Eileen & Brooke Hiking Along Paine River

Gear Comments & Packing List for “O” + “W” Circuit (Patagonia, Chile)

Trip Date: March 15-22, 2023

Trekking Gear, Footwear & Clothing
Campsite Gear & Clothing
Trekking Food & Beverages

Foreign Travel Essentials

Our Packing List for the “O” + “W” Circuit

The “O” + “W” Circuit (or simply “O-W” Circuit) is a classic sub-alpine trail trek that encircles the Paine Massif in Chilean Patagonia. Over the course of approximately 75 miles, it gains and loses about 19,000 vertical feet. The trail elevation ranges from 1000 to 4000 feet, making this a low-altitude trek. Eight mountain huts are located along the trail to accommodate trekkers doing part or all of the circuit.

I completed the “O-W” Circuit in 2023 with my wife (Eileen), and we were joined by our daughter (Brooke) for the first half. We took eight days and seven nights to do the entire circuit, with no layover days. For a detailed description of the entire trek, see my related post here:

>>> Link to my “O” + “W” Circuit trip report.

Despite having many years of backpacking experience, Eileen and I found it necessary to modify our standard packing list in order to accommodate the specialized nature of this trek. You can view our customized packing list here:

>>> Download a one-page PDF of our Patagonia “O” + “W” Circuit packing list.

Affiliate Disclosure: My gear discussions presented on this page contain some affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something that I’ve linked to, I might get a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Be assured, though, that my list contains only gear that we used or would choose to use for this trek.

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Our Strategy for the “O” + “W” Circuit

The gear that you will need for the “O-W” Circuit is greatly dictated by your overall strategy. Here is a summary of the strategy that Eileen and I employed for our trek in 2023. If your strategy is significantly different, you might need to make some adjustments to the packing list presented above.

Schedule Considerations

We scheduled our visit to Patagonia for mid-March, which is during the austral autumn. Statistically, autumn is a bit less windy, less rainy, and less crowded but somewhat colder than are the austral summer months of December, January, and February. At any time of year, though, trekkers must expect and prepare for wind and rain on at least a few occasions. During our eight-day circuit, we experienced a couple days of rain and a couple nights of strong wind.

Accommodation Considerations

The “O-W” Circuit allows for various camping accommodations. If you are looking for a relatively luxurious (I use that term very loosely) trip, you can stay in lodges, huts, or domes every night. A mid-level option is to sleep in pre-pitched tents. Both of these options allow trekkers to avoid carrying a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We elected for a “budget” option, which required us to carry our own tent and sleeping gear for the full eight trekking days.

Meal & Cooking Considerations

Every campsite on the circuit offers a “half-board” (breakfast and dinner) meal plan to all trekkers, whether they are staying in the huts, in the pre-pitched tents, or in their own tents. As a way to lighten our load a bit and add some variety to our diet, Eileen and I paid for half-board at three of our seven campsites. At the other four campsites, we cooked our own meals, which required that we carry a stove, pot, fuel, utensils, and related accessories during the whole trek.

We left home with our critical snack food for the entire circuit, including protein bars, electrolytes, recovery drinks, and many of our favorite foods, as well as two days worth of basic snacks. Most campsites on the circuit have some snack foods (chips, candy, cookies, chocolate, drinks, etc.) available for purchase, which allowed us to supplement our own snacks. A few of the huts sell hot lunches, but we did not take advantage of this option.

Luggage Considerations

Self-supported backpacking trips inherently require lots of gear, and the “O-W” Circuit is no exception. Eileen and I flew to Chile with six pieces of luggage: two carry-on bags and four checked duffel bags. Two of the duffels were Osprey “Airporters,” which contained our trekking backpacks and some other items. Obviously, it is a royal hassle to carry this much heavy, awkward luggage for any significant distance, so we always used a luggage cart within the airports whenever available.

Because our group had various itineraries while in Patagonia, we rented an AirB&B in Puerto Natales for 12 days. This allowed us all to leave certain pieces of gear in our rental unit while we were off adventuring. It increased our overall expenses, but the convenience and stress-reduction was well worth the extra cost.

