1. Passport, driver licenses, medical card, money and credit card. US money will be fine, I didn't find any place that would not take US dollars, or my visa.
2. Tent -light weight is best. You will be setting the tent on platforms, so make sure the guide lines are long. I didn't take my stakes at all, saving me weight. I have a free standing tent, but NOT light weight. I will be changing that.
3. Foot print - What I like to use is an emergency blanket, the thicker one. This helps keep you warm and is still tough enough to keep your tent from being poked. Similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/UST-Survival-Windproof-Waterproof-Emergency/dp/B00YDQJ9EK/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1TGIFGF4DEWFU&keywords=emergency+blanket&qid=1563898656&s=gateway&sprefix=emerg%2Caps%2C265&sr=8-14
I roll my foot print around my tent, then stuff both into the tent bag.
4. Sleeping bag - remember the weather will be cooler on the pass, so make sure your bag is warm enough.
5. Sleeping pad and pump.
6. Food, enough for the number of days of your trip and 2 extra, breakfast, lunch, and dinners. Fuel your body, this will be a workout, esp on the Golden Stairs. Shakeology makes for a fast easy, meal. There are a few different flavors to choose from check this out, FYI, don't buy from there, talk to me for the best deal going for the month. https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/b/shakeology?referringRepID=113282
My breakfast was oatmeal. Lunch was Shakeology, my Dinner was Thrive dinners, those were made by my friend Jan, and vacuum sealed.
7. Snacks, high energy snacks. chocolate, protein, nuts, raisins, trail mix, beef jerky...... my favorite are Beachbody bars. https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/d/BBarPeanutButterChocCherryAlmond?referringRepID=113282
8. Water and a good filtering system. SteriPen vs Filter system. The SteriPen runs by a charge or battery. You will have NO electric on the Chilkoot trail, so if you get a SteriPen get a battery powered one and at least 2 sets of batteries. My friend only had one extra set of batteries, she ran out, she was sharing it with friends. Mine was a charge and it didn't last long at all. Thank goodness I also had the Katadyn pump. Plus the SteriPen doesn't take out "floaties". As long as you don't mind drinking a little dirt....well then get the SteriPen. I prefer the Katadyn.
My preference was the filtering system, : https://www.amazon.com/Katadyn-Transparent-Lightweight-Backpacking-Preparedness/dp/B075TTTX2R/ref=sr_1_4?crid=14926JO3QA5SP&keywords=water+filter+backpacking&qid=1563899009&s=gateway&sprefix=filter+backp%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-4
I like the water bladders, I can walk and sip water. I also carried a water bottle, the same one I shake my Shakeology in.
9. TP - toilet paper. On the Alaska side there is paper in the bathrooms, but in Canada there is not, bring your own.
10. Bear bags, this is good to have while on the trail, and also it makes carrying your food down to the bear boxes and up to the warming cabins easy and convenient. There are bear boxes at each camp. The bear bags I use are: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UTK95WU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
11. Clothing, Alaska can get hot, so zip-off pants to shorts works well for this trip. At least 2 pair. I wear one, pack the other. A few extra shirts...you sweat and stink. :D girls/bras, underwear, EXTRA socks, you will be crossing water, a LOT, if you fall in, you are going to want extra socks if it's cold.
12. Bug dope. Now, I am a clean freak....meaning NO chemicals, but I ALMOST took a friends 100% deet. haha The mosquitos were BAD going over the pass, all the way from the Golden Staircase (GS) to Happy Camp. I thanked God for the hard rain we had after the warming cabin at the top of the GS, it kept them away.
13. If you take things that need charged, you will need back up chargers. I took only one, I should have taken two. Mine was X2 power 10400mAh, it was not enough to charge my iwatch, and iphone for 5 days.
14. Sun screen and sunglasses.
15. Cook pots, bowls, spoon, fork. It was easier to put my food into a bowl to eat it, instead of eating from the pan. Easier to clean too. Plus, I still had the pan clean for my friend and also my tea. SHARE with friends.....you both don't need to carry a filter, cook pans, fuel...... Sharing is good. We shared a tent also, I carried it :D
16. FUEL!! I took along two small cans, Kelly took one large. We used both of my small and 1/2 her large. It's nice to have extra, not be cut short.
17. Matches, and or lighter to light your stove. I prefer a lighter, then I don't have to worry about it getting wet.
18. Stove. I have a little one that screws to the top of the fuel can. Easy to use, small and light weight, it stores in my pans, taking up less room in my pack. Tip: when we used it in the evening for dinner, we left it together, so we didn't lose the small amount of fuel that escapes when you screw it on. I don't recommend the ones that use the little fuel blocks that you have to light. These take forever to boil water, wasting time and energy.
19. Wash cloth for cleaning up the dishes and you. Light weight towel or a dirty shirt....is what i used, after "swimming" in Bare Loon lake. "Swimming", used lightly, as the water was COLD. :D
20. Medical supplies. I recommend having Hydro Seal. One girl was getting hot spots on her toes, we tried bandaids, no luck, tape, nope, mole skin, again no. Hydro Seal and she was YELLING.....YES..... as soon as she started walking. :D Don't wait until you have a full blown blister, take care of them as soon as you feel it.
21. Of course a good backpack. Make sure it fits you. Mine was 42 lbs, that much weight with a bad fitting backpack would have killed me. I would recommend staying around 30 lbs. My tent and food were the heaviest items. Those could be a LOT lighter. I didn't try my food before I left, NO time....so I took extra just incase. Make sure you try your foods and like them. Nothing worse then finding out on day four your food taste gross and eating your next days meal instead, because you are starving. Now you are going to be a day short. :/ FYI, I can handle the 42lbs. I was still at the front of the pack, unless I was taking pictures and being the sweep.
22. Sponge....now you are thinking.....why a sponge. Well, if your tent is wet inside, it's nice to wipe out the water in the bottom of the tent.
23. ICE - In Case of Emergency. I was with friends that I don't know their families, or what meds they take, nor did they know mine..... In my pack I have a laminated paper with a list of family members and phone numbers. Also a list of meds I take.... none, and what I am allergic to, codeine.
24. Rain jacket. Check it out before you go, make sure it will protect you from the rain. Have your friend BLAST you with the hose, before you leave to make sure it's water proof. Have fun! We got hit with a hard rain on the walk/hike to Happy Camp, after the GS thank God. :D My jacket was not water proof. It was suppose to be, but wasn't. I was soaked through. When I got home, I did a review on Amazon for the jacket, not a good review. I had pictures of the inside of the jacket and how wet it was. I am returning it. Ponchos are not recommended. you don't want something hanging down while climbing on the boulders, that could trip you. Plus if it's windy, you will get wet under the poncho.
25. Have a light warm jacket also, thank goodness I had two jackets with me. Yes, my pack was heavy. haha thank God I workout daily. It's not the BIG items that you look out for when making your pack lighter, it's all the little things that add up to weight.
26. She pee - Guys you can skip this one :D
27. Wipes, for your bottom and to "bath" with.
28. Personal hygiene. Tooth brush vs the finger sweep brush. Finger sweeps works well if it a day or two, not 6, take a tooth brush and paste.
29. Flashlight, it does get dark sometimes in Alaska
30. Hand and toe warmers. Yes it's summer time, but you never know. I used my toe warmers to help dry my shoes.
31. Compass
32. Knife
33. light weight gloves
34. If you are going in June or September, you may want to have along cleats.
35. Know the phone numbers of the people that can help you.
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