Packing plan · September 15, 2026

Junior’s pack loadout

Meeting carry plan plus the preserved personal weight ledger. Estimates are not scale-verified, and the old ledger is not a finalized packing list. Checkmarks are temporary browser controls, not a synced crew record.

Current meeting carry plan

Fuel: one small canister each, approximately 100g of fuel; the spare stays in the truck. This supersedes the old 227g canister plus half-spare carry below. Gross canister weight and cold-weather sufficiency still need verification.
Water treatment: Junior brings SteriPEN and two Sawyer Squeezes, one for Austin; Austin has a 3L gravity bag. Confirm the Squeeze versus prior MINI model and who carries the remaining components. The old MINI row is not an updated Squeeze weight.
Shelter: Settled — Junior brings a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL, Jackson brings his Argali; both are two-person tents. The old Chaos 2 half-share allowance below is superseded.
Cooking: Junior covers Austin’s pot and stove; Austin brings a spoon. Confirm fuel split and actual pair stove count.
Food: own meals; Junior plans oatmeal or bone broth for breakfast and Mountain House for dinner, plus his own lunch/snacks. Three days then truck restock is an option, not a finalized reduction from the four-day allowance. Carry through the confirmed next restock plus delay reserve.
Optics: the crew brings the spotter and uses existing shooting tripods instead of a separate spotter tripod. Junior’s shooting tripod stays; rifle-right / tripod-left packing is unchanged.

Baseline ledger — not the final meeting-adjusted weight. All 49 original weighted rows are retained below for comparison. Fuel rows are superseded; filter and tent weights need reconciliation. Rebuilt 2026-09-24 from gear Junior actually owns. Superseded rows (Chaos 2 half-share, the old 24 oz pad, the 227g canister and its half-spare) are removed, not hidden. Only one figure here is weighed — the complete rifle at 159 oz. Everything else is a manufacturer number or an allowance, each marked per row. Adding the 1L Nalgene full adds 2.2 lb over the 2L figure.

Pack contents, dry: 45.27 lbPack with 2L water: 49.68 lbEverything carried: 64.11 lb

Baseline assumptions below: four days of food; remaining trip duration is unresolved. The meeting offers a three-day carry and truck restock when all four pack down together; confirm timing and delay reserve before changing rations. Blackjack 100; shelter is now the Copper Spur UL2 XL (3 lb 5 oz packed), not the old half-Chaos 2 allowance; one Nalgene + 2L CamelBak. 10 rounds total; one spare pair of socks; orange hat, no vest; no footprint; no additional rain shell. Baseline water is 2L total, not 3L. Clothing and boots worn are listed separately. No meat included. Blackjack weight uses an 8.8 lb planning allowance within the recorded 8.3–9.2 lb range; weigh the actual bag, frame and lid. No separate backup light (phone/watch lights instead), no paper map or compass, no trowel. Permit/ID remain included; foam earplugs replace the generic hearing-protection label.

Kestrel remains provisional. Radio, trekking poles, extra supplies and additional assigned group gear are not included. Meeting assignments above supersede conflicting baseline carry assumptions; actual weights and shelter partner must be confirmed.

Baseline weight ledger

These are comparison rows, not instructions to carry superseded fuel or duplicate shared gear. Only tick a row after checking it against the meeting plan above.

Pack and sleep · 19.39 lb

Mystery Ranch Blackjack 100 with frame8.8 lb planning figure inside the recorded 8.3–9.2 lb range; weigh actual item140.8 ozPack liner, dry bags, strapsEstimated allowance; weigh actual item8 ozBig Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL — complete, poles fly stakesManufacturer packed weight 3 lb 5 oz. Carried SOLO — no half-share; supersedes the Chaos 2 allowance53 ozKelty Cosmic 0 bagEstimated allowance; weigh actual item69.5 ozBig Agnes Zoom UL Insulated 25x78Manufacturer figure; weigh actual item18 ozTherm-a-Rest Z Lite original, regularManufacturer figure; weigh actual item14 ozPillowEstimated allowance; weigh actual item3 ozEmergency bivyEstimated allowance; weigh actual item4 oz

