The following list consists of items that could be used on 2-3 day trips, small to mid mountain or trail.

These are just as suggestion only - adjust according to your personal needs!!!

        Essential items

• Map & compass. Maps are essential, you need to know where you are going, and have the ability to find alternate routes if need becomes absolute. If you don't have a compass or not sure how to use one, take a class, read a book, it is pretty easy to use.
• Sleeping bag. One that is properly rated for the appropriate temperature during the night time, not just any old bag. Keeping in mind if you are in a warm area or a very cold one. While it may be very warm during the day, the nights in the mountains can be below freezing.
• sleeping pad. This should be something that can be used to keep your body off the ground during the night sleep. It is important to keep your body off the ground not only for comfort but to keep the possible moisture that may build or run below you during the night to a minimum.
• Tent, or bivy sac. Unless you are in prime territory for sleeping under the warm night sky's without bugs you will want some sort of protection and cover. You will want one that gives you proper protection, consider ventilation especially for when its warm and air flow. Also think if you have wind, snow or rain. Usually a 3-season tent is very adequate for most mountain terrain, unless you are an expedition climber then you will wish a 4-season.
• Necessary clothing and personal gear for when its cool and snow. This can consist of the following items: gortex pant/shell and jacket/shell, synthetic pants (not cotton - cotton kills), thermal/synthetic pant and top, fleece vest/jacket, smart-wool socks and liners (again no cotton), hat, gators,1/2 to full shank boots, crampons or instep crampons, walking axe/ice axe, snowshoes. You might think of taking an avalanche beacon or shovel.
• Necessary clothing and personal gear for when heat is an issue. Consider the following items: shorts, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirt and long pants (for when it gets cooler), jacket (for when it's cool, it rains or gets windy) socks, 1/2 to full shank boots, thongs or sandals, hat or bandana, trekking poles,
• Headlamp & flashlight. It is not necessary to bring both, but definitely have your headlamp. Don't forget extra batteries. Even if you just put new ones in, the temperature and humidity in the mountains can alter the batteries you have in your lamp, causing them to expire quicker.
• Stove & cookware. You need to eat. Try to go light weight and only carry the fuel you will need, but take enough. There is lightweight compact equipment readily available for 2-3 day use.
• 1st Aid kit. Never underestimate not needing one! Be it band-aids or bee stings to broken legs or arms. You need to make sure you look over what you have to take care of the worst thing you can come across, most of the time you may not need it, but the time you do... you will be so thankful you have it, so will the other guy that's with you.
• Few other items you might think about: tp/tissue, sun lotion, camera/film, trowel or shovel, book for notes/read, pencil, water purifier, glasses or contact solution and case. If you are on any kind of medication make sure you bring enough if not a little extra.

A couple notes to consider -

    note 1 - Freeze dried foods, try them prior you taking them out on a long haul. Don't get a bunch on sale and find out that they are nasty and you will never eat them. And trying to pawn them off on your climbing partner always comes back at you.

    note 2 - Also on freeze dried foods, remember that  you are engaged in a heavy activity, so when the product says it feeds 2 that might not be the case. Make sure you bring enough to go around.

    note 3 - Gu is a staple. In life there is food, there is water, and there is gu. Some might deny that statement but there many that find it the case. Even if I don't think that I will need it, I take a couple packets with me, they always get used.

    note 4 - Trash bag(s), bring something to stick trash in. Its always easier to remember to pack things out if you had something to stick the trash in. Nobody likes to see litter hanging out on the side of the trail. Plastic grocery bags are perfect for this. Just shove one in your pack.

     note 5 - Quick energy needs quick foods. Try chocolate, dried fruit, protein bars, electrolyte mixes (like 'emergency'). Don't use these items as regular meal items. You will want to reserve these for fast energy while you are in motion not when you are sitting around camp.

    note 6 - Food pack it in a separate baggie of its own, that way when you need it you don't have to unpack your whole pack to get to it because its fallen way down at the bottom.

If you find you have other helpful hints that others can benefit from please let us know.

For those of you that need the 10 essential winter list...

Emergency bivy sack
Space blanket
Shovel
Probe Poles
Mountaineering axe
Avalanche beacon
Altimeter/barometer
Emergency stove (e.g. Esbit hard fuel pellet stove)
Hand warmers
Signal mirror and emergency flare (a flare will cut through inclement weather better)