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My Wonderland Trail Thru-Hike Gear List
This week, I, along with a pair of friends, will hopefully set out to thru-hike the Wonderland Trail. I say hopefully because this year’s permit system is a bit of a dumpster fire. Typically, 70% of Mt. Rainier National Park’s permits are reserved in advance, but this year, a storm caused “a critical failure of the park’s existing reservation system“. As a result, permits are available only a first come, first serve basis. We’ve heard stories of aspiring Wonderland Trail hikers being turned away due to no availability. But I digress…
Whether we end up hiking the Wonderland Trail or resort to our plan B (as it turns out Washington is a state full of plan B’s), my gear list will be unchanged- aside for the slight possibility of needing a bear canister, which we’d like to avoid.
Without further ado, here’s…
Badger’s Wonderland Trail Gear List
(Notes: a handful of the smaller items aren’t pictured above. Also, we’re planning on hiking the trail in 8-days, which is a bit slower than I’d hike it solo. This lower mileage allows me to carry a few items I’d otherwise leave at home.)
Big Five
Shelter: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo ii Shelter System with hodgepodge of tent stakes including MSR Blizzard which doubles as trowel
Sleeping Bag: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20-degree (treated with DownTek)
Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite
Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 (40L)
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak 3.0
Clothes
Active layer: AppTrials Classic Blaze Shirt synthetic version not available in stores because the logo didn’t turn out that well but I still like it anyways because imperfection is beauty.
Base layer / camp shirt: Kora Shola 230
Bottoms: Patagonia Baggies 5″ inseam
Insulating layer: Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer Hooded
Underwear: ExOfficio Give-n-Go (2 pairs)
Bandana: Always
Socks: Poing6 Active Light Cushion Mini Crew, SmartWool PhD Ultra Light Micro Socks, Darn Tough ATC socks
Rain / wind jacket: Patagonia Alpine Houdini
Rain pants: Montbell Convertible Rain Pants
Camp shoe: Bedrock Sandals Gabbros
Shades: Smith Guides Choice ChromaPop
Kitchen
Stove: Jetboil Flash Lite
Spoon: MSR Folding Spoon
Storage: Innate Gear Mentor Storage Sac + LokSak Opsak Odor Proof Bag
Water System
Bladder: CamelBak 100 oz. Reservoir
Water bottle: Will pick up a SmartWater bottle
Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze
Misc
Trekking Poles: Leki Corklite
Sun Umbrella: Montbell Sun Block Umbrella
Bic Lighter
Stuff sac: One for clothes, one for electronics
Electronics
Headlamp: Black Diamond Gizmo
Camera: Sony a6000 Mirrorless with Peak Design Camera Clip
Phone: iPhone 6s+ with Guthook Wonderland Trail App (part of PCT App)
(Worth noting: the other two dudes in our group will have the Mt. Rainier NP Map, which I would carry if not absurdly redundant)
External Battery: Outdoor Tech Kodiak Plus
Watch: Garmin Fenix 3
Cords
Health / Hygiene / First Aid
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Knife
Toothbrush (I finally crossed the sanity threshold and cut this in half)
Toothpaste
Floss
Vaseline
SPF 50
TP
Hand Sanitizer
Baby wipes
Single serving of imodium and benadryl
Various supplements
Hiking with an ER doctor
Base weight: 15.1 lbs
Have any questions, compliments, or insults? Please leave them in the comments below.
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Comments 10
Zach,
Thanks for the list. I’m the process of switching over my gear to ultralight after carrying 35lbs in the AT almost killed my knees. But almost $700.00 for a tent!!!! I would love something this light but no way I can justify that price to my husband!! You think when you’re finished with this hike you coul like, loan that bad boy to me for like, a couple of years? I’ll take really good care of it??? ?
Hey Lillie-
It’s a great shelter, but I agree, you can get an equally capable shelter for far less. The Big Agnes Fly Creek or Copper Spur are great freestanding options. TarpTent, Gossamer Gear, and Z-Packs all make shelters that utilize your hiking poles. Thanks for reading!
Hi Zach. I did the wonderland trail last week. What a hoot orchids have been if we’d been in the trail together. I hope you are successful with your permit. What a beautiful trail!!!
Thanks for the kind words, Therese. We did in fact end up landing permits, and it was a blast. Too bad we missed each other.
Woo! Have fun! If you want to get up a 14er when you get back…..I know this girl who has 5 peaks left (4 in the Elks and Culebra), she smells terrible, and none of her gear looks like yours…but she needs a little kick of motivation to finish what she started. I think her name is Alex…no wait, she spells it weird…it’s Alix.
Alix! Are you still kicking it at Lucky’s?
Hi, Zach! My youngest daughter and I did the Wonderland back in 2001. It’s the longest trekking I’ve ever done. It was so beautiful! And in places, and little treacherous! I was 47 then, and I plan to hike the AT when my husband dies someday. (Not in a hurry. ) He’s older than me. You’re going to love the Wonderland! ! I’m a Washington native, so maybe I’m biased, but Mt. Rainier is SO beautiful! !
You’re not kidding. Rainier is one of the most photogenic mountains I’ve ever seen. Biased or not, you’re right 🙂 Let us know when you wind up on the AT. There’s still time to convince your husband it’s a good idea to join you.
Thanks for this! I got a permit for August 2020; fingers crossed. A question for you, did you have trouble with mice and other small critters getting into your food even while hanging on the bear pole, or was the Loksak enough to keep them at bay?