Need Some Advice on the Packing List- Trial Run Next Weekend

[high country]

You need to figure out how far your water stops are and have enough reserve to make them, any more is a waste. Once you finish your second mtn house, the used containers make perfect water bladders for camp. Thorlo socks will treat your feet very well, worth the $20

[halflife65]

Noticed you had two water filters - get rid of one.

If you are camping next to a lake you probably have too many water containers.  Take a 100oz water bladder and carry and empty water bottle up with you - like a large (one of the big ones) water you can buy at a convenience market.  (Or just take the collapsible 2.5 gallon thing.  I like the water bottle though because my bladder popped on day 1 of an 8 day trip last year so I used the water bottle for everything.)  Since you're going to camp next to water you don't need to carry it up full.  Fill it up each night after you eat and then just leave it in camp if you're going on day hunts from there.  Take one filter and aquamira or iodine tablets as backup.

Unless you plan on cutting off the skull plate after you cape an elk, leave the machete/saw (if you do plan on cutting it off then it's a good reason to bring).  Just bone out the elk and don't carry ANY extra weight.

8 - 10 pairs of socks is a lot.  I would take 3 - and be wearing one of them.  That way you have the pair on your feet, the pair that you just took off and are airing out and the pair that's been aired out.  Wear high quality pants that dry quickly and don't bring any extra.  If you get real wet just put your raingear on over your UA and let your pants dry out. Bring one extra UA shirt if you'd like.

I'd add a stocking hat.  6200' is high and you'll freeze your butt off in the morning if you're sitting around glassing before you start moving around.  A warm noggin' is the easiest way to keep the rest of you warm.

I don't figure I'm going to be stitching anything up but I did start to carry some of that blood clot stuff.  Also, make sure that you have a mirror on your compass you can use to get the fir needle out of your eye when it decides to jump in there.

I use Patagonia boxers and don't worry about any extra.  Sure, it's gross but think of it as extra incentive for your lonely hunting partner to stay away from you.  They dry super fast, you could always give them a dip in the lake and go commando for awhile. 

I see you have foot powder.  Replace it with Goldbond so you can use it on your undercarriage, too.  Chafing sucks.

Put your oatmeal in heavy duty freezer ziplocks and just dump the water in there.  That way you aren't dirtying a dish.

I wouldn't worry about fishing.  You have more important stuff to do.  Like kill an elk.

I'd consider not painting my face because it'll be awhile before you can adequetely get it off if you paint up on day one.

[high country]

I can't believe I missed the stocking cap. Wear it while you sleep. I am a big fan of gatorade bottles as they are easy to fill cheap to buy and I can burn it before I leave.

[halflife65]

I didn't mention some of the stuff other people already had:
Don't need the scent killer or cow estrus.  You're going to stink after the walk in - just play the wind.
Take 1 pack.  Hopefully you can collapse it enough to use as a day pack.  Plus you can get your first load of meat to camp (or to where a horse can access.)
Tree steps (?)
Just remember, every ounce counts. 

If you get blisters or hot spots, consider wearing a lightweight silk-type sock under your heavier socks.  That helps a bunch.  And they dry fast so if you have to bring any extra it's just one pair so you can swap back and forth each day.

You might consider trekking poles for the walk in or out or when your are packing meat.  That's kind of optional but I got a pair and they're nice.  You can use to assist in your tarp setup, too, although that's certainly not absolutely necessary.

[Karl Blanchard]

a few things I have learned is plan your meals.  in a gallon ziplock place everything you are going to eat in a day. keeps things organized and ensures you are getting the proper calories.  My food averages 1 1/2 pounds a day.  another little trick is take all your mountain house out of their bags and put them in a ziplock and tape them tight.  This will compress their size to about half.  Keep one in a bag and just re-use that one bag all week. Lasagna mountain house cheese globs to a fork like concrete,  it is good but best left at home.  throw in some top a ramen for lunch, it is light and 2 cups of water in a mountain house bag for ten minutes and you have hot soup instead of a protein bar and fruit leather for lunch .  last but not least............TYLENOL P.M.!!!!!!!!!  single handedly the most important thing in your pack.  Also I second leaving the saw at home just debone, ditch all the clothes and as far as the knife goes I prefer a solid fixed blade knife, takes up a little more room but you can do anything with a fixed blade knife even chop down a tree (a small one).  Good luck and have fun!

