Escalante Grand Staircase UT 4/23-27/2025
- Category Weight
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Shelter
0.71 lb
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Packing
1.01 lb
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Sleep System
2.27 lb
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Packed Clothing
0.94 lb
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Cooking & Food Protection
0.4 lb
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Water Purification & Storage
0.2 lb
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Electronics
1.15 lb
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Ditties
0.37 lb
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Go Suit
0 lb
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Consumables
11.55 lb
This gear list is for a 5-day, 4-night backpacking trip in Escalante Grand Staircase with Andrew Skurka Adventures. EXPECTED CONDITIONS: Late-April in Escalante means mild days with chilly nights, occasional gusts, and mostly dry, rugged trails of slickrock and sandy washes. Daytime highs typically range from the mid-50s to low 70°F, while nights can drop into the 20s–40°F. Sun protection is essential. Cowboy camping is a likely option due to low expected precipitation. Since camping surfaces can vary from slickrock to loose sand, so having both long stakes and extra guyline is recommended for stable setups. Mosquitoes are not expected to be an issue but are possible in low-lying areas near water.
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Shelter
Weight qty -
Shelter
Ounce Designs “Bunny” 1-Person Shelter with linelocks removed. (I prefer to use knots.) Lightweight and quick to pitch. Proven in the weather. Only four stakes and short lengths of guyline required.
5.3
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Stakes
4x Teragon Pioneer 2 stakes (8g) + 1X Pioneer 1 (5.4g)
37
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Bivy
Borah Gear Cuben Bivy. Adds wind & splash protection, keeps my sleep gear clean & contained, and adds about 5F of warmth when fully zipped. Pairs well with my minimalist shelter.
4.8
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Guyline
Kelty Triptease 1.5 mm. (weight: 0.75g /LF), although the front guyline opposite the zipper will be red Lawson Glowire (1.1g/LF) for quick identification while pitching. — 3’ at each corner, 2’ for rear center pull -- Good compromise between light weight, good strength, and ease of tying & untying.
0.8
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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-
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Packing
Weight qty -
Backpack
Bonfus Altus 38L
15.1
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pack liner
Nylofume bag, cut to size.
0.7
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Ditty bag
Borah Gear DCF stuff sack.
5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Stake bag
Allmansright Stake Holster (L) — to protect my backpack mesh from the pointy ends of my stakes
5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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-
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Sleep System
Weight qty -
Sleeping Bag
Timmermade Serpentes 20F false bottom sleeping bag, Newt Hybrid, fetal position version -- Warm, light, and highly compressible.
16.1
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Sleeping pad - upper body
Thermarest Neoair XLite, RW, cut to 3/4 length (50")
16
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping pad (feet)
ZPacks Foam Sit Pad, with trimmed corners and edges. Provides padding for the frameless pack and will supplement my backpack in providing insulate the feet from the ground at night. I can use it as a sit pad too.
0.8
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pillow
Big Sky Dream-sleeper Pillow
1.6
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hood
Goosefeet Gear down balaclava. I will bring this if I expect many nights under 40F. Above that, the hood from my Senchi will suffice.
1.8
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Packed Clothing
Weight qty -
Puffy
Timmermade SDUL 1.5 Down Vest. I’ll stay warm at night if my core stays warm.
5.4
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Midlayer
Burgeon Alpha 60 hoodie. Doubles as my midlayer and my sleep shirt.
3.75
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Sleep socks
Farpoint Alpha Direct Socks. Loose-fitting to facilitate good circulation.
21
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Rain jacket
Leve Ultralight Jacket. Silpoly. Light but otherwise full-featured, with pit-zips, full front zipper, and dropped back. I can layer this over my alpha fleece to provide additional camp warmth.
3.5
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wind jacket
Montbell Ex Light Wind Jacket
1.7
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Beanie
Leve Alpha beanie
0.5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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-
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Cooking & Food Protection
Weight qty -
Pot
Toaks Light 700ml with handles and lid removed. Perfect size and geometry (wide+shallow) to cook Skurka Beans & Rice!
1.8
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Pot stand
QiWiz Hinge pot stand
7
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Lid
DIY lid cut from aluminum tooling foil to replace the 25g lid that came with the pot.
3
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Windscreen
QiWiz titanium windscreen, customized to fit this pot
12
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Pot grabber
Suluk 46 Miksa Small carbon Pot Lifter. Replaces the 13g handle that comes on a standard Toaks pot.
