Backpacking is where it's at!


At the end of July I had the opportunity to visit one of my best friends, Anna (hi @adventure.yuki), in Utah and spend three days/two nights backpacking in the High Uintas Wilderness. Not only was this my first time in Utah but it was also my first time backpacking and I can say without a doubt that I am hooked now. I thought it could be really fun and helpful to share what I packed, what I would definitely do again, and what I would do differently on my next trip. Obviously I am not a backpacking expert, but if you're someone who is newer to backpacking or nervous about getting started, I'm hoping this post will give you the confidence to plan a trip of your own!

The trip details


Our backpacking trip took us through the Uintas, a mountain range in Northeastern Utah that stretches near the UT/WY border. We hiked just under 10 miles to our destination, camped for two nights, and then hiked out. We also did some day hiking from camp on our second day. While the trail didn't have a ton of elevation change, we were hiking between 10-11,000 feet which was quite different from what I'm used to. The temps were in the 70s during the day and the low 50s/high 40s at night.

Packing my bag


Earlier this year I purchased my backpacking pack - the Gregory Maven 55L - which was perfect for this length trip. I highly recommend going to a store like REI to buy your backpacking pack so that you can try on a variety of styles and have it fitted for you. We don't have an REI close to us but it was worth the 2 hour drive - I have a pretty short torso and it was nice to have someone help me try on all the different style packs and walk around with actual weight in them. In the end, the Gregory fit the best and just felt really comfy and light on my back!


With Anna's guidance, I packed my bear can with my jet boil, meals and lots of other small, packable stuff. That went in first. Then I squished some soft things around it, like my sleeping bag, sleeping pad and extra things I wouldn't need while on the trail the first day including clothes. Next I added my Chacos, other trail gear and finally my camera on top. In the brain I put lots of trail snacks, my rain jacket and one extra layer. I used the two side pockets for my water bottle and my crazy creek chair, and strapped my kula cloth and lantern to the cinch straps on my bag! I didn't actually weigh my bag at the end, but it was definitely on the heavy side. I made sure everything felt comfy and balanced the night before we hit the trail!

Clothes


Here's all the clothing related items I brought on the trip with me. I honestly was so happy with the amount of clothes I brought and what I brought. I've linked everything below where possible for you to check out (these are not affiliate links, just genuine products I love)!


Hiking outfit: I wore this outfit for the hike in and out of camp, plus on the one day hike we took


Packed in my pack:


As I mentioned above, I was really happy with everything I brought. The only thing I didn't use were my swim shorts, but I was glad to have them just in case I wanted to go for a dip in the alpine lake. Next time, I would be sure to pack a pair of gloves because my hands got very cold when hiking in the rain (and they chafed a bit on my hiking poles). I also should have brought a beanie for cold mornings at camp. Finally, the puffy baselayer was great, but I probably could have used my puffy jacket when it was chilly during the mornings and evenings.

Food & Water


Food is without a doubt my favorite part of any hike/trip. On the morning of our trip, Anna and I stocked up on our trail snacks. I always like to have a mix of sweet and savory with me, so I packed some nut butter filled cliff bars, trail mix, gummy candy, peanut butter m&ms and beef jerky. I also brought a few packets of liquid IV which I really love for extra electrolytes on trail.


For meals, I brought two dehydrated breakfasts, two dinners and one extra meal. My personal favorite brands are Trailtopia, Backpacker's Pantry, Mountain House and Good to Go. I did bring an African Peanut Stew from AlpineAire that I was not a fan of. I ate it because I felt like I had to, but I would probably not buy that brand again. I ate everything except for one mango sticky rice, so I felt like I did a pretty good job!


My stove was the Jetboil MiniMo system, which I really love. It's so easy to use and has been reliable on all of my trips. I also brought one small can of fuel.


I knew there was going to be plenty of water at the lake, and because the temps were low, I chose to just bring one water bottle - my Katadyn BeFree 1.0L water bottle + filter. The soft pack style is great for folding up when it's empty, and the filter was so amazing to have. I just filled up at the lake whenever I needed it, and the size was perfect for the hike. I definitely felt like I had enough water. If it had been hot out or if we were on a drier trail, I definitely would have had to carry more water.


For coffee, we picked up some Verve instant coffee. Normally I'm a huge fan of Copper Cow pour over coffee - it's a women, minority owned business and they have some amazing flavors, but it was nice to use the instant granules to make less trash to pack out.


I stored all my food in a BV450 Bear Vault which we stored far from our camp at night. While it worked very well for this trip, I recently learned that these types of canisters are not recommended in the Adirondacks, which are my home mountains. There's a lot of evidence that shows they aren't truly bear resistant, so I think I will purchase a different can in the future to comply with my local regulations!

