The Ultimate Hut Trip Packing List
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I'm heading out on a mini hut trip this weekend, which means it's time to gather up all the necessary gear and check it twice. I treat packing for a hut trip like packing for car camping in a two-door Honda Civic. You want some comforts but not so many that they weigh you down. Here's the handy checklist I came up with that I thought might be useful for any first timers out there. This list assumes that your hut will have kitchen equipment and an outhouse.
• Pack. You want one that's light but with a capacity of at least 50 liters.
• Skis, Boots, Poles (duh)
• Skins
• Shovel
• Beacon
• Probe
• Transceiver and extra batteries
• Sleeping bag
• Camp pillow
• Sunglasses
• Goggles
• First aid kit
• Repair kit, including duct tape and multi-tool
• Water bottle and/or hydration bladder
• Layers. My set-up usually looks something like this: socks, knicker long underwear and ProShell pants on the bottom, then a merino t-shirt, synthetic long sleever, ProShell jacket, and hat on top. I'll have an extra fleece pullover, light synthetic jacket and poofy down jacket in my pack. And yes, sometimes I wear everything.
• Change of dry clothes for the hut
• Hut slippers. I like down booties.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Lotion
• Sunscreen (I like Kiehl's All-Sport Face Protector SPF 30, which also helps protect against wind burn.)
• Hand sanitizer or soap
• Earplugs (counter-snoring strategy)
• Lip balm with SPF
• Secret women's supplies and extra hair ties
• Headlamp with new batteries
• A camp lantern or candles if the hut doesn't have them
• Camera
• Lighter, just in case
• Toilet paper, just in case
• Map and compass if it's going to be a tricky or unfamiliar route
• Plastic bags for trash
• A few ziplocks
• Playing cards
• Whiskey
• Food and hot drinks
Anything I forgot?