Flying across the country or across the world with a lot of backpacking gear can be a daunting task. Over the years, Eileen and I have developed a variety of procedures, tricks, and hacks to make the task a little easier, as described in the following page:

>>> Link to my page How to Pack Your Backpacking Gear for Air Travel.

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Packs & Accessories

This section discusses the backpacks, summit packs, packing aids, and travel organizers that we used or recommend for the “O-W” Circuit.

Backpacks & Summit Packs

Because we needed to carry a full array of camping and cooking gear, plus a moderate amount of food, I did the “O-W” Circuit with a 60L backpack and Eileen used a 55L backpack. If we had availed ourselves of some or all of the support options, such as sleeping in the lodges and paying for meals, we probably would have used backpacks in the range of 30L to 40L.

We always take summit packs on backpacking trips. They make a nice carry-on bag during the flight, and they are indispensable for sidetrips during the trek. With modern summit packs being so lightweight and compact, there is really no reason not to bring one.

The table below shows the specific backpacks and summit packs (or an equivalent substitute) that we used on the “O-W” Circuit. Obviously, these items are a matter of personal preference; there are many other brands and models that would perform the same function.

Osprey Volt 65L Men’s Backpack
Provides a good balance between weight, durability, and comfort.
Osprey Ariel 55L Women’s BackpackThis is my wife’s go-to pack. It is not only comfortable but gives her ample room for gear.
Osprey Aura 50L Women’s Backpack
My daughter, Brooke, loves this pack. She is petite and this pack hugs her frame allowing her to carry more weight than a conventional pack.
Osprey Ultralight Rain Cover – Large
Make sure your pack cover is bigger than your pack. You don’t want it too large but too small simply doesn’t work.
REI Co-op Flash 18 Rucksack
A simple, versatile, and economical rucksack for both urban traveling and mountain trekking.
Livingstone Alberta 25L Rucksack
An ultra-light and compressible rucksack with many nice features.

Packing Aids & Travel Organizers

We use a variety of gear organizers when traveling and staying in hotels or AirB&B units. These items make it much easier to keep organized. When checking our backpacks on an airplane or train, we also use flight duffels to keep things streamlined. Many of our favorite packing and travel accessories are shown below.

REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set – Small/Medium/Large
Excellent for organizing both travel clothes and hiking clothes.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Packing Cube Set – XSmall/Small/Medium
Excellent for organizing both travel clothes and hiking clothes.
Osprey Airporter LZ Backpack Flight Duffel
Keeps all backpack straps safely sequestered and provides extra room for other gear. (See my post on Packing a Flight Duffel for Air Travel for tips on packing trail boots and trekking poles.)
REI Co-op Roadtripper Zippered Pod – Small
A durable pouch for keeping several days’ worth of snacks easily accessible.
Granite Gear Air Zipsack Zippered Pouch – 5L
A lightweight pouch for keeping several days’ worth of snacks easily accessible.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Quick-Trip Toiletry Organizer
A streamlined pouch for keeping all of your hygiene products organized.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Travel Bag Set – XS/S/M
Simple and lightweight pouches for miscellaneous small items.

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Basic Trekking Gear

The table below shows the basic trekking gear that we believe to be most useful. Most of these are personal items, but a few could be treated as group gear. We had three people and two satellite texters on the circuit, and this enabled us to keep track of each other through the course of each day. You might notice that there is no water filter listed; nearly all of the water along the “O-W” Circuit is potable, so there is little need to filter water.

