Miscellaneous
Small Towel, washcloth, Biodegradable soap, shampoo
* Extra Towel for swimming or spare
Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, comb,
Headlamp
Earplugs (in case your room-mates snore)
Watch or travel alarm
* Padlock (there are lockers for your valuables) Books [12]/journals & pen/pencil
Prescription and Over the Counter medications [9]

As few electronic devices as possible.

THE REVISED TEN ESSENTIALS [11]
Sun Protection - (sunglasses, sunblock, lipscreen) [5]
Insulation - (extra clothing)
Hydration - (water and purification system)
Signal device - (whistle)
Navigation - (map and compass or GPS)
Illumination - (headlamp)
* Nutrition - (extra food)
* First-aid kit - (wound management and medications)
* Emergency shelter - (trash bag or space blanket)
* Fire - (matches or lighter)
* Knife

• 1. You should already have purchased your boots and taken them on many happy hikes, walks with the dog, or trips to the store. You'll be much happier if they're well broken in BEFORE the trip. You won't need heavy-duty hard-core stiff all-leather boots - nylon uppers are fine, as we won't be hiking more than 8 miles or so, and all of it will be on trail. However, high-top boots are recommended over "walking shoes".
• 2. Socks that wick moisture and don't chafe are best. Many people like a light-weight polypro or equivalent liner socks (also to prevent chafing).
  See How to Choose Backpacking Socks: Expert Advice from REI
• 3. I use a down vest with a softshell, or down sweater but if you tend to chill a parka would be better.
• 4. Long pants (Avoid jeans. If they get wet out on the trail they take FOREVER to dry).
• 5. The sun can really burn you at this altitude (7-10,000'), so a wide brim hat and sunscreen (SPF 30 -50) are important. (The tops of ears are particularly vulnerable.)
  Sunglasses with a Light Transmission Factor (LTF) of 9-15% with 99.5-100% UV blocking are best.
• 6a. The Lodge provides paper bags and other disposable lunch containers but if we bring reusable stuff, we'll be doing our part to cut down on what goes in the land-fill. Lunch may include a green salad or humus, so small plastic containers would be useful for these as well as keeping your sandwich from getting squashed in your backpack.
  The Lodge uses bread that is larger than the typical sandwich size, so a box that is 4x6 in is best. Walmart has 3 for $1.

  6b. Plates/bowls/eating utensils:
  A high sided bowl will work for soup and a main course.
  You should label your utensils because they have a tendency to get mixed up in a big group.
  See Camp Kitchen

• 7. See Donner Weather.
  For the end of July the average high 78° and the average low is 37°. The record low for July is 24°
  The average low in August is 37° and the 10-year low day was 28°
  For September the average low is 32° and the 10-year low day was 16°
• 9. Basic, personal first-aid kit, along with whatever over-the-counter and prescription medications you may need. If you are bringing a prescription medication, it is best to bring a spare set in the event that your primary set gets lost, wet or unusable.

  EpiPen - Anaphylactic Shock - It may take well over an hour to evacuate people from some of our hikes, so if you are allergic to bee stings you will want to make appropriate plans. See EpiPen - Anaphylactic Shock page.

• 10. Sleeping Bags:

  If you have an old cotton "car-camping" bag with flannel lining with pictures of hunting dogs, don't even think about bringing it!
  Your sleeping bag should fit in your pack (Internal frame) leaving room for the rest of your gear and your share of common commissary (food, cooking, washing gear). It can be fastened to the outside of an external frame pack but must be small enough so it doesn't flop around.
  Sleeping bag rating depends on weather and whether you are a warm or cold sleeper.
  You can use a lighter weight one with a sleeping bag liner or long underware.
  See donsnotes.com/recreation/sleeping-bags.html

• 11. Ten Essentials:
  See: backpacking.net, Weekend Hike list, REI

  We have never had anyone get lost on these trips and they are all close enough to civilization that we can make it back or get emergency evacuation before sunset. However we did have some birders wander off once, so to be realy safe you might want to have some of the optional items. Cell phones work in about 2/3 of the areas where we will be hiking.

• 12. Some popular books are:

      * Sierra Nevada Natural History by Tracy I. Sorer and Robert L. Usinger.
      * Wildflowers of the Tahoe Sierra by Laird R. Blackwell.
      * Geology of the Sierra Nevada by Mary Hill
      * History of the Sierra Nevada by Francis Farquhar.
      * My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir.
  

  See Four Major pieces of Equipment (Packs, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad, Tent)

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Kathie Fowler, Linda Conklin and Francy Rubin from whom I stole a lot of the information on this list.