Eileen Heading Toward Mt Ossa

Gear Comments & Packing List for Overland Track Traverse (Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania)

Trip Date: January 15 – 20, 2019

Trekking Gear, Footwear & Clothing
Camping Gear & Clothing
Trekking Food & Beverages
Foreign Travel Essentials

Our Packing List for the Overland Track Traverse

The Overland Track Traverse is a classic sub-alpine trail trek through Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Clair National Park in Patagonia. Over the course of approximately 40 miles, it gains about 5500 feet and loses about 5900 vertical feet. The trail elevation ranges from 2400 to 4200 feet, making this a low-altitude trek. Six forest huts are located along the trail to accommodate trekkers doing the traverse.

I completed the Overland Track Traverse in 2019 with my wife (Eileen) and daughter (Brooke). We took six days and five nights to do the entire traverse, with no layover days. For a detailed description of the traverse and associated sidetrips, see my related post here:

>>> Link to my Overland Track Traverse 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 Overland Track Traverse packing list.

Affiliate Disclosure: My gear discussions presented on this page contain 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 Overland Track Traverse

The gear that you will need for the Overland Track Traverse is greatly dictated by your overall strategy. Here is a summary of the strategy that Eileen and Brooke and I employed for our trek in 2019. If your strategy is significantly different, you might need to make some adjustments to the packing list presented above.

Schedule Considerations

We choose to visit Tasmania in mid-January, which corresponds to the middle of the austral summer. Our weather was typical of mid-summer in a lower-elevation mountain environment. The days ranged from warm to hot, and the nights were quite mild. The weather was also generally dry, but we did have one afternoon and night of steady rain.

The Overland Track is open and accessible year-round. Although trekkers are rare during the winter months of June, July, and August, the traverse is occasionally done. Cold weather, short days, and icy trails are prevalent during the winter.

Accommodation Considerations

Each campsite along the traverse has a hut, a latrine, water tanks, and a cluster of wooden tent platforms. By park regulations, all trekkers must stay at these established campsites every night; wild camping is not allowed. Although the huts are equipped with sleeping bunks, all trekkers are required to carry a tent, in case the huts are full. We generally preferred to sleep in our own tent rather than in the huts simply for privacy reasons. In addition, our party was forced to wild-camp at the end of Day 1 due to an ankle injury, but the hut manager who was expecting us to show up that night was very clear in expressing his disapproval.

Meal & Cooking Considerations

All huts are furnished with counters, tables, and chairs for the purpose of cooking and eating. Trekkers need to bring their own stove, fuel, cookware, plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. We found that cooking and eating in the huts provided a fun social experience with other members of our trail peloton.

We left home with our critical snack food for the entire traverse, including protein bars, electrolyte mixes, recovery drink mixes, and many of our favorite foods, as this ensured that we would have appealing trail food. Because freeze-dried meals are relatively expensive and limited in variety, we also brought these items from home.

Luggage Considerations

Self-supported backpacking trips inherently require lots of gear, and the Overland Track Traverse is no exception. Eileen and I flew to Chile with eight pieces of luggage: four 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.

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.

Emergency Igloo Shelter, Overland Track, Tasmania, 2019

Cal & Brooke & Eileen & Jim At End Of Overland Track

Cradle Mtn Silhouette From Overland Track

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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 Overland Track Traverse.

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 traverse with a 60L backpack, Eileen used a 55L backpack, and Brooke used a 50L backpack. 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 Overland Track. 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.

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Packing Aids & Travel Organizers

We use a variety of gear organizers when traveling and staying in hotels. 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.

	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.
	Katadyn BeFree 1.0 L Water Filter Bottle Light-weight filtration system. We have several in every group.
	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 Tasmania necessitates a combination of base-layer, mid-layer, and outer-layer hiking clothes to handle a fairly wide range of weather conditions. This section presents many of clothes that Eileen and I used during our trek. 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. We were on the Overland Track for 6 days, and we took two or three pieces of each item. This means that we never had to wear the same item more than three times. These items are light and take up a small amount of room.

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.

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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.

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Mid-Layer & Outer-Layer Clothing

Mountain weather forecasts become very unreliable beyond three or four days, so you have to expect cold and/or wet weather at some point on the Overland Trek. We had one afternoon and evening of rain. 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. Eileen 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.

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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 & Clothes

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.

	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.

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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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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.

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Foreign Travel Essentials

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.

Make sure your battery packs are completely charged before you head out on the traverse, because there are no places with an electrical connection. Elsewhere in Tasmania, North American trekkers will need an I-type (three-pin) electrical adapter. We prefer an adapter with one A/C port and two USB ports, which allows us to recharge more than one electrical device at the same time.

Other travel essentials include paper maps of the route; digital maps loaded onto your cell phone; a paper and/or digital copy of all confirmation emails for reservations; 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.

	Overland Track Route Map We were able to purchase maps from the Tsamania Parks Dept. Included all maps in my Overland Track Traverse Trip Report Route Maps section
	Three Capes Track Route Map We weren’t able to find anyone selling a Three Capes Map. Everything we have came from the literature we received when we checked in.
	Digital Maps showing Overland Traverse Route GPS Track We use CalTopo for creating tracks prior to leaving home.
	Digital Maps showing Three Capes Route 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 side trips, side summits, and viewpoints.
	Reservation and Deposit Confirmation Emails We use Microsoft OneNote to digitally store our documents, so they are all available offline. Brooke has an Instagram reel on using OneNote
	Tasmania Travel Power Adapter, Type C 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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Trekking Food & Beverages

Even though each night ended in a camp with a hut, the food we packed and carried resembled that of a standard backpacking trip. Since the mileage and elevation each day was easily doable for our group, we packed a fair number of luxury items. We enjoyed Mountain Margaritas with our Queso Dip and red wine with our Beef Pasta Marinara.

We brought all our food and drinks from home to avoid spending any time looking for backpacking food we would enjoy. We always bring our backpacking electrolytes from home to ensure we drink plenty of water.

Here is a blog post on My Favorite Trail Foods & Drinks.