What I Packed for a 500 Mile Hike

In July of this year, I spent 26 days hiking 500 miles from Denver to Durango, Colorado. The Colorado Trail, which spans just under 500 miles and climbs nearly 90k’ in elevation was my first thru-hike, a title most given to those completing point-to-point hikes of extended distance.

I grew up camping and hiking, and in college began my backpacking career - that said, most trips that embarked on were, at most, a few days in length. I entered uncharted territory with little more than online packing lists to aid me in preparing for the journey that lay ahead.

Having recently completed my backcountry journey, I am excited to share my own packing list as well as gear that I wish I would have left behind with you all today!

 
 
 

What I packed for a 500 mile hike across colorado

First, let’s take a look at my packing list.

 
 

There are also a few things that I packed, but then unpacked and sent home immediately/swapped for different gear which include;

 

  • Extra Pair of Shorts (not needed)

 

Airing out my tent fly between storms at 13,000’.

Entering Collegiate West at sunrise from Hope Pass.

 

What I would have done differently

Overall, I was really happy with my gear choices and how things held up on trail, and to this day I still wear and use all of the clothing and sleep system (tent, bag, etc.) gear that I brought on trail as it still functions well - if not like new.

That said, there are a few things that I plan on doing differently in the future after having gone through this experience!

Namely, paring down on gear that I thought was necessary but that I barely used, such as;

  • Rode On-Camera Microphone

  • OpSack Smell-proof Bags

  • Greens Powder (1 lb.)

Not a lot, I know. But the above items not only failed to add to my experience, but they honestly took away from it.

Having the goal of capturing my trek, for example, was fine in and of itself, but feeling the need to carry a microphone was a tad ridiculous. I am not a Hollywood film producer, and my camera mic performed just fine. I say this because I never used (even once) this mic. Instead, it just flopped around in my bag every day, reminding me of my foolish error.

Next up are the OpSack Bags that I brought along, having used them extensively in the past. What I did not realize, is that these bags are known for busting apart within a day or two of use, completely negating their purpose. These thick bags could have easily been replaced by thinner, lighter ziplocs that would have served the same purpose and reduced the clunky nature of the Op’s. I might use them again in the future for a short overnight or similarly short trip, but never again for anything longer than 2-3 days. If I am in bear country, I will just bring a canister.

Finally, my beloved greens powder. This is something that I regularly use at home, and figured would be helpful to have on the trail to ensure that I was hitting my nutritional micro-targets. And as someone who ate more peanut M&M’s than salads on trail, this would have been correct, had I actually used it. Instead, I tossed it aside for 28 mornings in a row, not wanting to drink down an entire liter (the size of my bottle) of cold greens on frigid mornings. Not surprisingly, I survived without it and could have shaved a full pound of weight had I left it at home. Lesson learned.

A Final Note

Ultimately, the gear that you choose to bring or leave behind on a trek is 100% up to you, which is the best part. If alpine coffee’s are your favorite part of hiking, then the weight will be worth it. If you get sore feet after a few hours of walking, then wearing a shoe with a more supportive sole makes all of the sense in the world. If you’re like me and couldn’t fathom drinking green sludge in the morning, leave the greens behind!

At this point, there are what feels like a million “what I packed” lists out there - heck, I even have one now! But the only way to really know what you will need, want, or hate, is to try it out for yourself.

So ultimately my suggestion is this - pack a bag, and take a hike. Then, go from there.

I’ll see you on the trail.

Alexandria GallizioliComment