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

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 BatteryOutdoor 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

Insect Repellant 

Vaseline

SPF 50

TP

Leukotape

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.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo ii Shelter System

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Comments 10

  • Lillie : Aug 17th

    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??? ?

    Reply
    • Zach : Nov 30th

      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!

      Reply
  • Therese : Aug 17th

    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!!!

    Reply
    • Zach : Nov 30th

      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.

      Reply
  • Alix Hinnegan : Aug 17th

    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.

    Reply
    • Zach : Nov 30th

      Alix! Are you still kicking it at Lucky’s?

      Reply
  • Elizabeth Hauser : Aug 29th

    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! !

    Reply
    • Zach : Nov 30th

      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.

      Reply
  • Heather : Apr 7th

    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?

    Reply

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