Equipment list and other preparatory thoughts

[Lydia Banales]

We took an "emergency blanket" never expecting to use it. But in one
refugio it was VERY cold and we did not have sleeping bags. So I covered
myself in the emergency blanket, tucking it tightly to keep the air out,
and was very warm. Such a small thing turned out to be very useful. Lydia

Galen Wilkerson wrote:

>My Equipment list: (for camino de santiago, starting August 23, 2003 from
>St. Jean Pied-de-Port)
>
>This is my equipment list, not necessarily appropriate for everyone, but
>might be useful.
>
>This is fairly exhaustive.  If it's not listed I (probably) didn't bring
>it.  Note that this is for the SUMMER, so I didn't need much.  My sleeping
>bag could have been lighter, and my backpack was pretty big for what I was
>carrying.   I did not have a windbreaker or jacket of any kind, which was
>fine.  But I'm a big guy who doesn't get cold, and my metabolism kept me
>pretty warm most of the time.   I left my tent and water-filter/pump at St.
>Jean-pdp.  If I did it again, I would use a lighter/smaller backpack, and
>maybe a slightly lighter sleeping bag.  (I had heavier stuff because I
>originally planned to hike the GR10 through the high pyrennees.)
>
>- Useful/essential-ish things:
>(heck, one guy started with nothing, and ended up with a backpack and other
>stuff!)
>
>backpack   better than a gunny sack :)
>sleeping bag
>foam pad - not 100% needed, but useful if you plan to sleep outside, or
>           are forced to sleep in a gymnasium on "el puto suelo de mierda",
>           when the albergue is full
>tarp   same goes for this, could wrap around yourself if sleeping outside
>water bottles   bring 2, or just buy bottled water in shops and
>                refill them at bars, etc.
>journal/pens   very useful
>headlamp, extra batteries   do it
>metal spoon   best tool for eating
>first aid kit   you never know, and you might have to help someone else
>small hard plastic sealable container   very useful as a cup/bowl and way to
>                                        keep things dry
>swiss army knife   just used knife, can opener and bottle opener
>plastic bags or garbage bags   generally useful to keep things dry
>shower gel   good for washing self and clothes
>             (you'll be washing them by hand often)
>toothbrush/paste
>toilet paper
>one or two hiking poles   there are a lot of dogs in spain, for one thing
>wide-brimmed hat   I had a very big straw one so I looked like
>                   huckleberry pilgrim.  I never needed sunscreen.
>passport, etc.   all I needed to go to the doctor in spain,
>                 otherwise it was free!
>ATM/VISA card   how else are you going to get into debt?
>                used my american card all over for getting euros.
>
>- Other random inessential stuff that adds to weight:
>
>guidebook   not needed really.  I started out without one, but was given
>one in german because I delivered
>a jacket someone had forgotten.
>a book to read   not really needed, since you are always talking to people,
>eating, or sleeping
>radio - same
>dictionary   small one, or phrasebook, can be useful
>emergency whistle   not needed, but maybe good idea anyway
>sewing kit   what the heck, it's light, and you might need it for those
>darned socks!
>disposable camera   not really necessary, lots of photos of same stuff on
>the web
>pillow case   (or just get used to laying your head on other people's
>drool, the option I chose)
>emergency blanket   the plastic shiny thing, not really necessary
>super glue   I used this to repair my boot soles when they started to fall
>apart, but not essential
>
>clothing:
>
>fairly thick wool sweater   very very useful, warm, doesn't smell even
>after a few weeks of not washing
>poncho   very useful
>boots   light, something that hugs your foot firmly, the more firmly, the
>less blisters, the lighter, the less
>tendonitis, etc.  Good support is a good idea too.
>2 pair of socks   thick wool   better to hug your feet with, wash often,
>hang to dry on your pack while
>walking
>synthetic hiking pants   incredibly useful in so many ways.  Will dry on
>your body.
>soccer jersey   great!, always looks good and sporty, bought for $4 used
>cotton short-sleeve shirt with collar   a synthetic one with collar would
>have been better, but was fine
>2 pair shorts (only needed one)   useful to have for swimming, hot days,
>change of clothes when washing
>
>Other random thoughts:
>
>- If given the choice between a hostel in a town or in a smaller village, I
>would always choose the small village.  It's more relaxing.
>
>- Again, take it easy on your body, especially the first 2 weeks.  Take a
>day off or a few  low-kilometer days the first week, especially in the
>first few days.  Then walk a few days moderately, then take another day off
>or slow day.   One young woman I met walked 40 km the first day, then 25
>the next and had to stop because her knees were aching.  This means she
>might have damaged her knees.  She was young.  It was a shame to see her
>walking like a cripple because of this aggressiveness early on.  That is
>not to say you can't do long days, since later in the walk I covered 132 km
>in 4 days, but I was glad that I didn't try this until after a few weeks,
>just to make sure I wouldn't hurt my joints or tendons, etc.   I had no
>blisters up to Santiago.
>
>- I did have big blisters on the way to Finisterra, because it rained a lot
>and my socks got wet around my ankles, which rubbed against my boots and
>gave me big painful blisters.  I would make some plastic gaiters or
>something to avoid this.
>
>- You could bring a trowel to bury your kaka and toilet paper, because
>every bush near the trail has white paper on the ground behind it, no
>kidding.  Maybe you can just burn the paper, but be careful, the meseta is
>dry and probably flammable.
>
>- you can buy cell phones, but it is somehow not pleasant or a great idea
>(in my opinion), unless you have health or other such concerns.  You can
>also just get a phone card in a "tabac"(france) or "estanco"(sp.)
>
>- two different people I knew fell down when the long laces of one boot
>caught on their other boot.  Once it happened to a very athletic friend of
>mine.  He was carrying a rather heavy bag, so he hurt his shoulder pretty
>badly.  The other time, a woman who was a multiple marathon-runner fell and
>had a nasty black eye and bled all over the place.  I was happy when my
>laces broke so they were short and wouldn t catch on the other boot.  Just
>be aware of this strange problem and tie them up or pull you pants over
>them, etc.
>
>I had an idea that maybe the hostels could let people stay for free if they
>picked up trash while they were walking, but I never got to talk to many
>people about it.  Maybe someone could bring it up with the hostel
>organization, not sure who to contact.
>
>buen' camino!
>Galen
>
>
>