This blog is about part 1 of my 20,000+ mile car-camping trip with my dogs from DC to Alaska via Labrador. Part 1, in 2011, was to the end of the road in northeastern North America in Labrador and then on to Quebec and Ontario, 7609 miles. Part 2, which took place in 2012, picked up where Part 1 left off in Ontario and was supposed to extend to Banff and Jasper National Parks in the Canadian Rockies, but Leben, my male German shepherd, became paralyzed on the trip so we cut it short. We will finish the journey in 2013, when we will return to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

To Take List (revised 8/1/11)

Below is my “to take” list for the trip.  Although I could have started this list with those I developed for my trips in 2000 to Alaska and the Dalton Highway (12,500 miles, 42 days), 2001 to Alaska and both the Dalton and Dempster highways and home via the California coast (14,000 miles, 45 days) and 2002 to Labrador etc. (10,000 miles, 50+ days), I started it from scratch and then referred to the old lists for things I missed.  Also, I used the exhaustive lists I wrote up at the end of my prior trips of the things I should have been better prepared for.  The list here is long and some things will probably be removed as I pack and go to load the Defender. But the Defender can hold a lot of weight in the roof rack (500 pounds at least), although that weight does lower the vehicle at least an inch and makes it top heavy.  Outside of the basics, many of the items are for emergencies (e.g., bolt cutters) because of where I will be at times, and I take what I will need to avoid too many time-consuming resupply stops and for when we are camping far from good resupply points or other people.   If something can serve two or more purposes, the better.

     CLOTHES
     T shirts (10); shorts (10); socks (10); bandanas (10)
     polo shirts(2)
     T-neck long sleeve shirts (3)
     Hats (3) one for inclement weather
     Collar+LS shirts(2) (black; officer)
     Boots; tan walking shoes; black walking shoes (with rubbers)
     Jeans; 511 pants/shorts; brown hiking pants; black sports Pants
     Blackhawk belt
     Blue rain gear (optional)
     Red wind breaker

     WINTER/INCLEMENT WEATHER CLOTHES:
     Black Patagonia coat
     Green REI winter jacket with liner, pants
     Sweat shorts (grey and brown)
     Thermal u wear: tops (2); bottoms (2); turtleneck
     Scarf; watch cap (2); Gloves: heavy and wet
     heavy duty Socks (1 pair)
     Warm/dry: long johns top and bottom; socks; watch hat
     Black jogging outfit

     REST ROOM KIT

     MEDICINE CHEST:

     DOG’S ITEMS
     Brush
     Leashes: 2 metal; one double; short leashes;
     Collars + tags
     2 assist harnesses: rear + front
     Muzzle
     Paw boots
     Shampoo: reg + derm
     Meds: Enzymes; Dashuquin; Prev; Gab; Trem; Benadryl; Ear drops; Erde’s antibiotics
     Ear Cleaner + gauze pads; abdomen spray
     Bandana repellant bandanas
     Front line; heart worm pills
     Fly off
     Cloud nine + dispenser (buy)
     Dog beds (2)
     Nail clippers; tick kit: twizzers + cotton + HPO
     food bowls (2) (plastic); water bowl; treat bowls (2)
     Towels
     L&E Papers
     Nylon bones (large)
     Dog bags
     Dog food (28 pounds dry); 60 cans small wet; treats 8 boxes
     Lost dog posters

     STUFF BOX
     IPad etc; Cell phone etc.; sat phone etc.;
     Charger in Defender
     Camera; charger; etc; memory chips;
     Voice recorder
     Distance glasses; Reading glasses (2); Sunglasses (2)
     Magnifying glass
     Compass; binoculars
     Duct tape
     Fan
     DEET etc.; DEET candle; Calamine Lotion
     Multi-tool; pen knife; hunting knife
     Screen + Velcro
     Batteries:
Black Flashlight 2D
Headlight 3AAA
Silver flashlight 2AA
Yellow flashlight 4AA
Tent light 4AA
Keyboard 2AAA
Voice recorder 1AAA
     Lights: Tent; flash; yellow; silver; head

     FIRST AID KIT
     Usual stuff: band aids; etc.
     Meds to take: Allergy; contact; ibuprofen;
     Burn items; cal lotion; Neosporin; fleet
     First aid Book; Field Medicine Manual

    
     MAPS AND DIRECTORIES
     Woodall’s; Milepost; ANNR; KOA (download); AAA Maps
     Dempster; Dalton; Yukon; Brooks
    
     LIBRARY
     W&P (e +r); Russian Dictionary
     Boy Scout handbook; Army Field Survival Manual

     OFFICE
     Pens
     3-section note book for journal; + notes
     Log book; daily planning/log forms (no write in note book this time);
     Check list; rules of road; contact list
     Stapler; tapes; clips; elastic bands

     dogs papers; passport;RESERVATIONS
     Extra car keys; house keys,
     ID's 

     EQUIPMENT
     Backpack (in back with stuff in it)
     Sleeping bags (2)
     Cot + mat + pillow
     towels (6) + pillow cases; small towels (3) wash clothes (3); emnergency blankets
     Tents: Big Eureka, floor; North face + floor; small eureka
     Stakes + rope
     Green tent floors (2)
     Tarps (2) ; 2 sets of 2 poles + rope/stakes
     Rope
     Chair; step stool

     UTILITY STUFF
     Brush; Lysol cleaner; shop towels; Lysol cloths; Air spray

     DEFENDER
     Winch + control cord; lock differential; air compressor
     2 spare tires; wrench for rack on tire
     Air pressure gauge;
     Off road recovery bag; winch bag; tire iron
     Workshop manual; parts manual
     Electric cord
     Chains
     Shovel; pull pal; Hi-jack (+plate)
     5 gallon spare water tank
     5 gallon Gas can and spout + lock
     White sign + red tape
     Stool for back recovery platform
     Bungee cords etc. cargo nets
     Screen for radiator; wire mesh for headlights

     GARAGE
     Oil 5/30 synthetic(2); antifreeze; gurry/brake oil; window fluid
     Tool box: wrenches; pliers; screw drivers; mallet
     JB weld (2 kinds); wire
     Extra fuses; lights; headlight
     Bolt cutters; wire cutters; hack saw; hatchet
     Flat tire repair kit; nuts and bolts
     Flares; 3 reflector triangles; Fire extinguisher

     KITCHEN
     Table cloth; napkins; hot mat; Kitchen towels;
     Utensils: Spoons
     Coffee pot
     Bowls; plates; cups; wine glass
     Can opener
     Stove fuel (6); matches/lighters (+ireplace)
     Pipe; tobacco; tamper; cleaners; lighters
     Soap; pot scrubber; castle soap
     shop towels; storager bags (L&S)
     Thermos

     IN DAILY MEAL BOXES (DMB)(Bkfast snack supper
     Oatmeal (2 pd)
     Raisin packs ½ pd
     Soymilk 3Xwk
     Energy bars
     GORP*
     Dried fruit
     Peanut butter crackers
     V8 juice
     Soups/etc.’
     Rice cakes
     T/S Packs/canned veggies
     Fruit cups
     Wine
     IN KITCHEN
     Coffee/Tea/cocao
     Reid banana chips
     Additional Rice cakes
     Chocolate
     Fresh bread; carrots; veggies; lettuce; banadnas, apples, oranges
     IN CANTEEN: nothing extra