country,
insect, UV clothes-glasses.
7. Readiness
modules (not always
taken) c optional to reduce weight c camping c spares: clothing and other
supplies.
Arrive Unpack, local papers n Fire, wilderness permits n Moisturizer, soap, mouthwash, oil,
fragrance n n Priorities, activities also see packing: friends n Hikes with, without weight—simulate backpacking—Weaverville
Basin; consider Boulder Lakes, Lake Eleanor, and Swift Creek Falls n Practice skills, e.g., tarp pitching,
cross country hiking n Meditate, XT
meditation | think about my life, the way, and the big changes n Places to live, storage n Prep feet for hike n Look for rides to the wilderness n When to mail town items home n The Way of Being.
Weaverville activities, restaurants, hikes,
places to stay, etc Jake Jackson Museum 780 Main 530 623 5211 n JC—Chagdud Gonpa—call? 530 623 2714 n Joss House 530 623 5284 n Movies—Trinity Theatre 530 623 5135
Other entertainment from paper and ads n OldTown Station 419 Main “Gift Shop” n Olson Stoneware 516 Main 530 623 4718 n Asian Taste 401 Main—530 623 5370 n Café on main 530 623 1951 n Papa Dogs—530 623 3690, MTW 6 – 9, Th F
S 6 – 10, Sun 8 – 9 n Holiday
grocery store, South end of town n Mama Llama Eatery and Café—530 623 6363 n Nugget—530 623 6749, 6 AM – 9 PM n Raliberto’s 530 623 3111 n Trinity County Brewing Company 530 623
4114 n AhHome chocolates—1260 Main (was Suzie’s)
11 AM – 4 PM Sundays n Tangle Blue
Saloon 160 Nugget Ln (E. End of town) 530 623 4436 n Trinideli—530 623 5856 | With Tangle
Blue—530 623 4436 n Trinity Alps
Golf Course Restaurant and Lounge 530 623 6209 n Up North Confectionary, 480 Main, 530 777 8140 n Weaverville Hotel and Emporium, 481
Main, 530 324 2039 Weaverville basin trails Weaver Basin Trail
Committee; Trinity County Resource Conservation District Office; PO Box 1450;
Weaverville, CA 96093; www,tcrcd.net Close by camping Bigfoot
Campground, 39810 Hwy 299 W; Junction City, CA 96048; Phone (800)
422-5219, Business website bigfootrvcabins.com n Junction City Campground Creek Campground 1.5 mi west of
JC Store, BLM, 530 224 2100, First come first served, Self-pay – drop box -
$10 a Night n n n Willow Creek
activities, restaurants, hikes, places to stay, etc Willow Creek China
Flat museum—530 629-2653 n
Espresso and more—530 629-4193 n Ray’s food place—530 629-2457 n River Song Natural foods—530 629-3148 n Gonzales Mexican Restaurant—530 629-3151
n Bigfoot Steakhouse—530 739-2614 n Earlybird home of the Bigfoot burger 1.5
mi east of W Creek—530 629-4431 n Bigfoot Motel—530 629-2142 n Coho Cottages—$$$—530 629-4000 n Forks lounge—530 629-2679 n Osprey coffee shop Local trails find, especially climbs
Places to camp close—East Fork Campground 5.6 mi W of Willow Creek n Boise Creek Campground 1.7 mi W
of Willow Creek, Six Rivers National Forest; 1330 Bayshore Way; Eureka, CA
95501, (707) 442-1721.
