Ok,
Leaving for Las Vegas in about 10 hours. I have spent the last week visiting every REI, Moosejaw, and Gander Mountain Store in Michigan. It is getting a little ridiculous. I feel like I am purchasing a house, except this one is made for Lilliputians. For example, I need a shower, but this one comes in a 4 gallon bag. I also purchased a bedroom, but this one has a zipper instead of a door. I got a stove but there is only one burner and is pretty weak. I could go on about food, utensils, toiletries, but I think you get the idea.
I always wonder why people buy all the crap that stores sell, but I am beginning to see the light. You find yourself walking down the aisle and searching your brain to make sure you have not overlooked anything, when you see a pretty package for Big Foot Repellent. You think, I don't believe in Big Foot, but if I do run across him I bet I wish I had this, and you know what they say, better safe than sorry. So you grab it and and the Cajun Salmon Cooking Injection Kit acting like a five year old reaching for candy at the grocery checkout line.
I got it all back to the house. After scanning the web I created the attached checklist for Camping / Hiking Download CAMPING.pdf
It seems to cover everything, but I am guessing I will be updating at the tail end with things like:
- Room Service
- TV w/ Tivo
- Heat
- Food not brought to life by adding boiling water
I dumped everything on the floor and tried to figure out how to fit it all into packs that I could get on the airplane, or at least bungee to the fuselage.
Ya, I know it is a lot. One bag is my computer stuff and another is all the food, so really I could have gotten by with just the big red pack and the black roller bag. Would I look strange hiking through Zion pulling a carry-on behind me?
The final addition to this journal is my itinerary. I spent a week researching the parks to make sure I do not miss anything important. I was terrified I would get back from the trip and tell someone I went to Arches, and have them ask, "Cool, what did you think of the Leprechaun who rides the Unicorn down through the Narrows at precisely 12:00pm every afternoon?" I am sad to say, I could not find reference to the Unicorn, but I think I left no stone unturned and am sure to see the highlights of each park.
Here it is, now off to sleep for a few hours, and tomorrow Zion!
