The Difference Between Idaho and Iowa

The difference between Idaho and Iowa, two very different states which are often confused, is that Iowa doesn't have places like this! Idaho has thousands of them! This lake is at 9500', and we (Steve Nipper, and his brother Brandon) were the only people camped there. More photos here.

If you are thinking of backpacking in Idaho, or anywhere else, here is what you need:

long pants (non-cotton pants are much preferred, because if jeans become wet, they don’t dry out. The best are nylon with zip off legs)

shorts (nylon or cotton blend, or the short from zip off pants)

2 pair thick wool or wool blend socks (wear one thick and one thin pair if they will fit in your hiking boots)

2 pair thin socks (nylon or polypro is best)

hiking boots (sturdy tennis shoes will work in a pinch, but sturdier boots work better)

1 T shirt (non-cotton)

1 long sleeve shirt (non-cotton preferred)

baseball type hat

rain coat (a plastic poncho works, or a water proof coat)

pile pullover or wool sweater (non-cotton)

sunglasses

garbage bag to put over pack in rain

plastic bowl (you don’t need a plate)

plastic cup

spoon (you don’t need a fork, or a knife)

pocket knife (small one, not a big survival knife)

the smallest flashlight you can find, no larger than 2 AAs in size

an entire set of clothes for the car, to leave in the car, and change into for the trip home

small bottle insect repellant

camera, batteries new or charged

at least one liter of water storage, in a bottle, or a camelback that fits inside a pack

swim suit (left in car) if we hit a hot springs

chap stick

sun block in small tube

baby wipes for cleaning face and hands

tooth brush/ paste

$$ for burgers on the drive

compass, map

pack

sleeping bag

foam pad to sleep on, blue foam or thermarest type pad

tent: as light as possible tent for two

stove (lightweight backpacking type) fuel

cookset (two nesting pots, fry pan/lid, tiny salt/pepper, lighter, lemon pepper and vegetable oil for fish, butter in a screw lid bottle)

optional: camera, fishing pole, rain pants, ski hat, hiking poles, binoculars, flip flops for wearing around camp, to give your feet a rest from the boots

Food:

Dinner: a freeze dried meal is simplest and not half bad. If you want to cook, take the good grade of top ramen noodles, or a rice mix, or a pasta meal, and add foil packed chicken, fresh veggies if you want to sautee them, gravy mix, and cocoa.

Breakfast: The best backpacking breakfast is a bagel toasted in butter, Canadian bacon, and a slice of cheese. Raspberry Red Tangerine Crystal Light, and cocoa. Pancakes are a disaster, eggs and bacon work fine unless you are in Grizzly Bear country. Coffee and sweetener or sugar.

Lunch foods: jerky or summer sausage, or smoked salmon, Ritz crackers, spreadable cheese, nuts, non melting candy bar (Payday), bagel, cool aid or crystal light. You’ll eat a lot less than you think, so bring a bagel OR crackers, jerky OR sardines or salmon, and if you choose salmon, get a small package of smoked salmon. Most crackers get smashed in a pack, but Ritz fit perfectly in a crystal lite tube. Bagels don’t get smashed in a pack.