Other Essential Gear


In addition to my clothes and food, here's the rest of the gear I brought on the trail:

  • Sleeping bag - I have the Nemo Forte 20 and it is amazing! It is so cozy and very warm. I was more than comfortable in the evenings when it was in the high 40s and it packs down pretty small making it great for backpacking
  • Sleeping pad - I purchased the Therm-a-Rest NeoAire Lite sleeping pad prior to my trip and it was OK. I didn't find it to be super comfy, but to be honest I didn't expect peak comfort from a super light pad. It was really easy to inflate and packed down small, so that was nice, but I probably just should have bought an Exped since I know and love them!
  • Headlamp - I will always choose a headlamp over a flashlight any day. My Petzel headlamp has been a favorite forever because of the reactive lighting, meaning it adjusts to the amount of light around you. It's a game changer and makes doing things in the dark a breeze!
  • Trowel - I purchased this ultra light trowel for the trip and it worked perfectly - was really happy with this and it was probably the lightest item in my pack!
  • Kula cloth - My kula cloth may be my favorite trail gear of all time. It's a technical pee cloth made with antimicrobial material that you use to wipe and then just wash when you get home. It's such a luxury to have on trail and clips right to your
  • First aid kit - I just packed a random assortment of bandaids and first aid items in a ziplock bag. In hindsight I would've added a few more items (more on that later!)


Anna and I decided to share a tent, so I was lucky to not have to have that in my pack!

Nice to Haves


In addition to the essentials, I also brought along the

  • Trekking poles - Black Diamond women's trekking poles - I love hiking with poles and was so happy to have these. When my legs started to get tired, these helped a lot, and I felt like they helped balance the weight of my pack too. I would 100% want these on a more challenging trail too.
  • Crazy Creek Chair - this was a last minute purchase before I went and oh my god I was SO happy to have it. This lightweight, packable chair fit in my pack water bottle holder and it was so amazing to not have to sit on the ground. I loved how it reclined with my body weight and it was surprisingly comfy. I would highly recommend one for your next trip!
  • Pillow - I have the Nemo Fill elite pillow and it's great - I use it for regular camping too - it packs down very small and is super easy to inflate!
  • Garmin inReach mini - Both Anna and I had our satellite messaging devices, so I felt very safe while we were out in the backcountry. I did end up sending a message to my husband just to let him know we were safe and having fun.
  • Battery pack - I used my Goal Zero Flip 36 power bank which worked amazing for charging my cell phone. I don't think it would've charged my camera well though so keep in mind that it is only meant for smaller items.
  • Camera - obviously I had to bring my camera! I opted for my 24mm lens, which is my lightest one, keeping my kit as light as possible
  • GoPro - I wanted to capture some higher quality video and was happy to have my GoPro Hero 8 with me to document the trip!
  • Lantern - I LOVE my Goal Zero crush light lantern - it is so small and light and has a build in solar panel for charging. It has an adjustable light and is perfect for just a little ambient light in your tent at night.
  • Kindle - I was so happy to have this with me for reading before bed and also for when it rained during the day and we needed to hide out in the tent. Reading is such a huge part of my life so it made sense for me to bring this along!
  • Towel - I brought a Rumpl shammy towel in my pack in case we went swimming, but it actually came in really handy for drying stuff off after the rain and for helping keep me dry while sitting on the ground.


Phew! Just typing that out I still can't believe all of it fit in my pack!

My Backpacking Takeaways


I can honestly say that after this trip, I'm a backpacking convert. I absolutely loved my time on the trails in Utah and cannot wait to plan my next trip. I do think it was a perfect trail to do for my first trip with minimal elevation gain and a not very technical trail. I'm sure it'll be a lot more challenging to lug my pack up the boulders of the Northeast, but I am definitely game to try! So, from a backpacking newb, here are my key takeaways...


What worked: Almost everything! I was really happy with all of the items I brought. There wasn't a single thing that I wouldn't bring next time, except maybe that peanut stew. I also would've wanted to do a trail like this one for my first trip. It was long enough and at high enough elevation to be a challenge, but not so hard that it made me regret my life choices. I have Anna to thank for that! I definitely recommend bringing a friend who is knowledgable and has experience backpacking if you are going for the first time. It definitely helped to have someone to guide me through the process!


What I would change next time: As I mentioned, I would've packed a few additional layers, including a hat and gloves and maybe a puffy jacket because it was a lot cooler weather than I had been used to coming from a humid summer climate. That said, I wasn't in any danger not having those items. I also would've packed a more comprehensive first aid kit. It may be TMI, but I ended up getting my period on the last day and thank god Anna had a spare pad (for head injuries!) or I would've been in trouble. I also could've used some Advil. Next time I'll definitely pack a better first aid kit!

Thank you so much for reading! I hope this post was helpful - please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! And don't forget to follow us on instagram for more dog-friendly adventures!