Packed clothing · 4.59 lb

Marmot Minimalist Pertex rain shell, XL✅ DECIDED 2026-09-29 — replaces the Stone Glacier M7 (22.4 oz), saving 10.4 oz. The M7 WET OUT in a test run: it is an insulated softshell with a DWR finish, never waterproof. The Marmot is 2.5L Pertex Shield Revolve at 20,000 mm — the actual rain layer. Weigh actual item12 ozStone Glacier puffyEstimated allowance; weigh actual item18 ozDry sleeping base layersEstimated allowance; weigh actual item14 ozFirst Lite Shale Gaiters, L/XLManufacturer actual weight 15 oz15 ozFirst Lite Brooks Down Glassing MittManufacturer figure; weigh actual item3.5 ozFirst Lite Omen Over-MittNo published weight, estimate — weigh actual item3.5 ozArc'teryx merino liner glovesEstimated allowance; weigh actual item1.5 ozSpare wool socks 1 pairEstimated allowance; weigh actual item3 ozSpare underwearEstimated allowance; weigh actual item3 oz

Optics and electronics · 6.97 lb

RRS tripod with Anvil headManufacturer reference; confirm owned version73.4 ozCinch LR adapterEstimated allowance; weigh actual item1.6 ozKestrelEstimated allowance; weigh actual item5 ozinReach with tether — one deviceOne device confirmed 2026-09-23; phone satellite is the backup6 ozOne small ~110g fuel canister, gross⚠ FIVE days now needs ~10 boils; one canister yields roughly 10–15 in ideal conditions and fewer in cold and wind — adequate but with NO margin. A second canister is +7.5 oz for certainty. Austin now brings his own stove and pot, so this fuel feeds one hunter only7.5 ozPower bankEstimated allowance; weigh actual item13 ozCables and spare device batteriesEstimated allowance; weigh actual item4 ozPermit and IDEstimated allowance; weigh actual item1 oz

Kitchen and water gear · 2.83 lb

MSR PocketRocket 2Estimated allowance; weigh actual item2.6 ozTitanium pot, lid, spoonEstimated allowance; weigh actual item6 ozOne small ~110g fuel canister, grossCurrent plan: one small canister each, spare stays at the truck. Supersedes the 227g canister + half-spare rows; weigh actual item7.5 ozSawyer Squeeze with collection pouchPlan names Squeezes, not the MINI; confirm model and clean/dirty fittings. Protect from freezing3 ozSteriPEN UV backup purifierEstimated allowance; weigh actual item5 ozOne 1L Nalgene, emptyEstimated allowance; weigh actual item6.2 ozOne 2L CamelBak bladder with hoseEstimated allowance; weigh actual item7 ozFood and scented-item storage kitEstimated allowance; weigh actual item8 oz

Field and safety · 4.17 lb

Argali MOB full game bag setManufacturer 16 oz; 5 bags + stuff sack. Load orange-side-out, white TAG bag inboard16 ozMorakniv Companion Stainless with sheathManufacturer figure; weigh actual item4.2 ozNitrile gloves, 3+ pairsMechanic-grade 6–8 mil, owned. Cut-resistant liners are NOT owned — open item1.5 ozMeat tarpNOT YET OWNED — open item; a painter's drop cloth saves ~12 oz6 ozCordNOT YET OWNED — open item3 ozCompact first aid, blister kit, personal medsEstimated allowance; weigh actual item12 ozFire kit: Vaseline cotton balls, ferro rod, lighter, repair tape✅ SPEC 2026-09-29. 6–10 Vaseline-soaked 100% cotton balls (~1 oz) in a ziploc or tin — waterproof, 5–7 min burn. TO USE: tear open and fluff the centre to expose dry fibre, then spark it; the jelly is fuel, not tinder, and a compressed ball will not light — this is why people think they fail. ⚠️ Dryer lint: COTTON lint burns well, SYNTHETIC lint (fleece, merino blends, athletic wear) melts into beads — and plain lint is not waterproof. Wax-filled cardboard egg-carton cups fix that; jute twine also takes a ferro spark well. ⚠️ Butane lighters lose pressure in the cold and mornings are 34–38 °F — carry the lighter in an inside pocket against the body, not in the pack lid. Ferro rod as backup: works wet, cold and at altitude. This is emergency-warming and signal kit, not campfire kit — check Uinta-Wasatch-Cache fire restrictions5 ozToiletries, TP, waste bags — no trowelEstimated allowance; weigh actual item6 ozTherm-a-Rest Z SeatManufacturer 2 oz, R 2.2. Doubles as the kneeling pad for boning out and a hip boost at night2 ozLeatherman ARC, bit set, foam earplugsARC 8.6 oz manufacturer + 2 oz bits + 0.4 oz plugs11 oz

