I’m headed out to the coast next week with a couple of friends. We’re planning to head out to Sand Point and go south to Yellow Banks or thereabouts. This will be my first lightweight trip so I’d appreciate any feedback on my gear list. My biggest concern is whether a poncho is workeable as a shelter on the coast or not. So far the weather forecast looks good, if rain looks very likely I’d probably take my 8x10 tarp for daytime shelter and to pitch over the poncho for added storm protection. This list is for 2 days and we’re not planning to cover much ground due to the full moon and very high tides. Probably 5-8 miles each day is max.

Estimated base weight is about 11lbs including 1.5lbs of camera gear (I’m not leaving that since Photography is both a hobby and work-related). Camera aside I should be under 10lbs which is at least 20lbs less than I’d have carried last year.

I’d love to hear any feedback.

- ken


Clothing Worn (5.0 lbs)
16.9 nylon convertible pants
17.8 trekking poles
08.9 blue long underwear shirt
01.4 baseball hat
00.4 eyeglasses
01.3 sunglasses (inc MYO reflectix case)
02.6 hiking socks (inov-8 debris socks)
28.2 hiking boots (inov-8 rocklite 318)
01.4 lanyard (spyderco knife, 2 photon lights)
00.4 mini lighter

Clothing Packed (2.4 lbs)
12.5 cocoon pro parka
08.5 fleece long underwear (expedition weight)
01.8 winter hat (new windstop)
02.3 gloves
03.2 warm socks for sleeping
10.7 DriDucks

Sleep system (1.8 lbs)
21.0 golite ultra 20 (long)
07.1 closed cell foam pad (GG nightlight)
02.7 montbell pillow

Shelter (1.5 lbs)
10.8 GoLite Poncho
04.0 stakes (8 total w/ rubber band)
02.0 guylines
01.5 Gossamer polycro groundcloth
00.4 extra line (18ft)
06.1 equinox durable waterproof bivy

Kitchen (0.8 lbs)
00.6 dr bronners soap (will probably take less)
00.4 lexan spoon
03.8 beer can stove
01.3 OP sak for food (bear cannister required on coast)
01.1 cozy made of reflectix for freezer bag cooking

First Aid / Emergency / Repair
01.1 first aid guide &
01.2 firestarting kit (firesteel & tinder qwik, stormproof matches, 4 candles)
02.0 bandanna & small pack towel
00.3 chlorine diox tablets (10L worth)
00.4 whistle
00.7 purell hand gel
-TBD first aid kit (need to finish & get final weight)

Office / Navigation
00.1 space pen
00.4 map (trimmed)
00.9 compass
01.9 monocular for birdwatching
00.5 clip clock for pack (I don't wear a watch)

Personal (0.4 lbs)
00.6 tooth brush & powder
00.1 floss for dental & repair
00.9 sunscreen stick (spf 45)
00.2 toilet paper (shop towel)
00.9 prescription meds
01.9 hand lotion (will reduce weight but can't leave behind)
01.6 keys
05.3 15x15 go set. A luxury for sure but I am looking forward to a game or two

Haulage (1.8 lbs)
23.1 backpack (Mariposa Plus with sitlight pad)
01.4 pack liner (gossamer gear)
01.0 orange ditty bag for all sundries
00.4 garbage bag(s)
01.3 platypus 2 liter bottle/bag
02.0 gatorade bottle

Camera (1.5 lbs)
13.5 Canon G9
00.7 Bubble pakit
01.9 dessicant. For night storage. Last time at the coast my camera got too damp.
05.9 Extra G9 batteries (3)
00.0 Extra cards
00.4 camera dry sack
01.8 ultra pod mini

Edited by kreppart on 05/13/2008 01:33:10 MDT.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of the group on the suitability of a poncho for coastal camping in the Olympic National Park in Washington. What do you use when you camp at the coast?

If you are going this weekend, the weather looks really nice!

As a person who has done several coastal trips, the weather can be all over the map. I am interested in finding out how this works for you. It can rain very hard on the coast and wind can be an issue. I prefer going out this time of year; there aren't a lot of people out there.

With a poncho, I'd recommend keen site selection, as I would with any lightweight shelter. But I am sure you already know that. Also, don't underestimate the tides on the coast, we nearly got swamped while camping what we thought was well out of range of any waves based upon the tide tables. It sounds like the tides are higher.

Your mileage estimates are spot on. I was surprised how slow going coast travel can be, especially considering the tides.

Let us know how it goes!

Dirk

yes, the weather looks amazing. thanks for the reminder on site selection, i am still new to tarp camping so that's worth noting. one concern at the coast is sand, hopefully i don't have trouble getting my tarp pitched if the ground is soft. any tips or tricks for making it work? the area where we'll likely be has some sites that are back in the woods a big which will hopefully allow me to set up between a couple of sturdy trees.

In that environment I will often take three or four 1.5 to 2 inch wood screws and stake one side of my tarp directly into a downed log (no shortage of these in ONP) using the screws. This gets you all the extra protection of the log on that one side of the tarp. Just look for the lightest weight Phillips head screw driver you can find or use a multi tool/Swiss army knife. Any medium size rock or larger stick will get the screws started and you have the tool to screw them down and back them out when done.
I plan on being in the park this weekend as well on the Hoh. Hope the weather holds. Becareful with the tides!!

also keep an eye out for long narrow driftwood. IMHO nothing makes a better sand stake than a 2 foot long stick!

I spent a few days walking from the Hoh up to Cape Alava last August and I was tarp camping. I did low-mile days the same as you plan to in order to deal with tides. I found myself spending a bit of time under my tarp as the sun and rain seemed to interchange with each other almost by the hour. If you were to consider bringing a 'community tarp' for lazying away under then you should have no problem implementing a poncho as rain gear and as a shelter.

Kenneth,
If you're gambling on good weather, that's fine... But, if it rains, you're gonna be soaked using a poncho as your raingear and shelter. My experience out there is that when it rains it rains hard, and with lots of wind. The ground's back in the trees is already soggy, the sand is pretty exposed, hard to find an optimal campsite with good drainage. Not the best place to build tarping experience with a small tarp. Unless you're real confident in the forecast, I'd bring a bigger tarp or a tarptent, or something.. Just not a poncho only...