No bears, and beautiful

Backpacking tomorrow! Woohoo! My first trip without a group & experienced guide. Hope I've got everything I need. Let's see: matches... sunscreen... water bottles... flashlight... TP... some rope... extra clean socks... plus of course the big stuff, like tent, stove, fuel, food, sleeping bag. Oh! A deck of cards. The trail isn't that long.

I'm glad I went on that first trip with the group. I learned lots of things. Yes, a pair of sandals to slip into at camp may be nice to have... but not necessary. But it really IS a pain to live without that second bandanna (potholder) when you're messing with a hot cook set.

Soap... first aid... plastic bags... trail map...

This place we're going is the only place I could find that has some first-come first-served campsites. Anything that takes reservations was full for this weekend two months ago. But this place is also only sorta kinda semi backpacking: they have LATRINES, they have TRASH CANS, and they even have (!!) POTABLE WATER. To cut the weight of my pack down even further, there are NO BEARS. I feel like I'm cheating.

I guess cheating on my first trip is okay. :-)

Can't wait to make a reservation at Point Reyes... no water no latrines no trash cans, so it's a "real" trip, but also no bears, and beautiful...