Consumables · 11.72 lb

Five days food — WEIGHED 7 lb 5 oz✅ ACTUALLY WEIGHED 2026-09-29: 117 oz in a dry bag — only the SECOND verified figure in this ledger, after the rifle. 21.7 oz under the 138.7 oz planned, and 8 oz under even the drop-the-tuna variant. Most likely cause: stripping retail packaging, which runs 10–15% of food weight and the budget counted it. ⚠️ Confirm whether the 7 lb 5 oz INCLUDES the dry bag (2–4 oz) — if not, add the bag separately. ⚠️ Count five complete day-bags before leaving: 8 oz under the leanest plan could equally mean a day is short, and that is a problem to find now, not on day four117 ozTwo liters drinking waterEstimated allowance; weigh actual item70.5 oz

Outside backpack · 14.44 lb

Complete rifle: scope, suppressor, bipodRecorded complete-rifle scale weight — the one verified figure in this ledger159 ozSlik Sling V4Purchased, user-reported; actual weight unmeasured5 oz10 cartridges and Cole-TAC ammo walletEstimated allowance; weigh actual item14 ozSIG KILO10K binocularsManufacturer reference; confirm owned version32 ozEberlestock Bravo bino harnessEstimated allowance; weigh actual item12 ozPhone in caseEstimated allowance; weigh actual item9 oz

Worn separately · 6.54 lb estimated

Crispi boots pair — 51 oz
One pair hiking pants — 20 oz
Merino top — 9 oz
Stone Glacier Chinook Merino Hoody — 10.7 oz (was recorded as 13 oz). 170 g/m², 89/11 merino/nylon, 17.5 micron — Stone Glacier sells the Chinook line as BASE LAYERS, not midlayers. The stack is therefore base → base → puffy → shell, with no true active-insulation midlayer (no grid fleece or Alpha). Adequate for this forecast: base only on 61–65 °F days, and base + Chinook + puffy + shell covers ~40 °F static glassing. The gap only bites when active in real cold (hiking near 30 °F), which this forecast does not contain — and the free fix is already packed: put the Marmot shell over both merino layers, since wind-blocking is most of perceived warmth. ⚠️ Never hike in the puffy — with the M7 dropped it is the only real insulation left; sweat it out or soak it and there is nothing for the glassing sits.
Socks and underwear — 6 oz
First Lite Furnace 350 beanie, Hunters Orange — 3 oz (satisfies the one-orange-article rule on the outermost layer). One beanie only — no spare is carried, so this single item also carries legal compliance: losing it means hunting illegally.
Belt and watch — 5 oz

Packing order

Proposed arrangement for the Blackjack 100. Test the actual fit and balance before the trip; nothing here proves that the full load fits. Load the pack standing upright.

Before filling: bladder and liner. Leak-test the CamelBak, load the chosen water amount into the hydration sleeve against the frame, route the hose and close its valve. Keep it outside the waterproof sleep-kit liner. Protect it from sharp gear and avoid crushing it under a hard object. Capacity is 3L with the Nalgene; the baseline carries only 2L total.
Bottom: dry, soft, camp-only gear. Put the sleeping bag and dry sleeping clothes inside a waterproof liner or dry sack. Fit the pad and pillow low around them, as space permits. Seal the liner; tent fabric and wet gear stay outside it.
Against your back: dense gear in the middle. Place food and compact cooking gear close to the frame, roughly mid-back rather than hanging low or pulling away behind you. Pad hard edges. Keep fuel capped, protected, and separate from food and sleeping gear; carry no loose fuel. Stove off and cool before packing.
Outer middle: shelter and balanced equipment. Place your share of the tent outside the dry liner, reachable when you arrive. Put poles securely in a side pocket or inside the pack. Keep wet fly fabric isolated. Junior carries his own Copper Spur UL2 XL complete — there is no tent share to allocate.
Top: weather and stops. M7, puffy, warm gloves, beanie, lunch and sit pad go near the top. If weather is changing, the M7 should come out without unloading the pack. No additional shell and no footprint are included.
Accessible pockets: safety and navigation. First aid, headlamp, fire kit, emergency bivy, offline electronic navigation and repair essentials stay reachable without removing camp gear. Keep permit and personal medication with you. Put the kill kit in one labelled, easy-to-remove pouch near a side/front opening.
Outside and on your body. Carry binoculars in the harness; phone and Kestrel protected and accessible. Attach the inReach high with a clear antenna view and reachable SOS control, tethered to you or your harness. Do not bury it. Keep the Nalgene reachable. Carry the rifle on the right and the tripod on the left. Lash the tripod tight with two secure points; no swinging items. Test actual balance with the heavier rifle opposite the tripod. Secure the rifle in a purpose-built carry arrangement with protected trigger and controlled muzzle direction. Follow safe handling and transport rules.