Garmin InReach Mini
Cell phones do not work everywhere but satellite texters do. Great for communicating with your group enroute or maintaining contact with people back home.
Coast FL75 435 Lumen Dual Color Twist Focus LED Headlamp
One of my favorite features is the beam focus.
Fox 40 Classic Safety Whistle
The loud signal is useful not only for emergency use but also for getting the attention of a partner on the trail.
Therm-a-Rest Z Seat Cushioned Sitting Pad
Provides a comfortable and clean to sit during lunch on the trail.
Biking Style Water Bottle
I prefer water bottles to a water bladder on backpacking trips. My favorites are Ultimate Direction but they are no longer made.
Bottles are easier to fill water throughout the day. I have holsters on my backpack so the bottles can be easily accessed.
Platypus Big Zip EVO 3L Reservoir
This is my wife’s favorite and she has tried several. The large slider opening makes them easy to fill and easy to clean.
REI Co-op Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle – 16 fl. oz.
If you use a water bladder, always bring a spare water bottle. Bladder can get pin hole leaks. We also use the small bottle to mix our recovery protein drink when we reach camp.
Kula Cloth Reusable Antimicrobial Pee Cloth
For women only. A stylish and hygienic way to deal with “pee stops” on the trail.
Bandana
My wife insists on having at least one with her. They have many uses.
Hygiene Kit of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer, and extra zip lock bag for used TP
Be sure to always pack out used toilet paper. The critters dig up anything buried.
TheTentLab UL Backcountry Trowel
It is difficult to dig a hole 6″ deep without a trowel.
Trouble Kit
We took our standard backcountry “trouble kit” containing a variety of first-aid supplies, medications, and gear repair items.

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Trekking Footwear & Transit Aids

The choice of footwear is very much a matter of personal taste and foot anatomy. Eileen prefers an ultra-light boot with a soft sole and wide toebox, whereas I prefer a sturdier backpacking boot with a narrower toebox, and Brooke prefers a lightweight mountaineering boot with lots of ankle support.

We all use trekking poles to ease the discomfort of scree fields, slippery trails, and steep descents. In addition, we take micro-spike crampons when there is a chance of encountering steep, hard snowslopes on the trail.

Vasque Men’s Breeze Hiking Boots
A good balance between weight, support, snugness, and comfort.
Altra Women’s Lone Peak Mid Trail Shoe
Very light and very cushy, with a large toebox.
REI Co-op Traverse Aluminum Trekking Poles – Mens/Womens
Economical but well-made three-section poles with comfortable cork handles. We prefer aluminum rather than carbon-fiber due to its greater durability.
Kahtoola Microspikes Traction System
A snug-fitting rubber harness combined with durable stainless-steel spikes.

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Trekking Clothes

Trekking in Patagonia necessitates a combination of base-layer, mid-layer, and outer-layer hiking clothes to handle a wide range of weather conditions. This section presents many of clothes that Eileen and I used during our “O-W” Circuit. Note: Some of the clothing we used has been discontinued. In those cases, we either recommend an equivalent item or group of items.

Base-Layer Clothing

Base-layer clothing must provide next-to-skin comfort for multiple days on the trail. The key feature is that all items should be synthetic or wool, not cotton. Most items require some duplication depending on how long you can tolerate the accumulating odor. For our eight-day trek on the “O-W” Circuit, we took two or three pieces of each item, which meant that we never had to wear the same item more than three or four times.

Men’s Base Layers
Short Sleeve Hiking Shirt / Base Layer (x3)
I like a simple, colorful, trim-fitting crew neck undershirt.
Long Sleeve Shirt / Jersey (x1)
I always take a long-sleeve jersey to wear over my undershirt during cool days on the trail. The undershirt keeps it relatively clean.
Hiking Boxer Briefs (x3)
I like a boxer-brief because it doubles as a shower short and a swimsuit.
Moisture Wicking Men’s Hiking Socks (x3)
I use mid-weight hiking socks as my liner socks for extra cushioning.
REI Co-op Merino Wool Expedition Hiking Crew Socks (x2)
I like a thick wool outer sock for maximum cushioning. These also keep dirt and mud off my liner socks.

Women’s Base Layers
Short Sleeve Hiking Shirt / Base Layer (x3)
My wife likes a simple, colorful, trim-fitting crew-neck or V-neck undershirt.
Half-Zip, Long Sleeve Shirt / Jersey (x1)
My wife loves the older Arc’teryx Taema zip-neck jersey. The new Arc’teryx Taema is a hoody style that has become very popular lately.
Women’s Active Briefs (x4)
Be sure to get something that feels comfortable under a backpack hipbelt.
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Lift Your Spirits Bra (x2)
My wife’s favorite by far, due to the support and comfortably soft fabric.
Injinji Liner Crew Synthetic Socks (x2)
My wife loves toe socks because they keep her toes from rubbing against each other.
Injinji Liner Crew NuWool Socks (x2)
Toe socks for those who prefer wool fabric.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks – Women’s (x2)
Comfortable and durable but pricey.

