"I'm ready to take on the [Trans] Catalina Wine Mixer Trail.
I know what it entails, and I'm ready to nail it."
-Brennan Huff, Prestige Worldwide[wide-wide-wide]

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This weekend we will be doing a little over twenty miles of the Trans-Catalina Trail on Santa Catalina Island, California.
One of my habits I’ve learned early on in life was to stage all of my gear prior to departing. I’ve done this from my time in Boy Scouts continuing to my time as a Marine Corps Infantryman. There are several benefits of this process, listed as follows:

• Accountability, matching what you need to have to what you actually have.
• Confidence, physically inspecting each item before stowing it away ensures no damaged gear makes it out on the trail and fails to function at a critical moment.
• Mise en Place, a French culinary discipline which I learned working in an Austrian cafe. Extremely focused and organized approach to anything to breed efficiency. I live by this philosophy.
• Mindfulness, taking the patience to lay out and neatly be aware of each individual item you carry helps to give you mental buy-in and acceptance when all those pounds are on your back. Be mindful of wasteful items, as the old adage goes, “ounces equal pounds, pounds equal pain,”. Being mindful of what you carry on the trail is good practice as it relates to overall mindfulness in life, theoretically enhancing your experience all-around.

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Listed below, I have assigned a number to each item I have brought, totalling (50) all-day.
DISCLAIMER: I acknowledge that this particular loadout is more than a novice hiker may care to bring. If this is your first trip, I would suggest not bringing a full-sized tripod and Digital SLR Camera setup. I hike much more than this for my work, so this is a welcome load to carry for pleasure.

50 Things to Take on a Springtime Weekend Backpacking Trip Checklist:

1. Main Pack
2. Microfiber Towel
3. Socks
4. Shorts/Swimsuit
5. Pants
6. Underwear
7. Shirt
8. Hat
9. External Pouch
10. Food
11. Snacks
12. Tape
13. Note-taking Gear
14. Water Bottle
15. Flashlight
16. Koozies
17. Sunglasses
18. Portable Stove
19. Coffee
20. Solar Charger
21. Sunscreen
22. Medicine
23. Footcare Products
24. Dental Hygiene Gear
25. Combination Lock
26. Gloves
27. Electrolyte Tablets
28. Chapstick
29. Tent
30. Headlamp
31. First Aid Kit
32. Tourniquet
33. Tent Poles
34. Camp Chair
35. Baby Wipes
36. Shovel
37. Convertible Short-bottoms
38. Multitool
39. Lighter
40. Sleeping Bag
41. Iso-Mat/Sleeping Pad
42. Camelbak Water Source
43. Fasteners (Cords, Carabiners, etc)
44. Pillow
45. Hammock Straps
46. Pancho
47. Camera & Bag
48. Hammock
49. Tarp
50. Tripod

See a more detailed description below….

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Here is what all of this gear looks like when assembled and packed:

When you stage and assemble your pack, give careful consideration into which items go where, strategically position gear you may need while on the trail for quick access. Additionally, don’t be afraid to utilize the extra straps and loops on your pack in creative ways, but remember:
‘a tight pack is a light pack, is the right pack for me!’
The more loose items, the easier your center of gravity can be displaced. Also be aware of where you are distributing your weight. I have found over thousands of miles hiked that when the heaviest gear is highest on my back, and closest to my body, the hike is exponentially more enjoyable. This ranges from (30) pound daypacks, to wearing over (125)+ pound rucks, and to the simple mechanics of the back squat exercise. When you begin hiking, take a pause a few minutes into your hike to ensure that everything is feeling good, minor aches and pains in the beginning lead to crippling pain later down the trail!

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For a more detailed description of each piece of gear I’ve brought:

