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Rae Lakes Loop Pack

Here is a detailed listing of everything we brought along on the trail. In looking at this, remember we packed for 7 days / 6 nights, even though we ended up making it into a 6 days / 5 nights trip. Items in blue were unused.

Food Kevin Jean Calories Grams cal/g
Bear canister 2.775
Bear canister 2.775
almonds 1.354 3601 616 5.85
almonds 0.281 749 128 5.85
almonds 0.426 1133 194 5.84
peanut butter 0.484 1188 220 5.40
11 sesame snaps 0.982 2530 447 5.66
4 sesame snaps 0.356 920 162 5.68
MSR Buttered pasta and herbs 0.303 600 138 4.35
5 crunchy granola bars 0.475 900 216 4.17
22 hot chocolate packs 1.486 2640 676 3.91
2 hot chocolate packs 0.136 240 62 3.87
dried mangoes 0.541 954 246 3.88
10 chewy granola bars 0.905 1550 412 3.76
MSR mashed potatoes 0.262 440 119 3.70
MSR mashed potatoes 0.262 440 119 3.70
MSR mac n' cheese and chili 0.347 585 158 3.70
MSR Santa Fe pasta 0.295 495 134 3.69
4 odwalla bars 0.593 976 270 3.61
1 odwalla bar 0.149 244 68 3.59
8 milk and cereal bars 0.809 1320 368 3.59
milk and cereal bar 0.105 180 48 3.75
12 packs oatmeal 1.167 1832 531 3.45
3 packs oatmeal 0.292 458 133 3.44
5 Luna bars 0.567 880 258 3.41
MSR spicy hot sesame pasta 0.286 420 130 3.23
12 flatbread 1.538 2160 700 3.09
8 bags cream of wheat 0.749 1040 341 3.05
1 bag cream of wheat 0.095 130 43 3.02
dried cherries and blueberries 1.279 1740 582 2.99
dried apricots 0.642 779 292 2.67
dried apricots 0.167 202 76 2.66
mix for 1 gallon Tang 1.560 1440 710 2.03
two pennies for bear canister 0.006
Total 14.541 9.909 32766 8597 3.81
Unused Total 1.497 0.492 3947 905 4.36

The amount of food was about right. I'd calculated 1000 calories for the two of us for each breakfast, 2000 for lunch, and 2000 for dinner. That comes to 32,000 for the planned trip. The food left over is because we cut the trip short one breakfast and one dinner (the last day's hike would only have been 4 miles, so we wouldn't really have needed much of a lunch). I might take slightly more food next time, since I felt a little hungry a couple nights.

We brought along too many almonds. More peanut butter instead would have been better. Too many sesame snaps, as well. We should have had more bars.

The milk and cereal bars were great -- dunk them in oatmeal, because they're not good cold. They're a better substitute for the Pop Tarts I used to bring, which would crumble.

Having Tang was great. I might bring some other drink mixes next time, as well.

I liked all the MSR meals except the buttered pasta, which was rather bland.


Bedroom Kevin Jean
sleeping bag 3.800
sleeping bag 3.800
rain fly 2.388
tent w/ bag 1.856
sleeping pad 1.506
sleeping pad 0.988
tent poles 0.938
ground cover 0.781
tent stakes 0.219
Total 11.488 4.788

I didn't bring the guy wire, which was a mistake -- the wind picked up one night. We ended up using our clothesline for a guy wire.

I also miscalculated the number of tent stakes. I only brought 8, but I should have brought 10 to stake down the front of the rain fly.


Liquids Kevin Jean
Water 4.000
Water 4.000
Total 4.000 4.000


Pack Kevin Jean
Arcteryx Bora 95 short 7.500
Arcteryx Bora 62 regular 6.250
Total 7.500 6.250

Pack was great, although I still need to swap out the shoulder strap -- need a regular strap instead of a short one.


Photography Kevin Jean
tripod 1.600
Minolta Maxxum 7 body 1.581
Minolta 24-105 lens 0.931
large camera bag and strap 0.763
12 rolls Fuji Velvia film 0.672
2 rolls Fuji Velvia film 0.112
Blower 0.106
2 CR5 batteries 0.081
polarizer 0.063
cable release 0.056
lens tissue in pouch 0.019
Total 5.984 0.000
Unused Total 0.212 0.000

I was worried about not bringing my 300mm lens to capture wildlife. It was one of the main reasons we didn't head up to Dragon Lake, where there were supposed to be Bighorn sheep.

But as it turned out, not bringing my flash was the reason my bear pictures didn't turn out. That, and the fact that I didn't bring any 400 speed film. I'll bring at least one roll of fast film next time.

I also wished I'd brought my graduated neutral density filter, even though I rarely use it. The sunset would have been perfect for it.


