Ready Set Pack!

When one plans to canoe the entire Mississippi River the question of what to bring has to be at the top of the list (or at least that's what I've been told). For us our goal was to pack everything we needed (including food) into four bags. Our vessels were two hiking backpacks, and a pair of 35 liter dry bags. Here's what made the cut for my (Austin aka Lewis’s) bags, and because I care about the reader’s experience I even broke it down into categories.

What's in the Backpack?
Sleeping Gear

Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Fan (spoiled I know)
Tent (with poles)

Clothing

3x Shirts
Shorts
3x Socks
3x Boxers
Sweatpants
Jeans
Zip pants (pants that can become shorts)
Pocket Shirt (for those classy river occasions)
Rain jacket
Sweatshirt (which is really a glorified long sleeve shirt)
Fleece
Water socks
Buff
Bandana
Paddle Gloves

Footwear

Crocks
Hiking boots
Shoes
Camp Supplies
Head lamp
Note pad (I'm a sensitive sole who has to write)
2x pens
Book (dealer’s choice on this one)
Compression towel
Life straw set
Stove (with fuel)
Spork
Lighter

Miscellaneous

Duck tape
Knife
2x glasses
Sunglasses
Rope
2x Nalgene bottle
Maps
Bear mace
Charger (plus a portable charger)
Business cards
Marker
iPad
Phone

First Aid/Toiletries

Contacts
Advil
Neosporin
Allergy medicine
Lip balm
Water purifying pills
Toothbrush
Soap
Deodorant
Floss
Alcohol prep pads
Gauze
Emergency fire starter
Tums
Toilet paper

Roaming Free Range in the Canoe

Pump
Throw bag
Life jacket
Whistle
3x Paddles (if we loose one we're screwed)
Canoe lock

If this list sound extensive to you let me just say I couldn't hear you way up there on your high horse. Strap in folks. It's a two and a half month trip (give or take) and things are about to get interesting

Here are the before and after packing shots. I trust you can figure out which is which.

Not Quite Lewis and Clark

Ready Set Pack!

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