1. Main Pack: I use a Gregory Palisade 80L Main Pack with a detachable waist/shoulder bag that you can detach for small excursions from your base camp. This pack has taken me all over North America and is as comfortable as when I first purchased it.
9. External Pouch: Acquired this several years ago, tactical pouch I’ve used for a multitude of things, MOLLE straps fastened to external loops on pack. This is my go-to for my multi-tool, tourniquet, lighter, and other quick-access items.
10. Food: Whether it is gourmet food or Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE’s), some nourishment is an absolute necessity to keep you properly fueled, I’m trying out the Mountain House brand this trip.
18. Portable Stove: Jetboil FLASH Java Kit. Nearly on-demand boiling water for coffee, hot food, or anything you can thing of.
19. Coffee: Make sure you bring grounds, or a grinder if you must have the whole beans fresh.
29. Tent: I have a Sierra Designs 2-Man backpacking tent that has worked for over a decade. Plan on keeping the tent, rainfly, and stakes in a compression sack in order to minimize the space inside of the pack.
30. Headlamp: Princeton Tec makes a great product, I’ve gone through two of these (only because I ran the first through a laundry load after a previous excursion). This is a vital piece of gear in order to free up your hands while working in the dark, or moving around a dark campsite at night.
31. First Aid Kit: An absolute necessity, never assume you are going to be okay. I’ve got gauze, bandages, iodine tablets (for water purification, though this trail has fresh water sources along the way…. make sure you check!), matches, and some neosporin.
32. Tourniquet: These will save your life! I have several of these leftover from training/deployment. I’m not sure how more people outside of industries that deal in trauma care are not aware of how simply having a tourniquet on you can save your life, or someone near you in the event of a nasty accident… Murphy’s law, y’all.
33. Tent Poles: Sierra Designs, carry the poles outside of your pack in order to compress the interior of the pack and maximize efficiency.
37. Convertible short bottoms: I will be wearing my convertible shorts, but in the off-chance it gets to be too cold for comfort, having the convertible bottoms conveniently staged in an easily accessible position will save you a lot of time, and get you on the move sooner.
38. Multitool: Leatherman OHT [One-Hand Tool], this is my second One-Hand Tool and I love the functionality and practicality of this instrument. It has every item you can imagine, and is truly operable with one hand, freeing your other hand up to do whatever it wants. These multitools can cut through small amounts of wood, pry things open, pop open bottles, screwdrive, serve as pliers, and many other great functions.
39. Fasteners: Keeping carabiners/S-Biners/550 Paracord, and other things on-hand has served as makeshift food lines in bear-country, held together broken packs, replaced shoelaces, secured loose items to the outside of your gear, and countless other functional uses, it is great to have, and with minimal size and weight, there is really no reason not to have this in your inventory.

2. Microfiber Towel: McNett Tactical Towel, quick drying and has great zippered pouches to store smaller hygiene gear. This is not a necessity, but there are times that it is nice to ‘dry off’.
3. Socks: Though I am attempting to hike this portion of the Trans-Catalina Trail in Chacos, I have included socks on this list because of their utmost importance. If the barefoot begins to destroy my feet, I will utilize the socks for a protective layer, and if the weather is too inclement the morning we depart, I will sadly leave the Chacos on the outside of the pack, clipped on, and wear my hiking shoes as a contingency.
4. Shorts/Swimsuit: North Face Swim Trunks, bought these out-of-season so I only could find lifeguard red. They have been great shorts, and have functional pockets as well as a nice liner.
5. Pants: Patagonia Quandary Pants, these are the best pair of pants I’ve ever owned. The fabric is durable, stretches, resists water in an impressive way, and has deep back pockets and a useful side zipped pocket. These pants are also nice enough to wear in to town and not look like you just came off of the trail… even if you have.
6. Underwear: Underarmor BoxerJock MESH, I have really enjoyed wearing the mesh underwear while moving distances, its breathability and support make these second to none, the only caveat is the smell seems to be exponential worse with these, but smell is a moot point on the trail.
7. Shirt: Columbia PFG Roll-Up Sleeves, The ultimate functional shirt. Pockets galore, roll-up sleeves, vented back, and lightweight, UPF+ fabric… the Columbia PFG shirt (and others like it) is a staple for exploration.
8. Hat: I’m bringing my Texas Rangers hat, in celebration of the start of the 2016 baseball season! But I may toss in a collapsible full-brimmed hat for more sun protection… function > form.
11. Snacks, These little “pogey-bait” snacks are great for quick fuel on-the-go, the GU/Clif Shot packs are great (and caffeinated), Stinger Waffles are delicious and full of natural honey, and PowerBars are not the gold standard of what they once were, but are a reliable classic.
12. Tape, You never know when you may need tape to mend, tie, or mark.
13. Note-taking Gear, writing things down is one of the most satisfying practices in life. Continue this habit outdoors.
14. Water Bottle, 1 & 1.5L Nalgene bottles are great and nearly indestructible. A great item to enhance the wide-mouthed Nalgene is a ‘Splash-Guard’ which creates a more mouth-friendly opening in the top of the bottle.
15. Flashlight, Standard-Issue ‘Sidewinder’ LED/IR Flashlight, this is a good alternative to have handy if your headlamp malfunctions, or you need a second light.
16. Koozies, for beverages.
17. Sunglasses, protecting your eyes from trail debris, branches, and having to squint all day from the sun will increase your experience… though be mindful of the inevitable ‘Racoon-Eyes’
20. Solar Charger, Goal Zero Nomad, I have brought this charger all over the world in the last two years, and have nothing but great things to say. The loops on the side of the case allow you to strap this device to your pack while moving, a bush, building, loop/hook, or even on the mirror of a Humvee. Goal Zero has even included a convenient zippered pouch on the back side to store all of your solar paraphernalia.
21. Sunscreen, use it. You don’t want to be in burning agony the second day of your trip because you forgot to prepare. And it could give you skin cancer… prolonged exposure to the sun is no joke, be smart!
22. Medicine, okay, Ibuprofen if you can’t hack the joints waking up the next morning after a long movement… and liquid medicine for when you have a campfire going.
23. Footcare Products, Moleskin, Lotrimin, Neosporin, and gauze. Your feet are your most important asset when you are backpacking, do not take any foot pain lightly, because if your feet are out of commission, YOU are out of commission!
24. Dental Hygiene Gear, Colgate Wisps are my favorite for shorter-term trips. The ease-of-use and combined toothpick allow for a quick and expedient clean.
25. Combination Lock, no matter how remote you may be, there may always be other people. While you will find most other people on trails and campgrounds are good natured, using a $2.00 combination lock on your tent when you venture off from your basecamp on a dayhike is a nice piece-of-mind for yourself, and a great deterrent for a would-be curious individual.
27. Electrolyte Tablets, CAMELBAK ELIXIR, these are incredible. Dropping one of these tablets into your CamelBak or Nalgene will not only provide you with delicious flavor, but most tablets are sold in caffeinated/non-caffeinated varieties, so you can strategically time a caffeine boost, while hydrating! Be careful not to overcaffeinate on the trail, as this can lead to severe discomfort, cramping, and even dehydration!
28. Chapstick, Moisturized ChapStick Brand is my favorite. Much like sunscreen, you will only notice the lack of this item when it is far too late. Use liberally when outdoors.

