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Earlier this week I committed to my first backpacking trip. A friend of my dad had a spot open on a permit for a 2 night trip on Boucher/Tonto/Hermit (April 16-18) and my dad offered to help get me outfitted so I figured I better jump at the chance. I've hiked with my dad's friend before, he is an experienced Grand Canyon backpacker, and is very level-headed and responsible, so I feel reasonably comfortable taking on this trip having no backpacking experience prior. Before this thread turns into an all-out hammock fest, I must say that I'm basically broke and don't really have $ to go spending on ultra-light gear or luxury items. Basically, right now I'm just looking for a list of bare, absolutely essential items that will get me through my first three days as a backpacker. I looked at the gear list article here on HAZ, but it looks a little too comprehensive, so I'd like something a bit more pared down.

As for what I already have, today, my dad helped me out on an internal frame pack (Mountainsmith Lariat 65), a Thermarest mattress, and a new pair of Vasque boots (for better ankle support than my low top Ahnu boots that are about to die anyway. I have a friend at a outdoors shop that gave us a nice discount on that gear thankfully. Additionally, my dad is letting me borrow a 15 degree REI sleeping bag and a small propane stove. I'm not planning on taking a tent, but will have a tarp with rope to use as a shelter if need be. My friend at the outdoors shop will sell me his used mesh bivy for $20, but it has no rain-fly so I would need a tarp anyway in case of rain. I don't really have money to buy a tent otherwise anyway. That's basically all I've got, I just want to know what essentials I'm missing and what I can leave at home. Also, my company on the trip is planning on rehydrating freeze-dried food for pretty much the whole the trip, just wondering what you all would recommend along those lines? I also don't mind taking cans of soup, or easy snack foods (granola bars, peanut-butter cracker packs I both have at home). I'm not really a ramen person though. I would just like an idea of how much food to bring without running out but not over doing it. Hopefully, my first trip will be an absolute success, and I can eventually become a hammock-toting, raging ultra-lightaholic (or something like that), but for now I just need a bit of help identifying the essential items on an extreme budget.

Right on. The Squirrel hath spoken.

Packed and ready to go...my ride comes in about four and a half hours. Official weigh-in is a whopping 46.5 pounds including 4 liters of water, probably way too much food, all my camera gear, and some Keen water shoes. Wish me luck!

Jake,

Don't worry about the luck part. Just have fun!!!!

hippiepunkpirate wrote:Packed and ready to go...my ride comes in about four and a half hours. Official weigh-in is a whopping 46.5 pounds including 4 liters of water, probably way too much food, all my camera gear, and some Keen water shoes. Wish me luck!

Seriously, have a blast!

Made it out alive today...it was awesome! Descending Boucher was time consuming as hell, and the final ascent from Santa Maria Spring today on Hermit kicked my butt, but nearly everything else was specacular! I especially enjoyed Boucher and Hermit creeks. I'll try to save the rest of the details for my triplog though.

That's awsome! I will do it some day.

Good times, Jake! If it didn't kick your butt, everybody would be doing it!!!! Good Job!!! :wlift:

I love that loop. I had the permit, and Rob del Desierto, SquatPuke and another old friend of mine did it in the fall of 2010.

Did you hike down to the river via either trail?

@azbackpackr
Yeah, we camped at Hermit Rapids the second night. We used strictly the creek both in and out (we didn't even know about the side-canyon trail until we saw the junction for it at the Tonto on the way out)

Doing Boucher that quick, I bet you want to go back. On our trip we spent one night just above Boucher Creek at White Butte Saddle, one night at Boucher Creek (and dayhiked to river) and one night at Hermit Creek.

However, I liked the area around Boucher Creek and would like to go back to explore up those two canyons, Boucher Creek canyon and Topaz Canyon. Plus, I don't "have" that Tonto link yet from Boucher to S. Bass, the "Gems."

Yeah, Boucher Creek seemed really neat, and I too was drawn to explore further upstream. I think next spring I want to go back to Hermit Creek, camp at the campground and explore that creek more extensively. There was at least one waterfall in lower Hermit that I didn't get a chance to take photos of that I really wanted to shoot, and I didn't get a chance to go for a mid-day swim at the swimming hole. I definitely would like a nice, relaxing day at Hermit to really enjoy it without having to worry about lugging the pack to the next campsite.

I love layover days!

Congrats on your first successful backpack! Looking forward to pictures

Congratulations!! Descending the Boucher can make for a long day.

You were lucky! A week before you went there WAS no swimming hole at Hermit Creek (it was filled in with gravel from a flash) - took two of us 4 hours to dig it out some. Not anywhere near the 6'+ deep one of old, but still a welcome respite in the heat.
We also made a couple of tubs in Boucher Creek in the bedrock just upstream of the camp area, of course those will flash out about every couple-a-months - hope you got to enjoy them too!

Yes, that does happen to that swim hole. It eventually washes away, and probably with a little help as just described!