3
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Stove
Kojin alcohol stove
18
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Lighter
Mini Bic lighter with safety thingy removed
11
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pot cozy
DIY reflectix cozy. I'll use the camp rag to cover the lid while dehydrating.
11
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Spoon
Sea to Summit Frontier spoon with handle shortened
9
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Camp rag
5" x 5" scrap of Lightload hand towel. My napkin, hand cloth, wipe for camp spills, and can use it to filter sediment from water.
5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Measuring cup
Litesmith fuel measuring cup. To use until I develop a knack for estimating the right amount.
3
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Fuel storage
Litesmith Fuel Measuring Bottle with spout top & gradation marks
27
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Food storage
1-gallon Smelly Proof bag
16
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Food storage for the day
Borah Gear 7" x 11" DCF stuff sack
4
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Water Purification & Storage
Weight qty -
Water bottles (primary)
Dasani Bottles 1L with labels and plastic ring removed. These are 1/2 oz lighter each than Smartwater bottles
25
g2
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Water storage (secondary)
2L Platypus bladder
1.3
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Funnel
Adotec Fold-flat UL Funnel. I use this to aid with water collection and in combination with my camp rag to pre-filter sediment from water.
3
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water purification
Aquamira (carried by guides)
0
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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-
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Electronics
Weight qty -
Phone
iPhone 16 pro in 10g Latercase cover
221
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Power bank
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3 power-bank. Has two USB-C outlets. 10kmAh should be plenty of power for 5 days.
5.3
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Cord
Etguuds 6” USB-C to USB-C
6
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Adapters
Adapter for Garmin watch
3
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sat com
Garmin InReach Messenger. To check in with my nervous wife.
4
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Light
Nitecore NU-20 Classic with UL headband
30
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Ditties
Weight qty -
First Aid & Repair
Medications (Ibuprofen, Imodium, Benadryl); Alcohol pad; Triple antibiotic ointment packet; Pre-cut Leukotape strips on two-sided release paper; mini-scissors; extra bottle cap; safety pin; Tenacious Tape patches (small & large); DCF patch
35
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Hygiene Kit
Cut-down kids bamboo toothbrush, 0.35ml toothpaste tube from Asian airline, flossers (2x), a couple of Wysi Wipes
28
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Poop kit
QiWiz Original Trowel, along with Dr Bronner’s soap, which is listed separately. I use the PCT bidet method for cleaning up. I may add toilet paper if I expect to use many pit toilets on trail.
10
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Compass
Suunto M-3D Compass with declination adjustment
1.6
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pen
Sharpie Mini
5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunscreen
Neutrogena sunscreen stick. 60 SPF to protect my fair skin.
0.5
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Chafing & Foot care
Joshua Tree Hikers Salve. Foot care will be especially important if there are wet conditions.
19
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Soap
0.3ml Litesmith dropper bottle with Dr. Bronner's soap
12
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Go Suit
Weight qty -
Pants
Patagonia Terrebone Joggers, permethrin treated
5.8
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Underwear
Saxx Quest boxers
3
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Shirt
Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoody, permethrin treated. Blaze orange color because I will be hiking during hunting season.
8.3
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Shoes
Topos Pursuit 2, permethrin treated, with Lock Laces added. These are the best shoes I have found for my size-14 flat and wide hobbit feet. The elastic Lace Locks make it easy to put shoes and and off and eliminate any issues with laces coming untied.
26.6
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Socks
Defeet Wooleater socks, permethrin treated. Thin and quick drying.
1.6
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hat
Ellewin foldable baseball hat , permethrin treated
64
g0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Watch
Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar watch
74
g0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Trekking poles
Durston Iceline Trekking Poles (pair), no wrist straps
9.4
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Gaiters
Simblissity Levagaiter pair. To keep desert sands out of my shoes as much as possible.
1.8
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunglasses
Ombraz armless sunglasses
23
g0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Neck Gaiter
Buff Cool-max neck gaiter, permethrin treated. This can be used as a beanie, neck gaiter, or pillowcase, as needed.
27
g0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sun gloves
Glacier Glove Ascension Bay Sun gloves. I am very fair-skinned.
1.2
oz0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Consumables
Weight qty -
Food
1.5lbs per day for 3.5 days
1.5
lb4.5
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
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Water
Starting out with 1L though I will have the capacity to carry 3L.
2.2
lb2
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Fuel
Denatured alcohol (0.8 oz/fl.oz x 8 oz)
6.4
oz1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-