What to Pack for your Hiking Trip

How to Pack for a Hiking Trip with Wells Gray Adventures

Packing for a hiking trip can significantly impact your experience, transforming it from enjoyable to challenging. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for your hike. Below, you’ll find a printable packing list, but we highly recommend reading through this guide thoroughly to ensure you’re fully prepared for your trip with us.

Dressing Right for Your Alpine Hike: Comfort and Protection

Opt for Coverage

When hiking in our alpine environment, it’s crucial to dress appropriately for both comfort and protection. We strongly advise against wearing shorts or a t-shirt due to the prevalence of bugs and the intensity of the sun in the alpine. Instead, opt for light long pants and a long sleeved hiking shirt, which provide better coverage and protection. While comfortable, tight pants like leggings are not recommended. Bugs can easily bite through them, which will compromise your comfort. For added comfort and safety, we provide bug nets that go over your head, offering additional protection against insects. These measures ensure you can fully enjoy your hike while staying comfortable and well-protected from the elements.

Footwear

For footwear, we recommend over-the-ankle hiking boots made from waterproof materials such as leather. Our trails include uneven, rocky, and sometimes muddy terrain, where sturdy hiking boots provide better support, traction, and protection than low-cut shoes. Over-the-ankle boots can also help improve stability on rough ground.

Choosing the Right Backpack

Selecting the right backpack is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable hiking experience. While you don’t need a lot of gear, backpack sizes can vary significantly. The most important aspect to consider is fit. It is far better to have a larger backpack that fits well than a smaller one that doesn’t. A well-fitting pack distributes weight evenly across your shoulders and hips, reducing strain and helping to avoid fatigue, especially on longer hikes. We do not recommend bringing both a main pack and a daypack on any of our hikes. Carrying two packs adds unnecessary weight and discomfort on the longer days. Instead, on days when you are based at the cabin, it is more efficient to empty your large pack and use it for day hikes. This way, you avoid the additional weight and bulk of a second pack, making your hike more comfortable and manageable. When packing your bag, aim for a balance between carrying all essential items and keeping the weight manageable. Ensure there is enough space for group food, which typically requires about 3-5 inches of space at the top of your pack. Choosing the right backpack with a proper fit and efficiently packing it will enhance your hiking experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying the natural beauty around you rather than dealing with discomfort or fatigue.

Insect Repellent (DEET)

DEET is an effective insect repellent when used according to the manufacturer’s directions. However, on multi-day hiking trips it may need to be reapplied, particularly after heavy sweating or prolonged time outdoors.

To help reduce environmental impacts, we ask that you avoid washing DEET off your body in alpine lakes or streams. If you have applied insect repellent to your skin, we will ask you to wipe it off as thoroughly as possible before swimming. Even small amounts of insect repellent can affect sensitive aquatic ecosystems in the alpine as DEET is toxic to aquatic animals.

Whenever possible, we recommend using physical barriers such as long sleeves, long pants, and bug nets as your primary protection against insects. These methods provide effective protection without introducing chemicals into the environment.

If you choose to use DEET, consider applying it sparingly to the outside of your clothing—such as around cuffs, collars, and other openings—rather than directly to your skin. Always follow the product label and avoid applying more than necessary.

By combining protective clothing, bug nets, and appropriate use of insect repellent, you can stay comfortable while helping protect the alpine environment.

Sleeping Gear

The cabins are equipped with duvets, blankets, and pillows for your comfort. To help keep the bedding clean for all guests, please bring either a sleeping bag liner or a fitted sheet and pillowcase.

Sleeping bag liners are lightweight, packable, and available from most outdoor retailers. Many include a built-in pillow pocket, eliminating the need for a separate pillowcase. If your liner does not have a pillow pocket, please bring a pillowcase. While you are welcome to bring a sheet set instead of a liner, it will add additional weight and bulk to your pack.

Printable Packing List

Here is a link for a printable packing list for your convenience: Packing List