Small rifle tool kit

Leatherman ARC with compatible bit set replaces the separate rifle driver. Test-fit the bits to the scope mount, sling attachments and bipod at home, including access to recessed screws with the ARC handle. Carry a special key only if the ARC cannot reach or fit a needed fastener. Do not guess torque or adjust an unfamiliar mechanism in the field. ARC is listed at 8.6 oz by Leatherman; the combined kit uses 11 oz provisionally, including 2 oz for bits and 0.4 oz for foam plugs/case, excluding a sheath. The ARC was not previously counted. Morakniv Companion Stainless remains included as the separate field knife.

Navigation and sanitation choices

No paper map or compass is packed at Junior’s direction; independent non-electronic navigation remains recommended. Download and test offline phone/watch maps, conserve power and carry the planned power bank. Phone/watch lights are not hands-free replacements for a failed headlamp. No trowel is packed: arrange a shared digging tool where catholes are permitted or an appropriate waste pack-out system. Pack out toilet paper; do not leave waste exposed.

Before stepping away from camp

Take emergency shelter, insulation, first aid, navigation, communications, light, water treatment, food, water and the hunting/kill kit even when sleep gear stays behind. The pack-in total is not your day-hunt total. Know how to release the pack without losing control of the rifle.

Cold-weather and fit check

The meeting names two Sawyer Squeezes and a SteriPEN supplied by Junior, plus Austin’s gravity bag. Confirm actual models and clean/dirty fittings before packing; the baseline MINI row is retained only for weight comparison. Protect every wetted Sawyer from freezing. After suspected freezing, normal flow does not establish safe filtration: follow manufacturer replacement guidance and use a working alternative. The SteriPEN requires suitable water clarity, the correct volume and a successful complete cycle for the actual model. Protect freeze-sensitive filters; the hydration hose and valve can freeze before the main bladder. Keep an accessible drinking-water backup. Fit the hip belt to carry the load on your hips, snug shoulder straps, then adjust load lifters and sternum strap according to the pack instructions. Walk a hill, bend, kneel and retrieve your jacket and safety kit. Repack if it sways, pulls you backward, presses hard edges into you or prevents safe access.

Shared pack-down and truck regroup

All four pack down toward Hoop around day 3 or 4; Kimble’s Sunday, October 4 / Monday, October 5 exit depends on flights and the exact road-ready deadline. His dad’s Tacoma is an onward-driving option, not a confirmed vehicle allocation. Reallocate keys, shelter, stove/fuel, treatment and communications before the remaining hunters continue lower. Confirm coolers/ice, recovery equipment and transport retained by the remaining crew.

Truck food/drinks, Genesis and chili are a regroup plan with carriers still to confirm, not a staffed Hoop base. The spare fuel stays at the truck; the old half-spare row is not part of the current uphill plan. Food restock timing and Jackson’s tent shares still need final agreement.

Truck leave-behind checklist

✅ Patagonia R2 fleece hoody — STAGE AT THE TRUCK, do not carry on the pack-in (decided 2026-09-29). ~13.3 oz of Polartec Thermal Pro high-loft — exactly the true midlayer the system lacks (see the Chinook note above: base → base → puffy → shell, no active insulation). It breathes while moving, keeps insulating damp and dries fast — everything the puffy is not. But days 1–3 are the well-forecast ones (sunny, 61–65 °F, lows 37–40) and it will not be touched: base + Chinook + puffy + shell already covers 39 °F static glassing, and at 65 °F the base top is enough. Carrying it up 1,100 ft is 13.3 oz of dead weight, and fleece packs badly, so the bulk costs more than the number. The forecast runs out around Oct 5 — which is the truck regroup. Leave it at Hoop Lake and collect it at the regroup if days 4–7 turn: zero cost on the pack-in, full availability when the uncertainty starts. If a front does arrive, it fills the one real hole (hiking in the 30s, where two base layers are thin and the puffy would be sweated out and lost) and it protects the puffy by giving him something else to move in. Carrying it anyway is fine — ~51.9 lb, not a dealbreaker — but staging is free.

Bring NOCO Boost X GBX155: 4250A 12V UltraSafe Portable Lithium Jump Starter for the truck.Planned bring; possession unconfirmed. Confirm availability and charge before departure. Stays at the truck, outside the spike backpack load and all weight totals. This checkmark is temporary, like the other controls on this page.

Estimates should guide a real scale-and-fit session. Do not cut warmth, necessary water, food or emergency equipment just to reach a number.