Plan for Backcountry [sunrise-set: 9/4=6:42-7:37 |
9/20=6:59-7:07 | 10/08=7:20-6:46] packing—generic and particular
(may combine with town planning)
Projects Hiking and trail hiking rhythm, day hikes and rest days, awareness, trail finding, use of compass
and maps, reading topo maps, cross country, direction awareness, developing
balance and endurance, trail sense; terrain-weather-animal-plant recognition
and ways; fire-building; survival n Photography and photo-essays for nature,
narrative, for the way of being n Experiential and yoga experience of pure being, extended
meditation – presence – immersion – and mega-hiking, Beyul, being the
universe, nature-wildlife as real n The Way of Being – review, reflection, how to present-share,
world problems-challenges, getting an editor and publicist n Review of and action on my life “zero”,
demons, $$-place-share-express (no trivia), travel-immerse-act, x-health-discipline,
meaning, my projects n n Canyon Creek Road and side trails (W = water; L, R = left,
right on the way in): 1 mi camp (W, L) > 2 mi Powerhouse Rd (W, L) > 3,1 mi steep access (W, L) > 4.1 mi flat spot (L) > 4.3 mi flat spot (L) > 4.5 mi flat, road to (W, L) > 6.1 mi flat, road to (W, L) > 8.0 mi flat, road to (W, L) > 8.8 mi CC bridge, flat, suitable for a
night (W, R) > 9.5
mi, long trail to CC > 10
mi Grasshopperflat Road > 10 mi+ 2nd last one lane bridge > 10.5 mi, trail to East Fork Lake > 11 mi end of county road ® last dwelling on left > 11 mi+ Dedrick plaque > 11 mi+ Last one lane road > 12 mi Ripstein Campground (Forest
Service) and BLM area just south of Ripstein > 13 mi+ Canyon, Boulder, and Bear Ck (to
Alpine Lake and Stuart Fork trails) trailheads n Other trails from Canyon Creek Bear Creek to Alpine Lade to Stuart fork to Mirror Lake
(Smith, Morris lake as side hikes) East Fork Lakes trail from Canyon Creek
Road (10.5-mile point) n Trinity
Alps Trails Stuart Fork,
Long Canyon, Hobo Gulch, Weaver Bally to East Weaver Lake Some hikes hiking projects, e.g., four lakes loop,
canyon creek to papoose lake, long canyon, canyon creek lakes to el lake, east fork lakes trail, east weaver
creek trail to east weaver lake; explore the northern trails off Highway 3 n Nearby Redwood National Park.
Some
mostly Local trips—town, day hikes, packing, and
places to live
This is about places to camp and hike on
short notice, especially when prime places are closed (e.g., due to fires). Overlap
with other sections is currently intended n n n Places now RNP, Trinities – monthlong trips n look into bike-packing n Big
French Creek to Long
Canyon and Four lakes n n n World local, California, us, Mexico, world –
study and eval trips n Example – Guyana-living; fare $460-consulate n n n Local Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity n n n Willow
Creek and area n Hikes And Climbs; Places To Live n Boise Creek
Campground, 1.7 mi W of Willow Creek n East Fork Campground 5.6 mi W of Willow
Creek n n n Crescent
City n Buses – Greyhound, Arcata, 707 825 8934 (Redwood Coast
Transit 707 464 6400); m-s $4.00 Arcata > CC 11:13 am (Eureka Transit 3rd
and H, 10:58 am), CC > Arcata 7:30 am, 3:00 pm n booking.com motels in crescent city n Taxis in Crescent City –coastal cab 707 458 5708 |
Del Norte taxi 707 464 6030 | comfort cab 707 218 7979 | abc cab 707 464 6506 n Trails around
Crescent City city–Boyscout
trail, Howland Hill Road East, ~ 5 mi | stout grove | Howland Hill Road, ~ 7
mi n Ocean View Inn 707 465 1111 $90, 3
blocks from bus stop at cultural center n Search restaurants n n n Weaverville and area n Hikes and
climbs; places to live n n n Eureka,
Arcata, Humboldt, and area
n Hikes and climbs; places to live n n n Redwood National Park n look into
rides and bus n 707 464 6101 map a trip; get (call for)
for info “bridges” “flows” “roads” “climbs”; get permits online or at reserve
California, 800 444 7275 n n n King
Range and Lost Coast n 707 986 5400, BLM Arcata 707 825 2300 | Sinkyone wilderness –
visitor center 707 247 3318 n n n Some
random places n San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile
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