In hindsight

There are a lot of things we are realizing as we continue this journey.  Here are some of the things I would do differently and things that were a good call.  Derek's list might be a little different.

* Leave a lot of the cotton shirts at home.  They are miserable in the heat and the cold.
* Take half the clothing that we packed
* Pack more sleeveless shirts (Moab)
* Pack warmer clothes (Rockies and Bryce)
* Leave cotton socks at home.  Dry wicking are the best I have found.
* Bring half the kitchen stuff.  We have used paper plates every meal, yet we have 8 camping plates with us.
*Leave the sneakers and Toms at home.  I am only wearing hiking boots and flip flops.
*Use a suitcase instead of a thirty-one rectngle tote
*Bring a fifth set of sheets in case one gets wet from touching the tent.

Things we did that are successes:

*Camelbaks for everyone
*Good hiking shoes for everyone
*12 sunscreen bottles (more than half gone; will need to restock in Zion)
*Canned goods. Here in Bryce, the food is do expensive ($5 for a loaf of bread, $8 for a box of cereal).  I have a week's worth of meals for dinner with canned and dry goods.
*Smaller camera for longer hikes
*Running hats and "safari" hats
*Air mattresses with a twin sheet set (in Moab, we couldn't use the sleeping bags. In Bryce, it's another layer.)

There's more, I'm sure, and we are learning every day.  We never expected this much rain and rapid weather changes, as well as changes in temperature from place to place.

-Cara


© Cara Parker, 2015.  Photos and text may not be reproduced without the written consent of Cara Parker.