Lists and ReviewsKelly RamseyJanuary 10, 2018Backpacking, packing lists, what to bring backpacking, what to bring, desert backpacking

Desert Backpacking List

Lists and ReviewsKelly RamseyJanuary 10, 2018Backpacking, packing lists, what to bring backpacking, what to bring, desert backpacking

So you’re going to the desert. Amazing! Maybe you’ve scored a coveted Grand Canyon corridor permit. Perhaps you’re a Texan bound for Big Bend, where there’s nary a water source, or you’re headed into Joshua Tree in midsummer with your heart in your throat.

Whatever your arid landscape of choice, the desert presents its own set of (possibly life-threatening) challenges. In exchange it offers up some of the starkest, purest beauty on earth. Don’t worry: we’ve got you!

Here’s what I typically bring on a desert backpacking trip. For the most part it looks like the standard packing list, with some notable modifications for:

Adaptability – The desert climate often features a huge temperature differential from day to night, so you need to be able to shift on a dime from hiking in scorching heat to cozying up for a surprise 30-degree night.

Reduced weight to offset water weight – In some desert locations you won’t find a single water source except what you’ve cached in advance. To offset the gallon or more you’ll carry, go ultralight on your other gear (“UL”=ultralight).

Special tricks – like chewing gum! It’s possible I made this entire list to tell you about the miracle of chewing gum in the desert.

Without further ado…

PACKING LIST: DESERT EDITION

BASICS

Tent with rain fly, preferably ultralight
(to further lighten your load, remove from stuff sacks & just shove in your pack)
Sleeping bag, warm-weather
Sleeping bag liner (I like the ones that add 25 degrees – a great way to add warmth without bringing a heavier bag)
Sleeping pad, UL
Trekking poles (optional) – if so, light, like that Carbon
Rain cover for your pack, unless the forecast is literally smiling suns all week

CLOTHING

Lighter hiking boots, even trail runners
Layered tops and bottoms, light-colored
Pants – even if it’s hot, you’ll want a full coverage option to protect from sun/cacti
Long sleeved shirt for sun protection
Light down jacket for cold nights
Hat and gloves (if winter)
Rain gear (again, depending)
Sun / wide-brimmed hat
Clean warm socks for sleeping
Camp sandals

FOOD & H20

Lighter weight food – spring for freeze dried meals, otherwise ramen. Ramen is great, too, for the salt content, which’ll fix you right up if you’ve been sweating through your clothes all day. Note: As with any backpacking trip, bring more food than you’d eat on a normal day. You're gonna be burning an insane amount of calories. Replace them. Backpacking is not a diet strategy; it's a sport. Feed yourself so you can stay alive and enjoy it.
Salty foods!
Snickers bars! Just kidding; they get super-melty in the desert. But something sweet is good!
Gallon Ziplocs to pack out trash
Electrolyte tablets/packets (Nuun or Emergen-C)
Lightweight cooking gear (I go barebones for the desert: 1 pot, 1 spoon, 1 mug & my UL drip coffee setup)
Stove and fuel (minimum fuel you can get away with)
2 or more 1-liter water bottles (lighter the better – I go Nalgene but if you hate plastic I get it)
Water!! Like LOTS of water. know exactly where your water sources are and whether springs/creeks are running at the time of your trip. Know how much water the park/wilderness area recommends you carry per day. If the amount seems high, bring it anyway. You sweat a lot in the desert without feeling it, so you may need to drink more than you expect.

TECH

Map and compass
Headlamp
Knife or multitool
Rope (and bear bag/canister, depending where you are)
Emergency & first aid supplies
Extra batteries (right sizes for headlamp and water filter)
Water filtration/sterilization if needed (I’m a big Steripen fan, but I always carry backup iodine pills) – only necessary if there are water sources on your route, of course.
Charger pack for your phone (optional)

PERSONAL

Sunscreen
Sunscreen lip balm
Sunglasses, if you’re that kind of person
Chewing gum! It wets the whistle (prevents dry mouth, a real desert issue). I like fruity flavors of Trident for this purpose
Nasal spray/gel (optional, if the dry air bothers your nasal passages)
Extra handkerchiefs (I bring 3 hankies, one each for sweat wiping, kitchen cleanup, and blowing my nose)
Facial wipes (Burt’s Bees makes a really lovely facial cleansing wipe, but you can find generic versions too. A friend taught me a little self-wash routine of using one wipe to clean face, then hands, and finally feet before tucking into bed. Feels amazing! The desert in particular can leave you pretty dusty)
Tweezers! for if you graze a prickly pear and get a teensy-weensy little cactus spine in your leg that just won’t stop hurting
Toilet paper, cat hole trowel, and Ziplocs to pack out your TP – that whole deal
Sawed-off toothbrush and travel toothpaste
Bit o' soap (optional)

EXTRAS

Journal and a pen
Wild, Desert Solitaire, a guide to local birds, or some other book to get you hyped / enlightened
Flask of whiskey. Duh.

That's it!

Everything depends upon the specifics of your trip: location, season, altitude, trip length, recent rainfall, etc. So please understand that this is a general list; it should be taken as a starting point only. Research your itinerary thoroughly, see what the rangers or local guides recommend, and triple-check your bag before you go.

I love the desert. Here’s hoping you do, too. Have a great hike!