We started late for this trip thanks to hours of packing. The thing about backpacking is the packing. It takes a long time to pack up all your stuff, especially a family of three. We’re fairly organized--everyone has one pad, one sleeping bag and one stuff sack. We divide up the tent. Then, there’s the cookstove, one bowl, one cup and one spork per person and a pot. Our water purifier and food. Stuff sacks have an extra set of clothes and warm layers, a toothbrush. Then the reading and writing materials of course, plus headlamps. Camp shoes, toilet paper and trash bags. Sunscreen, raincoats, hats, first aid kit. The dog carries her own dog food, pills, leash and bowl. What am I forgetting? Phew. Pretty soon simple gets complicated.
The funniest part is right before bed when we have to collect all things scented-- food, dog food, toothpaste, trash, sunscreen, deodorant, etc. and round them up into a bag and pulley them into a tree so animals, especially bears, won't be attracted to our …
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