Jenn's Big Summer Adventure: Part 15 - Packing

I just don't know how to successfully pack for multi-week, multi climate trips - I ended up sending home the sleep sack that I bought and buying a warmer sleep sack - and then even ended up sleeping indoors more than expected because I brought a bivy instead of a tent.

Packed up and leaving Ohio (2011-08-25)


Just a day out from Cleveland in Indiana (2011-08-26) - note: I'm actually wearing my Camelback, but discovered that it actually tired out my shoulders wearing it all the time over my jacket.



This is what it looked like in Wyoming (2011--09-01):



Wearing my new hi-vis jacket, above Prairie OR (2011-09-08):



This is just before getting home, in Lassen (2011-09-11):


On my way from California to Ohio, I realized that just trying to put the big stuff sacks on the back was not going to work - I wanted a waterproof duffel so that I wouldn't have to worry about stuffing things into smaller sacks. I attached it with a 6' motorcycle tiedown (double duty - in case I needed it for actually tying down the motorcycle) and a bungee through the handle on each side to the luggage rack.

I wasn't clever enough to take pictures of the contents - I am very impressed with the level of organization in some of these postings!

Basically it was like this:

Tank bag:

• bandanas x2
• headlamp
• maps
• phone
• gps
• Solio charger
• glasses/cases (I wear separate Rx glasses & sunglasses)
• sunblock (which I never used)
• hairbrush

Jacket pockets:

• phone
• camera
• wallet
• lip balm, antacid, bandana, tissues

Camelback backpack:

• 1.5 L water bladder
• a couple paperback books
• charger cables for phone & camera
• extra layer (or stuff in the jacket liner)

Cabela's waterproof duffel:

• North Face Bivy
• Sleeping bag
• very small hammock
• big agnes sleep pad
• Keen sandals inside (cheapie flip flops clipped to the outside)
• Clothing - probably took more than I should have but I didn't want to be doing laundry every two days!

Jandd cordura mountain bike panniers:

• toiletries
• towel
• swimsuit
• rain pants
• pack covers (for panniers & duffel - orange for visibility)
• food - lots of udon noodles & cubes of veggie stock, tea, miso, couscous, gravy packets, dried veggies, Bumble Bars
• spicewheel (from http://www.ratpak.com/)
• teeny stove & isopro fuel
• nesting pair of pans, bowl, insulated stainless steel cup
• Alite Monarch butterfly folding chair
• tool kit
• extra tube

I ended up making about 4 boxes back home to ship back tie downs, trinkets, gifts, broken glasses, sleeping bag, clothing & books I finished.

Next time - I'm just bringing the regular tent, not the bivy - unless it is >60 degrees at night, I just get too cold sleeping outdoors in a hammock or bivy. The bivy was fine in Illinois but in Iowa with storms coming in - it got too cold and I was up putting on all my layers at 2:30am.

That is - for a real camping trip. I think I might just take Custer SP Blue Bell Campground host Vern's suggestion and look at overnights at state parks and KOAs with cheap cabins for the next multi week road trip - there's so much less overhead in unpacking, setting up, breaking down and packing for a longer trip that it seems like it would be more fun (and lighter) that way.

Next time, I'll actually wear my sunblock on my face - or get some sort of UV block for my visor - I ended up with some solar radiation damage on my face between the bottom of my sunglasses where there is a gap above the bottom of the face opening.

I'll also make sure I have actual waterproofing on my coat!