Make sure you have a camping backpack big enough to carry all required items and comfortable enough to hike with for at least an hour and a half. Pack as light as you can without omitting any required items.
Items shown in red are required
Equipment List
Backpack (must fit well and hold all required items)
Sleeping bag (20–30 degree rating)
Sleeping pad (inflatable or cell foam)
One-person tent (optional — tarp + cord works if you prefer sleeping under the stars)
Tarp (9x11, waterproof)
Water filter with at least a 2 liter bag
One gallon container (for water during solo)
Small clasp knife
Nylon cord — lightweight (100 ft.)
Garbage bags (one large, one small)
Journal and pens
Shorts
One or two t-shirts
Hiking sandals (if desired)
Long pants
Long sleeve shirt
Long underwear — top and bottom (wool preferred, Smartwool is great)
Warm jacket (fleece, wool, or down)
Warm hat and socks
Warm gloves
Swimsuit
Waterproof matches
Hiking shoes or boots (comfortable and waterproof)
Small day pack
Raincoat and rain pants
Water bottle or canteen
One roll of toilet paper
Toiletries
Flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
Cup, bowl, and utensils
Small camp stove and fuel (optional, but needed to cook meals or boil water for tea — happy to share but more is helpful)
Small camp pot (one-burner stoves with attached pot are convenient and inexpensive)
Camp towel
Carabiners (useful for clipping bottles to backpack)
Emergency Kit
This kit goes with you in your daypack whenever you are away from basecamp — including during your solo. Some items overlap with the equipment list above; no need to bring duplicates.
Emergency whistle (if lost: three blasts, pause, repeat)
Emergency blanket (space blanket — lightweight foil, very cheap and small)
Water filter with 2 liter bag
Anaphylactic shock kit (if you have life-threatening allergies)
Benadryl (for those with strong allergies)
Compass
Watch or timepiece
Bandana
Sunscreen
Toilet paper
Matches (waterproof or watertight)
Small clasp knife
Flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries or charger)
Bandaids and antiseptic
Tube of honey or energy bar
Electrolyte powder or tablets
Jacket and hat (even if warm — temps can change quickly)
Rain gear
Ceremonial Items
Sacred objects
Rattle or drum
Offerings for fire ceremony (dried herbs, incense, copal, tobacco, etc.)
Optional
Poison oak relief
Insect repellent
Needle and thread (for backpack/tent/pad repairs)
Sun hat and sunglasses
Camp chair
Lip balm
Food List
You will bring all food needed for yourself throughout the entire experience. A good plan is to have all your meals mapped out and bring exactly what you need to limit extra weight in your pack.
Before the Quest — At the Land
Thursday
- Food to share for dinner at the fire
Friday Morning
- Early breakfast
In the Wilderness
Friday
- Lunch
- Dinner
Saturday — Solo Fast Day
- No food during the fast
- Dinner — keep it simple as you are breaking your fast (avocado, bread, oatmeal, fruit)
Sunday
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Monday
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Food Suggestions
Lightweight, nourishing foods that travel well without refrigeration.
Dried fruit
Nuts
Jerky
Dark German or Swedish bread (dense, thinly sliced, keeps well)
Tortillas
Avocados (buy hard so they ripen in time)
Sun-dried tomatoes
Tinned fish
Tinned dolmas
Nut butters
Honey or jam
Dried hummus
Fresh apples, oranges, carrots
Energy bars
"Tasty Bites" meals (packaged Indian-inspired lentil meals — easy and delicious)
Premade rice packs
Tea
Questions? Reach out to Sam at get in touch