[jechicdr]

Dr. Scholls makes some socks-blister gaurd crew socks (available at Fred Meyer and Kohl's) that work really well.  Have some sort of anti friction material.  I used them last year and liked them much better than the expensive "hiking" socks I bought at Cabelas.

[fair-chase]

If you get blisters or hot spots, consider wearing a lightweight silk-type sock under your heavier socks.  That helps a bunch.  And they dry fast so if you have to bring any extra it's just one pair so you can swap back and forth each day.

  Another alternative is pantyhose. Cheap, lightweight, silk, and disposable. Don't ask me how I know and whatever you do do not get the full length ones. You may be searching for another hunting partner if you go that route. 

[akirkland]

I think you have too much stuff. Pull 5 things off your list that are not must haves. After that pull 5 more things you can live without. We tend to pack everything we have plus the kitchen sink. Its not all needed. ICEMAN had a few thing to consider. A friend of mine hunts the backwoods. He is in pretty good shape and his pack is about 30 pounds. I think your will be quite a bit more. You want to be comfortable. Plus, you need to practice shooting with your pack on. Shoot from all different angles and positions. Good luck!

[CAMPMEAT]

MOLESKIN.......................a must for blisters.

[unluckyjohn]

Take 4 sheets of black and white newspaper and find the room for house slipper type of shoe. the key is as soon as you get into camp each day/ night get out of your boots, put two sheets in each one. will make a difference.
  I liked having a real compass when I did the back country hunt to twin sisters last year. don't forget a small digital camera, well worth the weight.  I would stick with the mountain house meals for two (one person needs a 2 person serving after a hard day)
If I was going to do it again I would also add a emergency blanket to my day pack. (no weight/size)
the mistake I made last year was the weight. I felt great at home, after mile whatever I started thinking twice about what was in my pack.
     

[high country]

John, I use warm rocks instead of paper.

I would go on your trial run with next to nothing. Food fire water....and a list of stuff you miss. I keep a list of everything I do not use. If anything goes 2 trips without getting used it stays home....excluding emergency bag and meds.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've been up in the Pasayten, Goat Rocks, Mt. Rainier and the ocean backpacking. I never, ever took that much stuff with me. I took the basics, food, canteen of water (then fill at camp from creek), sleeping bag/tent, TP, extra (light) clothes, sleeping pad, small pillow, small flashlight, water purifier, candy to suck on for keeping my mouth wet, boots to wear hiking in, tennis shoes for wondering around, beef jerky, something to sit on. I could keep my pack at 60ish pounds. So if you wiegh 200#s + 60#s + 10#s ( gun )  you're at 270#s lugging all the crap 5-8 miles up hill, down hill. If you are excellent shape, then it will still be a pain in the butt. Think of it that way. Oh, we'd have 1 meal a day, dinner and that was it. The rest of the time we snacked just enough to keep us happy.

[high country]

I am 42# with water, food and ammo.

[halflife65]

If you want camp shoes, try Crocs.  They're really light and you can strap them to your feet to cross creeks, etc. if you need to.  They are rubber type material so you can hang them from the outside of your pack and they'll dry before you want to wear them around camp.

Making the list and knocking stuff off of it that doesn't get used is a really good idea.  I like the warm rock idea, high country.  Good thinking.

[colockumelk]

I second the special underwear.  I went and bought some boxer brief style underwear that is made of synthetic material.  THey are like $10-$15 a pair. Bought them at sportsmens or I'm sure Big 5 has them as well.  Worth the money.  I bring 2 pair.  THey weight next to nothing and since wearing them I have not had any chaffing at all.  Pre-Synthetic undies I wore cotton and chaffed every time I went out.  Last summer in the sweltering jungles of SE Alabama during SERE school I wore the same pair for a week and didnt' have any chaffing.  If I'd worn cotton I would have been medically dropped because I KNOW my chaffing would have been unbearable.