Clothes Kevin Jean
Jacket 1.788
Jacket 1.550
2 pairs socks / liners 0.725
light fleece 0.650
Tevas 0.569
Fleece jacket 0.594
Fleece pants 0.500
Night shirt 0.456
Fleece top 0.456
short sleeve shirt 0.450
slippers 0.438
1 pair shorts 0.419
2 pairs socks / liners 0.419
long sleeve shirt 0.413
Black long sleeve shirt 0.388
shell pants 0.350
linen bag 0.338
long underwear 0.300
Fleece undershirt 0.256
boxer shorts 0.219
2 pairs synthetic underwear 0.219
Gloves 0.169
Waterproof bag for clothes 0.163
Fleece hat 0.088
Total 6.090 5.827

I'm never ever going to go on a trip without my balaclava again. It weighs next to nothing, but makes a big difference in retaining body heat. I also wished I'd brought my gloves on two or three mornings when we were above 9000 feet. I'd been trying to shave weight, but I think I should have brought them.


Misc Kevin Jean
poncho 0.563
Matrix lamp w/ batteries 0.375
Matrix lamp w/ batteries 0.375
Cobra radio w/ NOAA w/ batteries 0.375
Cobra radio w/ batteries 0.325
pulse oximeter 0.200
accessory cord 0.156
mosquito coils 0.106
2 garbage bags 0.094
mini playing cards 0.088
Gerber knife 0.069
compass 0.063
credit card + ATM + $20 bill + ID + AAA card 0.044
Paper / pens 0.063
matches 0.069
whistle 0.038
Rae Lakes Loop trail map 0.031
4 ziploc bags 0.019
extra shoelace 0.006
Total 2.359 0.700
Unused Total 0.308 0.000

We hardly used the mosquito coils. We took a lot out, but we could have reduced the weight even further by taking just a couple coils.

I didn't want to bring the cards, but Jean insisted. We never did use them. Don't think I'll ever bring them on a backpacking trip again.


Kitchen Kevin Jean
water filter 1.081
large fuel canisters 0.869
large fuel canisters 0.869
stove 0.744
titanium small pot + lid + bag 0.570
2 Nalgene bottles for filtering 0.338
32 ounce Nalgene bottle 0.325
CamelBak 0.313
CamelBak 0.313
2 lexan cups 0.312
dish soap / scrubber / bag 0.169
small squirt bottle 0.144
2 plastic spoons 0.031
Total 4.359 1.719
Unused Total 0.869 0.000

I actually used part of the second fuel bottle on the last morning because the first one was nearly empty and was taking a long time to boil some water. The second, full bottle made it boil much quicker. The first bottle didn't have any problem until it was nearly empty. So, for future reference, one large bottle will last for 4 breakfasts and 5 dinners. I could have saved some weight by taking one large and one small bottle.


Bathroom Kevin Jean
Toilet paper 0.450
Sunscreen / lip balm 0.400
Sunscreen 0.250
Wet wipes 0.531
Sunscreen 0.238
Kleenex 0.181
Quick-drying towel 0.169
2 Bags for bath stuff 0.169
Trowel 0.119
Quick-drying towel 0.094
Moisturizer 0.088
Mirror 0.075
Toothpaste 0.056
Toothbrush / floss 0.050
Handkerchief 0.044
Bath sponge 0.038
Nail clipper 0.031
Comb 0.025
Toothbrush 0.013
Total 1.626 1.395
Unused Total 0.250 0.000

I brought way too much sunscreen. I didn't reapply on my legs during the day, so that made a big difference.

Bringing the handkerchief instead of wads and wads of kleenex was a good idea.


First aid kit Kevin Jean
Insect repellent 0.088
Ace bandage 0.075
Cortizone 0.069
Bandages 0.056
swiss army knife 0.044
waterproof tape 0.044
Sting Eze 0.038
Polysporin 0.038
Ibuprofen 0.038
Antacid 0.038
Neosporin 0.031
Bandages 0.019
Non-adherent dressings 0.019
Thermometer 0.013
Bag for first aid kit 0.013
Bag for first aid kit 0.013
Moleskin 0.013
Antihistamines 0.000
Moleskin 0.006
Total 0.491 0.164
Unused Total 0.352 0.151

Even though I hardly used the first aid kit, I would never go without it. I don't understand these ultralight backpackers who go without a first aid kit (either that or they don't include it in their weight totals, which is cheating).



Summary Kevin Jean
Food 14.541 9.909
Bedroom 11.488 4.788
Liquids 4.000 4.000
Pack 7.500 6.250
Photography 5.984
Clothes 6.090 5.827
Misc 2.359 0.700
Kitchen 4.359 1.719
Bathroom 1.626 1.395
First aid kit 0.491 0.164
Total 58.438 34.752
Unused Total 3.488 0.643


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