Back-at-the-car checklist?

I fixed that problem for myself many years ago. When I return to my car, I don't allow myself to put anything down on the parking lot. I can put things down on top of the hood or on the roof or inside the trunk, but not on the ground.

I also do a walk-around inspection for my car. I've had minor vandalism happen, and I need to spot it right there before I drive off.

–B.G.–

…

Try leaving a window open for 2 nights out in Colorado rain after getting my parking permit from the ranger entrance (it only opens at 5 pm). Lucky my interior is designed to be wet…"off-road" edition and everything still in (of course, Aspen isn't known for its "hood")

I'd say a walk-around but if pressed, even this can be overlooked.

Thanks, guys. If I can convince myself not to set anything on the ground, that's probably the best tactic. And a walk-around should be a backup on that; I do that when leaving camp, so just need to add it to the car before taking off.

I have a bright sticky note on my speedometer to remind me of my memory loss. It only works if I remember the note. : )

+1 on the walk-around. While I'm doing that, I pick up all the stuff you other guys leave behind and sell it on eBay.

I travel a lot for work. I'm in the habit of keeping my stuff together. I never put something in a place where I might overlook it, and always do look around before leaving.

Im amazed at items left behind on trails. Really, how can you forget hiking poles??? But some do.

We store our poles in the back of the SUV so it's not hard to remember them since putting them in the back is putting them away. Also, it's much like how I learned on the PCT to never leave a spot I've rested at without looking around. I'll never be there again so anything left behind is pretty much gone forever. I got real good at always making a check before moving on.

Yes, always give the area one last look before leaving — be it parking lot, camp site, rest site… or hotel room.

"Really, how can you forget hiking poles???"

I left a twice used pair of BD Alpine Carbon Corks in a parking lot in North Cascades NP. Here's how it happens.

1. Arrive in parking lot.
2. Talk with hiking partner about victory hamburger
3. Start drooling and daydreaming about victory hamburger
4. Lean trekking poles against something to get vehicle keys out and open vehicle
5. Start discussing how there are fewer things in the world tastier than a blue ribbon burger from the dirty bird (Red Robin)
6. All blood flow is then diverted from the part of the brain that thinks about things like not leaving trekking poles in parking lot to the part of the brain that calculates the route to the dirty bird
7. Drive home from dirty bird with hamburger intoxication. Blood flow now redirected from brain to stomach
8. Get home and call your hiking partners, accusing them of being no good dirty trekking pole thieving felons as there is no way you'd ever leave a pair of trekking poles in a parking lot.

BTW, if anyone finds a pair of reading glasses on the Wonderland alternate trail in Seattle Park area in the past couple weeks, they're mine.

"BTW, if anyone finds a pair of reading glasses on the Wonderland alternate trail in Seattle Park area in the past couple weeks, they're mine."

How much do they weigh?

–B.G.–

Know exactly what you have.
Put it in the same place consistently.
Do multiple sweeps.
Develop the memory to re-trace your steps to where you last interacted with the item. 1-3 minimizes the chance of losing something in the first place and 4 is remarkably effective at recovering things that do get lost.

"How much do they weigh?"

Lighter than air so your pack will be lighter than if you weren't carrying them and a reward of beverage of choice for their safe return.

I may be the first person who's ever posted a reward for Walmart reading glasses.

i think you have to leave something behind once to remember to never do it again.

i also, have left a pair of trekking poles leaning against the car, only to realize that when i got home (a 5hr drive away)