Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Packing Process- Ready to Go?
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THEGrandRapids |
Depending on the overlap, you could still have a ready to go pack for any activity, and a ready to go canoe specific items (canoe, lifejackets, etc). |
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bobbernumber3 |
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bhouse46 |
Some items such as what I wear when I paddle is out and used regularly. |
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THEGrandRapids |
I'm assuming only people who live reasonable distances from the BW will do this (as well as dooms day preppers). I have a dedicated area in the basement with shelves, ceiling hooks to hang bags, poles to hang sleeping bags, I typically keep tents and tarps packed away, but on the shelf. I also have a 4x8' table that I use to stage ALL of my gear, then it goes from table into packs into the car...... BUT that still takes me time, typically days, which is fine because its enjoyable. BUT I'd also like to take off within an hour, grab an available permit, and go in for a weekender. Don't we all wish we were that organized. How much stuff can you reasonably have packed away on the ready? Food, sleeping bags, battery operated stuff (only thinking headlamp) Some challenges include- 1. Cooking items- sometimes I just take the jetboil, sometimes I take the whole kitchen sink, depending on who I'm tripping with and what type of trip it is. 2. Did I forgot something? That will nag me the whole trip- and you don't really know if you are missing something until you need it (for example, taking gear out of the designated bags for other activities) 3. Fuel? I suppose I could put this with the food. I'm not really asking for any specific answers. There are no wrong ways to pack. |
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Minnesotian |
I don't have anything packed, but I can be packed, loaded and driving within two hours. A couple things are key: 1. Lists - I have gear lists and what to pack for the following: a. solo canoe camping b. two people canoe camping c. solo winter camping d. two people winter camping e. solo backpacking f. two people backpacking There is a lot of gear overlap among the trips of course, but there is specific gear for a specific trip that needs to be packed. Having a list takes out any sort of "now, did I pack this?" or "Did I have this on the last trip?" thinking and wasting of time. 2. Food - A list of easy to make meals that I can grab from the grocery store on the way up. Stuff that has minimal packaging, that I quickly throw together on the trail. Also, I have trail bars, gatoraid powder, Via coffee already in stock at home. If I am really ambitious, I have a couple of freeze dried meals still in stock or dehydrated meals I have made. 3. Fuel - I have a couple of cans ready to go, in stock in the house. Finally, all of my gear is stored in a corner of my basement, organized into bins. So, I really wanted to get out faster, I just grab all the bins and organize at my destination. |
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A1t2o |
I think that proper storage of gear is as important as using it properly. If you don't take protect your gear, your gear will not protect you. Things like extra rope, my tackle box, water filters, and cookware are often stored in a stuff sack or their own separate container which is easy to place in my main pack when it is time for a trip, but the pack itself is emptied and allowed to air out with everything else. It doesn't take too much room to store everything properly, one corner of a spare closet or a single rack in the basement should be plenty. |
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TrailZen |
THEGrandRapids: "2. Did I forgot something? That will nag me the whole trip- and you don't really know if you are missing something until you need it (for example, taking gear out of the designated bags for other activities)" Like others who have commented, some of our gear is shared between activities. Also, the BWCA/Q is a two-day drive (one way) for us, so those trips are planned in detail well in advance. To avoid the 'what did I forget' moments, we've developed a BWCA/Q gear list/checklist that works for us. TZ |
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bombinbrian |
But if I had to be gone, I would like to think 20 minutes to pack |
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butthead |
It's a 600 mile trip to an EP so I'll spend extra days beginning and end. Plenty of time to organize and final pack. I do lots of impromptu camping so a box of long term store food is always ready to go. mostly grab gear off the shelf toss in truck and go. butthead |
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bobbernumber3 |
butthead: "... Garage envy. |
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TipsyPaddler |
I have a detailed checklist—refined over many trips—for solo, 2 person and 3-4 person trips. My gear is on shelves in a cool, dry basement and the smaller items are in about 10 different plastic, stackable tubs. I have three folding banquet tables I set up as needed for a work space. My packing process is 1) review and update checklist, 2) print out checklist, 2) pull gear and put on a table—one table per pack, and 4) put gear into the packs. Typically takes me a couple hours. I enjoy it and usually not in any great rush. The clean up and storage of the gear takes longer but even that gets quicker with practice. Although it’s my least favorite part. But I think is important to maintain and store gear well too so it lasts a long time. I also start a list of gear that needs repair and consumable that need to be bought between trips and seasons. Yes, I have a little list OCD! |
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sedges |
If I lived a few hours from the BWCA I'd be slipping off all the time, but it takes me three days to get there. Backpacks in the southern Appalachians keep me pretty happy. |
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TechnoScout |
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ockycamper |
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jhb8426 |
For day trips to the river or a local lake, that is all in a grab and go bag. |
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AmarilloJim |
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pamonster |
This is also how I just store my stuff, it takes up astronomically less room and way less clutter when it's just a CCS hybrid pack all packed up sitting there. I would never bring all that gear on a BWCA trip plus I'd be convinced I didn't have everything I wanted if I didn't pack it right before I go. My camping outside the B-dub is in a camper and that has it's own complete set of gear that never leave it. The camper is definitely ready to go. But when you have a 4000+ lb gear tolerance you can bring all the extra crap. |