35. Baby Wipes, I’ve gone a month only showering with crude combination of baby wipes and water pans. The hygienic qualities of a baby wipe are indisputable and a must-have for any packing list!
36. Collapsable Shovel, ‘E-Tool’ as we more affectionately refer to it. This tool can chop wood, dig trenches around your tent to reroute water, make cat-holes (at least 6″ deep) for human waste, serve as a makeshift hammer, build sandcastles, and anything you can possibly imagine.
41. Iso-Mat/Sleeping Pad, Thermarest pad for me, the ability to quickly inflate, be isolated from hot/cold ground, and have a comfortable place to rest your bones after a long and tiring day is invaluable. Invest big here.
42. Camelbak Water Source, Standard-Issue 3L Camelbak, this pack is great because it insulates the water, and has the ability to convert to a very small pack to keep essentials, if you want to explore the area nearby your basecamp.
44. Pillow, Thermarest Backpacking Pillow, collapses down to a relatively manageable size. I used to swear by not using a pillow, rather stuffing my sleeping bag sack full of clothes, but the convenience of having a pillow like this if you have the space is a definite luxury.
45. Hammock Straps, ENO manufactures ‘ATLAS STRAPS’ to facilitate setting your hammock up anywhere you can dream… because you can’t just clip it onto a tree.
48. Hammock, ENO Doublenest, wide enough for two, very comfortable for one. Negligble price difference and size difference… I recommend getting the larger size, you never know who wants to come chill in a hammock with you.
50. Tripod, OPTEKA 75″ Tripod, I am insane. I acknowledge this and formally document this fact prior to my departure. But I’ve got some really great ideas for shots on the island, particularly at night. I don’t have a smaller backpacking tripod, so this is it! Though this pales in comparison to what the Great Ansel Adams used to tote all over for his work.

49. Tarp, Standard-Issue, Use a tarp to put under your tent as a security device against any rainstorms. The tarp can help keep your footprint dry, and living space comfortable. Paired with a Tarp, you should also invest in a Backpack Rainfly to cover your entire pack. This will keep your pack dry, light, and intact.
46. Pancho, I usually just move in the rain and get wet. But I’m bringing a special friend on this journey that may wish to have a pancho, so this one is for them.
47. Camera and Bag, Nikon D3300 Digital SLR with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, extra batteries, and cards. This is another extraneous item to bring, but if you enjoy photography and documenting your experiences it’s a must-have. Though the standard Nikon bag leaves something to be desired for space-management. I am currently looking into a product by a company called Matador which makes a more adventure-friendly camera case, and hope to be purchasing one soon. A review will surely follow.

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I hope this list inspires you to pick a destination, plan your route, and organize your gear… but most importantly, conduct an expedition of your own! See you on the trail.