Reflections, Resources, and Packing Lists

Upon arriving home, I discovered that in addition to my large big toe blister, I had developed an enormous blister under the nail of my pinky toe. Penny had a similar experience with one of her toes and we both ended up shy a toenail. The sister similarities continued as we also managed to acquire COVID-19 independent of one another; Penny within a week of her return and I just completed my cycle that started on September 9^th. I am thankful we did not get sick on the trail. That would have been disastrous. 

In fact, it was a month ago today that we walked out of the woods. My backpack and gear have found a place on the top shelf of my closet. I wonder if it will all stay there forever, or if I’ll find a way to get back out on a trail?  

I knew when preparing for this trip that it would be physically challenging. I suspected that there would be days when pain would be an issue and I’d go so far as to say that I may have underestimated that a little bit. I understood there could be unexpected setbacks and perhaps even complete obstacles that would end our hike early. But…what I wasn’t prepared for and what still amazes me today, was the profound and beautiful simplicity of life on the trail. The purification of being disconnected…of going to bed when I was tired, or it was dark…the complete absence of light in my tent during the nighttime…sleeping at ground level…rising when the world around me became illuminated by sunlight…crawling out of said tent in the morning with palms already dirty from the ground…An almost mystical feeling to be so immersed in nature and so independent of things like electricity, running water, clean clothes, and plentiful food choices. I find myself longing to go back. To savor it a little longer. To have one more indulgence; one more hit on the pipe, draw from the bottle, adventure on the trail…Would one more be enough? It could be addictive I think. In fact, it occurred to me that if I’d started hiking earlier in life…if I had possessed the confidence, stubbornness, independence, and time…I may have decided to never come back. Oh, warning to any younger folks…again, that being relative…who decide to take such a long walk in the woods…when you come back out, though everything is the same, you will be changed!

The remainder of this post is dedicated to assist those who may stumble upon this blog in search of suggestions for their own backpacking journey on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Trail. Our goal was to travel as light as possible, but there were items that I didn’t take but in retrospect, wish I would have.

 

My Packing List:

Osprey Renn 65 Womens backpack (3.31#) Less expensive than many and sufficient.

River Country Trekker Tent-2, Trekking Pole Tent (2.75#) Adequate but little ventilation

iClimb 3M Thinsulate Insulation 2-Layer Mummy Sleeping Bag (1.74 #) Adequate down to 50 degrees with additional clothing layers.

Exped Synmat sleeping pad (1# 5oz)  

Black Diamond Trekking Poles  

One extra pair of socks and underwear

Buff (did not need)

ERSDGG Women’s Hooded Down Jacket Packable (.88#) Lifesaver! I will use this again for traveling.

Super lightweight aqua socks for around the campsite (should have worn them to fetch water)

Repel insect wipes (6)

Hammock Comfy Camping Pillow (2.75 oz.) Not that comfy but better than nothing

Rugged Phone Lanyard Holder with tether and carabiner (super handy!)

Palmyth Head Net Hat (Might forego and just take a lightweight headnet.  Hat looked dorky.)

Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel (2 oz.) Did the job.

Redcamp Waterproof Rain Poncho (.65#) Also used for sitting around the campsite

Extra Zip-lock bags for trash

HOTSHOT Sports Shot Muscle Cramp relief (1.7 fl. oz.) Did not need.

Trash compactor bag to line the backpack

Outdoor Products Ultimate Dry Sac (set of three). Handy to organize backpack.

Moleskin 3×3” piece

Tiny scissors

Large Band-Aids (5)

Toothbrush and very small hairbrush

½” block of Ivory Soap

Vitamins and medications

Headlamp

Power Bank for cell phone w/cords (1.0#) worth the weight

Sea to Summit 16 oz Collapsible cup 

Kula cloth

1/3 roll of toilet paper (should have packed more for a perpetual runny nose)

Be Free Water Filter by Katadyn 

Smart Water bottles (2 1-liter)

Nail trimmers with file

1 Fuel Cannister (.5#)

Lakeshore Trail map

Additional Items Carried/Used by Penny:

MSR PocketRocket Stove (2.6 oz)

Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle (6.5 oz)

Nemo Hornet Tent (1# 10 oz) 

The Deuce (.03#) cat-hole digger 

Sierra Design sleeping bag

REI Flash 55 backpack (2# 9 oz)

Long-handled titanium spoon

Hikenture inflatable camping pillow

Penny also had to pack stuff for her contacts

Food I packed:

6 packets instant oatmeal

4 PROBAR Meals-on-the-Go (3 oz each and ½ per day)

4 PROBAR BOLT Energy chews (2.1 oz each and ½ per day)

28 almonds (yep, I counted them)

Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried vegan meals (We carried a total 6 but used 5 between us)

Coffee, creamer, and sugar

Total weight of my pack w/out water was around 22 – 23#

What I would take if I did this again:

Enough Wet Wipes for 1 per day

Micro towel

Lightweight shorts/top to get in the water

2 collapsible cups

Helinox or similar camp chair

Sidenote:

I waterproofed the seams of my tent and my packable down jacket prior to our trip. I also sprayed my clothing and gear with Sawyer’s Permethrin insect repellent about 10-days out to discourage ticks and mosquitoes.   

Helpful Links:  

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

To reserve campsites www.recreation.gov

To reserve the shuttle https://www.altranbus.com/backpacker/

Nice trail map www.MichiganTrailMaps.com/product/pictured-rocks-lakeshore-trail/  

Happy Trails! 

 I receive no compensation for product information in my blog.