WHAT TO BRING
American West
"Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter".
John Muir
You will need to pack ONLY the items listed below.
Any extra baggage will be thrown overboard at departure.
We Do Make Exceptions for Teddy Bears
WE ARE PACKING FOR ONLY ONE WEEK!!!
Essentials
Sleeping Bag in a Stuffsack
Thermarest or Slumberjack style mattress in a stuffsack or rolled with straps
Small Tarp 5x8 ft. to lay out and pack all of your things on
Small travel pillow
Light stadium blanket for van or bus
Small AA flashlight headlamps are great! Energizer makes a Great white and red LED Energizer Headlamp for around $10.95 @ Wal Mart
High tech LED headlight for hands-free performance. Equipped with 3 bright LED bulbs—2 whites for super bright light and 1 red for night vision—and shatterproof lens. Headlight includes swivels, adjustable headband and holds 3 AAA batteries (included).
Book bag or backpack for day use and Grand Canyon hike.
Hydration system -- These run around $14-$24 from Wal Mart, Campmor, or outdoor stores Camelbak or Platypus without the outside pack, which we don't need. These allow us to drink from our packs without taking them off on the Grand Canyon Hike and at other times.
Lightweight, water resistant, windbreaker type jacket and pants serve as rain and wind gear
Notebook or journal
Pencils and pens
Highlighter
Road Atlas Wal*Mart $4.95 Get really close to departure time and the price is right
Digital camera or Disposable Cameras We do ask one Participant to be the Digital IT person and store all Digital Images and Videos on a Lap Top Computer. We burn CD's or DVD's at the end of the Trip for Everyone
Water Cameras for the Rafting and Polar Bear Swims
Personal Radio/CD/MP3 Players - CD's : Not too many-we can share.
WRISTWATCH This is possibly the single most important item that you will bring.
TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK With functioning batteries.
Drivers license, Student ID - Gets is in some places Free, Credit cards, Phone card
You will need at least one photo ID
Approximately $400 as Spending Money. Debit Cards or Travelers Checks work well ($20 denominations are best)
Addresses of friends and family
Stamps for postcards and letters
1 pair of sunglasses with a strap or Croakie to hold them
1 Nalgene Water Bottle
Personal Fork, Spoon, and Pocketknife
Plastic or Lexan Bowl - Used for all meals
Personal Cup - for Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Drinks other than water
Footwear: Your favorite sneakers, Tevas or Teva-like Sandals or CROCS, and Light Weight Hiking Boots. We will have a box to store the boots in. Some folks like to wear Light Weight Trail Runners for the Extreme Hikes.
Be sure to break in your Boots or Trail Runners in well and
long before we leave to go on this trip.
Clothing
2 pairs pants or jeans Zip off cargo type pants are great. One might be jeans for Rodeo night in Cody
2 pairs of shorts
4 T shirts - You will be provided with 2 American Odyssey T shirts. One Long Sleeve and One Short Sleeved
1 more long sleeved T shirt
1 sweatshirt or fleece
1 pair of pajamas or whatever you sleep in
Underwear for only one week
4 pairs of socks
1 pair of heavy hiking socks
swimsuit
1 towel - medium
Laundry bag
Bandannas Great for everything!!
Wide brimmed hat for hiking in the Grand Canyon -- Should be crushable. Very Important for sunburn protection.
Personal Hygiene
Small toiletry kit
SUNSCREEN Super easy to burn out west
LOTION Super Low Humidity
Toothbrush/paste/floss (sample sizes work well)
Deodorant
Soap in dish or zip lock bag
Shampoo (sample sizes work well)
$20.00 in quarters for showers and laundry VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! Keep in toiletry kit.
Will be needed for some showers and Laundry.
We do a Group purchase of Laundry Detergent and share unless you
need special soap - If so then Package your own in Zip Locks and Stow in your Duffel.
Tylenol / other personal meds.
Ladies PLEASE limit your makeup if you use it
Hair Dryers - Bring one and all the Ladies can Share
also remember things like Sports bras, Scrunchies, monthly feminine needs etc.
American Odyssey requires that you pack in a Military Style Duffel Bag for your Personal items. All Duffels will need to be personalized and tagged with your name and possibly a logo.
You may carry your daypack or bookbag on the van.
The sleeping bags and mattresses will be stored on the trailer in the loft at the front of the trailer. The duffel bags will be in the trailer stacked neatly on the floor.
Hints for the Savvy Traveler
Pack your duffel and carry it around the block at least twice to get a feel for just how heavy it will be when you are on the road. Color coordinate clothes so that you can layer for warmth and peel off layers when you need to cool off. California and the Northern tier of states can be VERY COLD!!! White clothing is not a very good idea. Leave nice jewelry and expensive watches at home, it's not worth the risk. Place your name on your things so that we won't have to auction off the lost and found items. Label your Duffel Bag so we won't get these mixed up. We will provide space in a Rubbermaid container for your souvenirs. You will share the container with one other person.
Dave and Derek & Staff Travel VERY light!
This is their list.
Sleeping Bag in a Stuffsack 2lbs 3 oz
Thermarest or Slumberjack style mattress 1 lb
Small travel pillow
Light blanket for van 1.5 oz
Petzel Tikka and pulsar or photon LED key chain light
Book bag or backpack for day use and Grand Canyon hike with a Hydration system included we use the Camelbak Blowfish
Red ledge Wind Pants and Parka in a bag 3 oz. Each
Notebook or journal, Pencils and pens, Highlighter, Addresses, Stamps
Camera Equipment- Digital, Disposable, and Water Cameras, Digital Media Card Reader
Wristwatch
Travel Alarm Clock
Drivers license, Student ID, Credit cards, Phone card (need at least one photo ID)
$400 in Travelers Checks and credit card-debit card
1 pair of sunglasses with strap
Teva sandals Great for Polar Bear Swims
lightweight hiking boots.
1 pairs pants zip off or chinos
2 pairs of shorts
4 T shirts You will be provided with 2 American Odyssey T shirts. One Long Sleeve and One Short Sleeved
1 more long sleeved T shirt
1 fleece
Underwear for only one week
4 pairs of socks
1 pair of heavy hiking socks
Swimsuit
1 towel - medium
Laundry bag
2 Bandannas
Wide brimmed hat - crushable.
Small toiletry kit with sample shampoo, toothpaste, soap in Ziploc bag, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion etc.
Quarters for Showers and Laundry
1 Nalgene Water Bottle
Personal Fork, Spoon, and Pocketknife
Plastic or Lexan Bowl
Personal Cup
Tell me, and I will forget;
Show me, and I may remember;
Involve me and I will understand..."
Check out these websites before finalizing your things from this list and you might be able to travel a little lighter with a little less STUFF!