Mid-Layer & Outer-Layer Clothing

Mountain weather forecasts become very unreliable beyond three or four days, so you have to expect cold, wet, and of course windy weather at some point on the “O-W” Circuit. A good layered clothing system is essential to stay comfortable day after day. Our standard system comprises a versatile mid-layer, an insulated outer layer, and a waterproof outer (shell) layer.

For mid-layer clothes, we like softshell fabrics due to their combination of stretchiness, warmth, wind-resistance, and quick-drying properties. For insulated outer-layer clothing, we prefer synthetic “puffies” because they can tolerate a considerable amount of moisture and rough use. For waterproof outer-layer clothing, we have generally experienced better performance with Gore-Tex fabrics than with any of the other “waterproof-breathable” fabrics currently available.

As with footwear, the choice of mid-layer and outer-layer clothing is very much a matter of personal preference and body shape. My wife and I have found that Arcteryx clothing fits us very well, in addition to being extremely well-made. Some of our favorite items are shown below. Many other brands, such as Patagonia, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, Black Diamond, and REI, also offer excellent and popular clothing items.

Jackets & Pants
Arc’teryx Gamma MX Softshell Jacket
I use an old Arc’teryx Gamma AR, and my wife uses an old Arc’teryx Epsilon LT, but neither is made anymore. The Arc’teryx Gamma MX is a good substitute.
Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody
An excellent and lightweight synthetic outer-layer “puffy” coat.
Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody
A very light but full-featured windbreaker. Small enough to pack in an outside pocket for easy access.
Arc’teryx Beta LT Shell Jacket
A Gore-Tex shell jacket that provides a good balance between low weight and durability.
KUHL Renegade Convertible Pants – Men’s
These convertible pants have lots of pockets and are incredibly durable.
REI Co-op Sahara Guide Convertible Pants – Women’s
These are the first women’s convertible pants that offers feminine-looking shorts when the legs are zipped off.
Arc’teryx Beta AR Shell Pants
A Gore-Tex shell pant that provides a good balance between low weight and durability. I like the 3/4 side zippers because they provide easy on and easy off, and they allow me access to my cargo pockets.

Headwear & Handwear
Running Cap
We like running-style caps because they breathe well and have a bill for sun protection.
Neck Cape / Solar Curtain
I like my neck cape so much that I did a review of it at Summertime Comfort Accessories.
Gorewear Windstopper Thermo Beanie
I like a “skullcap” style tuque because it fits under my sun cap and climbing helmet. The windproof flaps help to keep my ears warm.
Buff Ecostretch Tube
My wife and daughter love their Buff because it provides extra warmth for almost no extra weight or bulk.
Columbia Ascender Gloves
An excellent softshell glove that sheds wind and light rain. It can be used with cell phones and other touch screens.
REI Co-op Polartec Wind Pro Fleece Gloves 2.0
A simple softshell glove that offers good warmth and wind protection.
REI Co-op Minimalist GTX Mittens 2.0
A super-simple and lightweight shell mitten to wear over other gloves or mittens in rainy weather.
Outdoor Research Adrenaline Mitts
I get cold hands easily, so I like this warm but very flexible mitten.

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Campsite Gear & Clothing

To me, good campsite gear and clothing is critical to having an enjoyable overall backpacking experience. Taking shortcuts on these items can make for an unpleasant evening or a sleepless night. This section presents much of the campsite gear and clothing that Eileen and I use on most of our trips.

