Show me your PNW June-Sept gear list

[Katherine .]

Curious to see a bunch of examples, altogether, what others are carrying during the same time and place.

(Ed J. your post on another thread prompted my question)

Especially interested in lists with hammocks.

[Link .]

Don't forget to check out the Community gear lists it gives name and locale for lists, but I am sure you will get a lot of response to your thread :)

[Katherine .]

Link, thanks. I had no idea that list existed. Learn new things everyday!

[Dale Wambaugh]

What is special about a PNW list? Wetness and no drying sunshine. Synthetic insulation, fleece, rain gear, redundant fire starters. In many places you can carry less water as there is too much of the stuff!

But in general, the height of summer in the PNW is dry and can be quite warm during the days in exposed areas, particularly on the east side of the Cascades. But if you count on that, you'll get drenched for sure :)

Gossamer Gear Mariposa backpack
Trash compactor bag liner
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles

Hammock options:
Poncho (undercover for hammock too)
Hennessy foam pad insulator from Supershelter system
Grand Trunk Ultralight hammock with added Whoopie Slings and ridge line
-or- Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip (for bug season) with whoopie slings
2x Camp Nano 23 carabiners
Polyester tree straps
Arrowhead Toxaway tarp
MSR Groundhog stakes

Ground camping gear:
Moonstone Delta Cirrus 32F mummy bag (used with hammock too)
SMD Gatewood Cape
Prolite small pad
Polycryo ground cloth
6 Groundhog stakes
Ti Goat Ptarmigan bivy with bug net head section

Clothing packed:
Patagonia Houdini windshirt
Synthetic puffy vest or jacket to suit temps
R1 top
Silkweight bottoms (to weather forecast)
Cap 4 beanie
OR Versaliner gloves
2.5 layer rain pants (to weather forecast)
1 pair spare wool socks

Kitchen:
Soto Micro Regulator canister stove with windscreen
MSR pot support
600ml Ti pot
400ml Ti mug
Folding Ti spoon
Bear bag and line
Mini bic lighter

Water:
Recycled water bottles
Sawyer Mini filter and bladder
Micro Pur tablets (for backup)

Personal hygiene
Montbell To potty trowel
TP
Small bottle alcohol gel hand cleaner
Small vial Dr Bronners
Small vial DEET
Small bottle sunscreen
Travel toothbrush
Small bottle gel toothpaste
Floss
Bandana or micro pack towel

Essentials:
3.5" folding pocket knife
Fenix HL21 headlamp
1x spare AA battery
K&M match safe with button compass
Suunto MC-2G compass
Maps
AMK 0.3 first aid kit with added meds
Uncle Bill's tweezers
Duct tape
Single use superglue
Wire
Small braided nylon line
"Hotel freebie" sewing kit
Sunglasses
Key ring with:
SAK Classic knife
Extotac firesteel and striker
Olight i2 AA flashlight
Whistle
Spy capsule with Tinder Quick tabs

Toys:
Digital point and shoot camera
Sony SRF-S84 am/fm radio and earbuds
iPhone 5
Write in the Rain notebook
Bullet Space Pen
Book

Clothing worn:
Polyester base layer top to suit conditions
Champion polyester boxer briefs
Columbia Silver Ridge zip off pants
Merino wool socks
Sunday Afternoons hat (OR Seattle Sombrero for rainy trips)
Patatgonia Drifter AC shoes
Fingerless bike gloves

[Edward Jursek]

Katherine – Here is the link to the kit I am currently using and playing with. This kit will be my "core kit" this summer from roughly 4th of July to a week or two after Labor Day for the North Cascades and Olympics. The only likely substitution will be a larger Zimmerbuilt pack (14oz) for any trip over 3 nights. The kit as listed has been comfortable down to 28 degrees and has handled plenty of crappy, stormy weather. Only once, on an long, cold, wet June hike, did I have any comfort or safety concerns with this kit, due to a very poor and untested sleeping bag choice I made. That has been fixed and that bag combination is not on this list. The new bag set up has been tested out and works great.

Just how early in June how late in September/October can be something of a wild card. I trust short term forecasts out maybe 2 or 3 days. So the duration of the trip (anywhere from 2 nights to 7 nights), elevation, and how ealy/late I am in the season will have me considering subing in some combination of the following items on a ad hoc basis: My larger Zimmerbuilt custom pack (14oz) to replace the Quickstep, my custom FF Vireo 20 degree bag (22oz) to replace the 30 degree quilt, cuben DuoMid (12oz) and a Zpacks Poncho/Groundsheet (6 oz) to replace the Gatewood, dedicated merino sleep cloths (11oz). If I want some luxury on a longer trip, I can sub in my daughter's REI Flash Pad (16oz) for my NeoAir short X-lite. Unless she is along for the trip.

I make most of the core gear selections the night before the trip, and might take some items along and make a call at the trailhead. Finally, I am looking at an uber light wind shirt like the Zpacks one to replace my Squamish jacket for summer. The Squamish is great, but more then I need for summer season. I could shave 4oz there, so it is likely to happen before June.

http://lighterpack.com/r/4lvo4t

[Katherine .]

Thanks guys.

So far I've concluded I should move the poncho higher up on my wishlist.

[Edward Jursek]

Katherine – I switched to ponchos years ago and have never looked back. Lets face it, the rain pants and jackets being sold these days never keep you dry in the real world conditions of heavy and/or steady rain and physical exertion. They either wet out or you sweat out. Ponchos provide a multi-use utility, significant weight savings, true rain protection and they truly vent. In fact, in my experience, the colder, windier and wetter the conditions are the better a poncho performs, as it is easier to control my core temperature and to vent away heat and moisture. I think they are made for the PNW.

There is a bit of learning curve when switching away from rain jackets and pants to a poncho and a few trade offs. First, having a way to cinch a poncho in high winds is necessary. The Zpacks Poncho/Groundsheet has an integrated "belt" made from shock cording and mitten hooks that works great. It also has adjustable side zippers that allow you to adjust and vent and the best hood of any poncho I have worn. Finally, the Zpacks Poncho runs a bit on the small side, with less overall fabric to manage in windy weather. The Gatewood Cape is rather large and I needed to make my own shock cord belt to manage it in high winds. The larger size makes for a great tarp with full coverage that is bomb proof in rain and windy weather. The Golite Poncho/Tarp is ok and cheap, but I found it to be too minimal as a shelter for my taste. I have looked at the MLD Ponchos, but their specs indicate they will also be too minimal for my taste.

The biggest hassle of the multi-use poncho is that when it is set up as a shelter or deployed as a groundsheet, you don't have rain gear for camp chores like fetching water, retrieving or hanging your food, cleaning you cook pot, etc. I throw on my wind shirt and move quickly. They also suck for bushwhacking, so leave the poncho behind for that off-trail trans-cascade hike you are no doubt planning. For regular, on trail hiking in the PNW, which is what I do, nothing beats a multi-use poncho. If you are looking at making the switch, I suggest you start off with the Zpacks Poncho/Ground sheet if you currently use some kind of separate groundsheet with your shelter. Just talk to Zpacks about the sizing, as they do run small. I use the Twin size and, at 6' tall and 210 lbs and wearing a full pack, it just fits me.

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