• day pack - 40L - I can fit everything I take in here!
• rain shell (good to have as an outer layer in frigid situations)
• compressable puff jacket (great on its own and acts like a winter coat with the shell over it)
• quarter zip long sleeve (thin, athletic, durable, etc. - it's a favorite of mine)
• button up shirt (SPF 50)
• 2-3 t-shirts (for backpacking trips, I only take 2, but I might want an extra for not being nasty when we go into towns or whatever. I'll also likely buy a shirt or two somewhere along the way)
• travel pants - convertible to shorts
• (maybe) athletic pants and/or shorts
• swimsuit (mine wear like a good pair of shorts with decent stretch, pockets, current style, and they dry really fast)
• 6-8 pairs of socks / underwear
• sneakers - even if we hike, this is all I use. I stopped using boots for backpacking several years ago!
• stuff sack (especially great for dirty laundry)
• toiletry kit (with basic first aid, sunscreen, and ibuprofen)
• (maybe) hat with brim
• (maybe) winter hat and gloves
• camera
• tripod
• camera extras - batteries, charger, memory cards, filters, remote shutter release, alan key for tripod, headlamp, notebook, etc.
• iPad
• chargers, and cables
• kindle
• journal, pen
• IEM headphones
• phone (even though it’ll be off the whole time I’m out of country, I’ll still need it for coordinating travel to and from the airport; and it’ll function as my backup camera)
• sunglasses
• water bottle
• thermal camping mug with lid
• day pack - 18L - super light weight and good for keeping under the seat on the plane. A great thing about this is that it can flip inside out and act as a stuff sack.
• wallet
• passport

• sleeping bag
• sleeping mat
• snacks and Via instant coffee packets

• tent (I have a 3-4 man backpacking tent that fits me and my boys well)
• water filter (although it sounds like everywhere we’re going has a pump with safe drinking water)
• tie-line
• backpacking pack

August 31, 2011

I’m not going to write for long - because I’m fatigued, full, and actually a little bit frightened. Matt and Mark just turned in for the night and [honestly] it gets a little creepy in the silence of the dark night in the wild backcountry. The fire helps, but let’s be honest: There are a lot of unidentifiable sounds out here.

I want to make sure I don’t forget to write about the magnificent meals Mark prepared for us today. Denver Omelet with Hash Browns, Hot Applesauce, Grilled Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin, coffee … Homemade Jerkey, cheese, Goldfish Crackers, Fruit Roll-up, GORP, dried apricots … Cream of Chicken Soup, Wild Rice with Herbs, fresh trout, and Apple Cobbler! (with coffee of course) All brought in on our backs (except the trout I suppose - though we did bring the fishing equipment) along with the two grills (to cook fish on and hold the pots over the fire).

This is not car camping! It’s better!!

Four months ago, my best friend Matt and I went on our annual backpacking trip. This year we returned to the Sierra Nevadas. This trip was a real treat for us for multiple reasons. First, Matt lives in Chattanooga so seeing each other in any context is a blessing. On top of that, we had the privilege of spending the week with our friend Mark who lives in California (on the East side of the majestic mountain range). Finally, did I mention that we were in the Sierras! Any time spend in nature is great, but this is one of the best backcountry destinations one can imagine.

We did the Big Five and Little Five Lakes loop starting from the west side of the range at Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. For reference, http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.473181,-118.532481&z=13&t=p&hl=en-US

The following is from my daily trail journal:

August 28, 2011

It is great to be back in the Sierras again. Tonight is the first of our week-long loop. I am sharing a tent with Mark and Matt is solo in the other tent. It’s wild to think that just yesterday, Matt and I were eating In-N-Out outside the airport in LA. Tonight we’re camped above Lower Franklin Lake at more than two miles above sea level!

We hiked a good six miles; and gained a good 2500’ of elevation today. Our reward is a beautiful country to smell and see. Unbelievable flowers along almost the entire journey today. Spectacular waterfalls along the creek that we followed for most of the day. The subtle, reverberant white noise of a waterfall across the lake and the creek in the far distance. The sunset was amazing in both beauty and duration. And even now, the stars are gorgeous on this moonless eve.

Here’s a photo I took at our camp that night. For more photos, visit my Google+ gallery.

Check out some highlights from our backpacking trip to the Smokey Mountains last weekend:

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/1017512/1/Smokey%20Mountain%20Trip%20Highlights?h=91a390