Shelter & Sleeping Gear

We have found that our most versatile shelter-sleep system is a free-standing tent (there is no pole in the middle) used in conjunction with a double-wide down quilt. This system accommodates a wide temperature range; in warm weather, we can stick our legs out or even sleep on top of the quilt, and in cold weather we can tuck in the sides and use each other for body warmth. To accommodate the anticipated Patagonian winds, we added additional guidelines to our tent.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
Includes poles, rain fly, stakes, and basic guylines. (We added additional guylines to combat the Patagonian winds.)
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Footprint
A simple, lightweight ground tarp to keep the tent bottom clean.
Enlightened Equipment Accomplice 2-Person Sleeping Quilt
Our lightest and most versatile sleeping system. We use it year-round except when sleeping on snow.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad
Lightweight, compact, and very comfortable. An essential piece of gear for us older folks who can’t sleep on hard ground anymore.
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow
My wife prefers this inflatable pillow for most mountain trips.
Therm-a-Rest Stuff Sack Pillow
I like this ultra-simple method of stuffing extra clothes into a sack to create a pillow.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Micro Pump
This compact micro pump only weighs 2.3 oz. and blows your mattress up in a minute or two.
UST SplashFlash 25-Lumen Mini-Lantern
We use this tiny lantern in our tent at night. Requires only one AAA battery and puts out a surprising amount of light.
UCO Clarus 118 Lumen LED Mini Lantern/Flashlight
Makes a great camp lantern, whether eating dinner in the dark or organizing a tent. Doubles as a flashlight for those midnight trips to the outhouse.
Goal Zero Flip 36 Power Bank
This power bank gets us through an 8-day trip. It provides two full charges of an iPhone and a complete charge of our satellite texter. Don’t forget your device-specific charging cords.

Campsite Clothing

Though dedicated campsite clothes are not a necessity, my wife and I feel that they are worth carrying. It is nice at the end of the day to get out of our sweaty, dirty, or wet hiking clothes and into something clean and comfortable. Also, warm outer-layer campsite clothes are essential on a cold night in the mountains.

Men’s Lightweight Long-Sleeve Shirt
I like a simple crewneck shirt for a camp undershirt.
Women’s Lightweight Long-Sleeve 1/4 Zip Shirt
My wife prefers a zipneck shirt for easier ventilation.
Lightweight Track Pant with Side Zips
I wear a zip-on pant over my hiking pants to add a bit of warmth at night and to keep dirt out of my sleeping bag.
Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pants (Only on cold trips)
Insulated “puffy pants” make cold-weather camping a lot more comfortable, and the full-zip legs make them easy to don and doff.
Women’s Beyond Yoga Pants
My wife likes how the Beyond Yoga fabric feels.
For camp socks, we bring an extra pair of hiking socks; on the last day, we get to hike out wearing clean socks.
Crocs Slide Sandals – Unisex
We like to bring a camp shoe that has other uses, such as wading into lakes or crossing creeks.
REI Co-op Polartec Power Stretch Fleece Beanie
For sleeping, I like a simple, soft, stretchy, lightweight tuque or beanie.
Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket – Men’s
This medium-weight down coat is ideal for late-spring through early fall camp use, and it comes in fun ’70s retro colors.
Arc’teryx Cerium Down Hoodie – Women’s
This medium-weight down coat is ideal for late-spring through early fall camp use, and it comes in tastefully muted colors.
REI Co-op 650 Down Vest 2.0 – Women’s
My wife wears a down vest under her down coat during extra-cold trips.
PackTowl UltraLite Towel – S/M/L/XL
This quick-drying synthetic towel comes in multiple sizes, ranging from face towel to beach towel.

Cooking & Eating Gear

Our preference is to keep food preparation as simple as possible during a backpacking trip. We nearly always eat cook-in-pouch meals, because they require only boiling water and involve little clean-up. For this purpose, we use an MSR Reactor stove, which boils water faster than any other cooking system. On stormy evenings or mornings, we feel comfortable cooking in our tent vestibule, as the Reactor has no exposed flame.

