Prices + Booking

We had such a great response to our recent blog What’s in our Staff’s Day Packs, we thought we should follow up with a summer version. Packing all the essentials for a day of hiking in a light and compact bag can be a little tricky. Hopefully these tips from our experienced hiking staff will give you some good ideas.

 

Leah Evans – ACMG Hiking Guide

 

If anyone has it dialled, it’s Leah. That’s why we put her at the top 😉

 

Summer Day Pack Items

  • First aid kit, make sure I have lots of blister stuff (use them a lot during hiking season, and that includes lukio tape, gel second skin). Polysporin is also essential for all those little cuts you get.
  • Wind layer- generally a light Gore-tex jacket
  • Small down jacket, because the weather changes very quickly in the alpine
  • Sun hat
  • Sunscreen (I alway have it on because the UV is intense at elevation)
  • Leatherman multitool- always good to have
  • Small cordelette
  • Small tarp, in case of hail storms or lots of wind, sun or bugs
  • Large water bottle (extra tall Nalgenes – 1.5L) and have pristine drops to treat water
  • Backpack cover (next to keep you back dry so it doesn’t seem heavier)
  • Radio/ Garmin InReach
  • Camera, cause it’s so pretty
  • Hiking poles (collapsible) so great for the knees going downhill
  • Handsaw
  • Fire starter

Favourite snacks: Always have high fat foods, if the weather changes it great to have them to keep you warm. I love chocolate!

Multi-use items: Tarp

Favourite item: Hiking poles

Sneaky hacks: Make sure you grease your leather hiking boots, this will help them stay in good shape and be more waterproof

Pack of Choice: Patagonia 30L with a back frame

Kendra Hicks – ACMG Hiking Guide

 

Kendra is the keep it simple kinda gal.

 

Summer Day Pack Items

  • Honey Stinger gummies/chews
  • Small Thermorest- for unexpected nights out or emergencies… -I always bring a foldable hiking pole
  • If it’s pouring rain… bring an umbrella! Don’t rely on your Gore-tex
  • Ski straps, for any kind of repair
  • Savoury snacks like Cheezies or meat and cheese
  • Phone-for taking photos, maps, and flower id
  • Emergency electrolytes

Sneaky Hacks: Your Thermarest can also double as a good seat for lunch!

Pack of Choice: Patagonia Descentionist pack 32L

Rachel Bailey – Whitecap Alpine Business Manager

 

“I have always been a bit of an over-packer (lol)…”

 

Summer Day Pack Items

  • Whitecap’s 1L Nalgene water bottle (at minimum)
  • Hot drink flask with a hot chocolate energy boost!
  • Gummy bears in my easy reach waist strap pocket
  • Yummy sandwich or a couple of slices of cold pizza!
  • Dried mango
  • Salty pretzels
  • Summit beer!
  • Headlamp with spare batteries
  • Paper map and compass
  • Phone with FATMAP downloaded (Whitecap Guests get a one month free trial if they would like to try it out)
  • Radio and In Reach
  • Bag of random useful bits such as: Ski straps, zip ties, electrical tape, duct tape, spare laces, matches etc.
  • Multi tool
  • Bear spray
  • Hand sanitizer, trowel, TP,
  • First aid kit plus hand warmers, Allergy tablets and ibuprofen
  • Spare contacts and eye drops
  • bug spray
  • SPF lip salve – super important
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat
  • Spare socks
  • Spare base layer to swap out in case I get really sweaty
  • Atom
  • Lightweight rain jacket
  • Toque and gloves

Pack of Choice: I have a Mammut pack, but I don’t recall the model. The things I like about it: built in rain cover, waist strap pocket, shoulder strap pocket, good fit for my body length, light weight, nice balance of padding and ventilation, low profile.

Sneaky Hacks: Take a Ziplock bag blacked out with duct tape for dirty TP!

Nat Segal – Apprentice ACMG Hiking Guide

 

Nat is the compartmentalising type. 

 

Summer Day Pack Items

 

Main compartment

  • Lunch
  • Snack sack
  • Water
  • Rain pants & jacket
  • Lightweight long sleeve to protect arms from the sun and bugs
  • Puffy jacket
  • Ball cap
  • Beanie
  • Light gloves (early season)
  • Extra sunglasses
  • Interpretive guiding supports (animal tracks, plants id, etc).
  • Bear spray (carry on hip or shoulder strap attached with carabiner)

Tool compartment

  • Repair kit
  • Guides/rescue tarp
  • Ski straps
  • Pocket mask

Front pocket

  • Satellite communicator (Somewear Labs Hotspot)
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Compass
  • Koala Cloth ( for all your outdoor bathroom needs)
  • Nuun electrolyte tablets

Top lid pocket/ side pocket

  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Lightweight Buff
  • Radio
  • Air horn
  • Pocket knife

Pack of Choice: Picture – B26 Backpack (26L)

Sneaky Hacks: I make sure to pack the heaviest gear down the bottom and use my extra clothing to make the pack solid and not bendy. This helps the pack sit nice and straight against my back with the weight well distributed. I also use the top pockets for snacks and sunscreen so they are never far away.