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| There are five needs to be met when living in the woods for any length of time; Clothing, Shelter, Bedding, Kitchen, and Food. With this you could end up with a list a mile long or just enough to fill a pack. When making your list its important not to confuse survival with camping or camping with life at home. You can leave out the tent and save the effort of carrying it, but then spend two hours of effort building a shelter that isn’t half as comfortable or efficient as a tent. On the other extreme, you won't enjoy a trip if you have to carry, set up, and pack up a mountain of gear everyday. Think through each of the five areas and ask yourself what you need. If you find yourself sitting there over analyzing a piece of gear, you probably don’t need it. I prefer to use traditional gear and skills instead of most modern equipment for several reasons; First, I just like the look and feel of canvas, wood, leather, and wool. There is a great satisfaction to look at a traditional camp; it’s as natural as the surroundings that it is set up in. Second, there is a connection to the past and the men who made there living in the woods. A time when strength, courage, and self reliance were held in high regard. Last and most important, traditional ways and gear are traditional because they work and have proven their worth over and over again. Gear that is durable and functional is more important to me then counting every ounce of weight. I will go modern if there is an unquestionable improvement in function or durability. Example, my canoes are made of Royalex. They are not all that beautiful compared to a wood/canvas canoe but can take the abuse of exploring the shallow mountain streams of the Northwest. The following is a basic gear list for two or more folks traveling by canoe. |
| Canoe Camp |
| Trips longer than 10 days I take a smaller pack full of food. The outfit has seen hard use over the years and has not changed much. It is always packed and ready to go. Your friends that go along just bring their own bedding and personal gear. The list will need to be adjusted depending on the season or the number of people traveling with you.. Over time you will add and remove gear from the list until wisdom and experience brings you to the conclusion about what works best for you in your neck of the woods. For a list of the most important items to carry with you or outfitting yourself for solo trips check out The 10 essentials. |
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| Large Pack |
| Wear and Carry |
| Wannigan or Second Pack |
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| Extras if desired |
| Northwest Woodsman Explore the Unreachable |