MSR Reactor Stove System – 1.7 Liter
An excellent integrated stove/pot/canister system for boiling water quickly in any weather. This is ideal for cook-in-pouch meals and hot drinks; not designed for cooking in the pot or simmering food.
Iso-Pro Blended Fuel Canister – 8 oz
Ideally suited for the MSR Reactor, as well as many other stoves. Reminder, you cannot fly with fuel, but these canisters are widely available in many countries. We look for them in sporting goods stores as soon as we arrive, even if we are not heading out for several days.
BIC Classic Lighter
Handy for lighting campstoves and campfires. You can fly with lighters as long as they are in your checked bags.
REI Co-op Multi Towel – Mini
Great for keeping stove clean and dry after each use. It can also be used to filter debris out of water before cooking or drinking.
MSR DeepDish Bowl
We prefer a hard bowl over a collapsible bowl, due to ease of cleaning. These fit snugly onto the bottom of the MSR Reactor Stove.
Home-X Soup Mug with Lids
We prefer a sturdy plastic mug for coffee, tea, soup, cereal, etc., due to ease of cleaning and lack of a metallic flavor. I also like having a lid so I can store my breakfast muffin in the mug for protection while hiking.
GSI Outdoors Essential Spoon – Long
Most freeze-dried food pouches require a long spoon to reach the bottom. We have the GSI Pouch Spoon but it is only available direct from GSI. This one is available at REI.
Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery 3-Piece Set
We prefer having a true spoon and fork for eating, rather than a spork, plus we like having a knife.
HydraPak 3L Seeker Collapsible Water Container – 100 fl. oz.
Works as a lightweight group water jug, and our Katadyn BeFree Filter fits on the opening.
Ursack Major XL Bear Sack – 15 Liters
There might not be bears in every country, but rodents are everywhere. This reasonably lightweight and packable sack is designed to keep out all hungry mammals.

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Trekking Food & Beverages

Most campsites on the “O-W” Circuit have a small store with a limited selection of snack food and drinks. We brought our own energy bars, nuts, lunch staples, electrolyte mixes, and recovery drinks, as well a couple days of snack food, but we supplemented these with snacks purchased en route. (If you plan to purchase items from the campsite stores, you need to carry cash.) We also brought all of our freeze-dried meals from home, as the available options are limited in Patagonia.

>>> Link to a post regarding My Favorite Trail Foods & Drinks.

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Foreign Travel Essentials

The “O-W” Circuit is in Chile, which uses the Chilean Peso as their currency. We got cash as soon as we arrived in the country, since many of the smaller towns rely on cash and do not have cash machines (ATMs). Before leaving home, verify that your credit and debit cards do not get charged foreign transaction fees and that your bank will refund any fees charged by foreign parties. For more tips regarding foreign currency, see my associated page here:

>>> Link to my page How to Deal with Foreign Currency when Traveling outside the U.S.

North American trekkers will need a C-type (two-pin) or L-type (three-pin) electrical adapter for use throughout Chile. Electrical outlets are available at most campsites along the “O-W” Circuit, but they tend to be in short supply and high demand. We took an adapter with one A/C port and two USB ports, which allowed us to recharge more than one electrical device at the same time.

Other travel essentials include a passport, paper maps of the route; digital maps loaded onto your cell phone; a paper and/or digital copy of all confirmation for campsites, bus passes, and park entrance; and paper and/or digital copies of any important route information that you have gathered. Obviously, many of these items can be shared among a group.

Torres del Paine National Park Complete Topographic Map Atlas 1:50000
Digital Maps showing Torres del Paine GPS Track
We use CalTopo for creating tracks prior to leaving home.
Stay Connected using Airalo eSIM Data Plans
Get US$3 off by using code JAMES6603 at signup or checkout.
My post on Staying Connected details how we utilized our data plans on the Haute Route.
Route Beta
We noted where all the camps are, where the shuttle is, and hours of operations.
Campsite Reservation and Other PrePaid Services
We use Microsoft OneNote to digitally store our documents, so they are all available offline.
Brooke has an Instagram reel on using OneNote
Chile Travel Power Adapter, Type L
Includes one USA/Canada input and two USB ports.
Two Credit Cards & One Debit Card
My post on Dealing with Foreign Currencies has detailed recommendations on paying for your trip overseas.
Passport
In addition to carrying your passport booklet, keep a photograph on your cell phone and make sure someone back home has a copy.

Our CalTopo GPS file is referenced and linked to in the table above. This file cannot be used in the field without a minimum subscription to CalTopo.

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