Hi Ciara. So glad to hear the gear recommendations were helpful. If you’re planning to do the JDF in April, check BC Parks trail conditions reports online beforehand. Winter storms often do a lot of damage on the trail and there can be a lot of downed trees and washed out sections at that time of year.

I actually don’t use a compression bag for my clothing – Generally I use pack liner and then stuff my extra clothing in the gaps between my other stuff sacks. I use small 5L stuff sacks to store my electronics and my clothing accessories I might want throughout the day (hat, gloves, extra socks, small towel for sand off of feet). People who use a stuff sack for extra clothes often like a 15L size. But it really depends on how you like to organize your gear.

1. My group brought a GPS, but it was basically dead weight because it ate through its batteries in 2 hours. I used my phone (on airplane mode) and the app Maps.Me, which uses Open Street Maps as its source. It was surprisingly accurate and a great way to judge our distance to the next milestone!

2. I know MSR has had an excellent reputation in the past (half the tents I saw on the trail were MSR!), their 2019 iteration of the Hubba series is poorly-adapted for the West Coast Trail. The reason: they stopped seam sealing their flies (and everywhere else), meaning they’re ill-equipped to deal with any amount of rain. Dozens of reviews across multiple sites (MEC, REI, MSR itself) I’ve read online have complained specifically about the 2019 version leaking (even on the WCT itself). Their CSR suggest seam-sealing it yourself, but IMO it’s a silly thing to ask people to waterproof a tent they just spent $500+ on. I used a Marmot Tungsten 2P UL myself, which help up pretty well. Other well-recommended tents are made by Nemo, Big Agnes, and Mountain Hardwear.

4. Bring extra tent pegs in case the sand “swallows” one up and you can’t find it anymore!

5. I used a Neoair Xtmerm Max as well, and it was amazing. I’ve never spent that much on a pad before, but it was totally worth it for the warmth and comfort. I bought the large size because even though I didn’t need the extra length, having the option to spread out a bit was nice!

6. I’d say trekking poles are almost a must-have rather than a nice-to-have. They were utterly invaluable for navigating the many mud pits and aiding in stability. Your downsides are valid, but they were a minor inconvenience for me compared to the aid they provided. Sometimes when doing a ladder I just held them in one hand (a bit risky, I know)! But the BD poles you mentioned (and their cheaper version, the Trail Trek) are so easy to collapse and stow.

7. I scoffed at people bringing their ultralight camping chairs, but after sitting on rocky driftwood for 6 nights, I kinda wish I brought my REI FlexLite! The Z-seat is a brilliant suggestion though and I’m adding it to my shopping list for the next backpacking trip.

8. There’s a difference between packing food for caloric fulfillment vs. stomach filling. My friends (2) and I packed for calories and ended with way too much food, even though all of our meals were homemade and dehydrated, and we brought protein bars, trail bread, etc. Probably ended up with a couple pounds each of excess food at the end of the trip because we physically couldn’t eat everything.

9. An alternative water treatment to a gravity filter is Pristine Water (chlorine dioxide). They’re two eyedropper-sized bottles that can treat virtually any volume of water in 20 minutes, provided you have enough containers to store them in. Virtually zero aftertaste after 30 minutes!

10. I brought my Tevas for water crossings, though I never needed to use them (thankfully) and only busted them out at camp. The downside, they were slow to dry so I almost wish I had a pair of camp sandals/flipflops AND water sandals for wading!

11. If you can afford it, merino t-shirts are the way to go. Like wool socks, they don’t get nearly as smells as quickly as synthetic clothing does! And it’s great at keeping you warm if you get wet.

12. For a synthetic midlayer, I highly recommend the Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoody – it’s think but surprisingly warm!

Hi Kris. I LOVE my MEC T3 hoodie. I’ve worn it to sleep and around camp on pretty much every backpacking trip I’ve taken in the last 5+ years. It’s cozy warm, without being too heavy. And I can unzip the chest zipper for venting if it gets too hot.

I really should write a whole post on hiking with your period. Personally, I bring tampons (the kind that don’t use an applicator so I generate less waste). I wrap the used ones up in toilet paper, then put them in a ziploc bag. At night that ziploc goes in with my food and toiletries in the bear cache or bear hang. I also pack a few wet wipes to help keep things cleaner down there.

Can you comment on “women hygiene pad” products management? You have hiked a ton over many years, including before cups wer popular, and I am sure you have some great suggestions for how to manage this. (They don’t burn! )

So glad the list was helpful Erica! Let me know how it went when you get back.