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Choosing the right gear can be a challenging, and sometimes overwhelming, process. We’re here to help! First, a few general principles to remember while choosing your (or your child's) gear:

• New gear is not important. Quality is important. Sturdy, quality gear and clothes can even be found at thrift and consignment stores (especially gear for growing young people).

• Light gear is important. Ideally, the trail pack, including food, should weigh no more than one third of a hiker's body weight. For a youth of 120 lbs, their pack should weigh about 25 lbs before getting their food and group gear (which will weigh between 10-15 lbs depending on length of trip).

• Waterproof is essential. Please spend time researching to understand the difference between "water resistant" (not useful in the rainforest!) and "waterproof."

• Well fitting is crucial. Get help in properly sizing boots and backpacks. Whether or not you'll try to get your equipment used, it's worth it to go to a gear shop, such as REI, to try on backpacks, boots, etc. The staff at gear stores are trained to help you figure out what fits you and what works — please make use of their expertise!

The Important Items:

Boots: The most important piece of gear. In the rainforest, it’s important that your trail hiking boots be waterproof/Gore-Tex. We do NOT recommend full leather mountaineering boots. We’re looking for mid-length boots to provide a balance of sturdy (covers the ankle for extra support) and comfortable (not so high that they rub and chafe). Even more critical is that the boots be well broken in before the trip, which requires wearing them a lot! Buy or get these 6-8 weeks before the trip and take walks in them consistently! This makes a huge difference for your trip! This is the one piece of gear that we really don’t recommend borrowing, unless you can borrow them well ahead of time to make sure that they fit well!

Backpack: The next most important piece of gear. We highly recommend internal frame packs as opposed to older external frame models (they are much more comfortable for smaller bodies). We’re looking for high capacity because we need to fit a 10 liter bear canister in each person’s pack. AND, it’s crucial that the pack fit properly, so it can’t be too big. Even if you don’t end up buying a pack at a gear store like REI, we strongly recommend that you go in and try on several models with a knowledgeable salesperson to discover what size appropriately fits, and to see how to measure if a pack fits. Generally backpack capacity fits as follows:

• Small frame bodies: 40-50 liter capacity

• Medium frame bodies: 40-60 liter capacity

• Large frame bodies: 50-75 liter capacity

The longer your trip, the more capacity you will want to have. For the 3 week trips in particular, you will want to find the largest capacity pack that still fits your frame well. We will adjust your backpack weight to be appropriate for you body size and strength, but overall max capacity is very important for the long trips; if you’re lighter, you can carry the lighter but bulkier stuff!

Sleeping Bag:  warm, synthetic and stuff-able!

• Temperature Rating: In the Olympics in summer, temperature isn’t our biggest concern, so sleeping bags rated from 0F degrees to 20F degrees will be fine. 

• Fill Material: Our biggest concern is moisture, and so the kind of fill in the sleeping bag is the most important thing. It MUST be synthetic fill. Down  is unacceptable because when it gets wet, it loses all  insulating capability. And it’s possible, if not likely, that it will get wet. It happens to a few of us every year—it’s the rainforest! Synthetic fill will still keep you warm when wet, even if it feels gross. 

• Stuff Sack: The sleeping bag needs to be compressible—so that it stuffs into a small stuff sack. This means it needs to be a backpacking bag, not simply a camping bag—which are often square and filled with durable but noncompressible batting. Ideally, you can get a compression stuff sack that allows the bag to be further compressed once it is stuffed.

• *Note: Dri-Down and other “waterproof down” products are NOT workable—they resist absorbing moisture over time, but do not reliably protect the feathers from getting wet and losing their value when drenched, which is often what happens when we have learning experiences on the trail in the rainforest.

Sleeping Pad needs to be closed-cell foam, like a RidgeRest or similar waffle-type sleeping pad. Simple, effective, and fail-safe. Inflatable pads like ThermaRest pads are unacceptable because 1) they reliably get punctured; 2) they are heavier,  and 3) they’re much more expensive. Please make sure they have a strap that can be used to roll/fold them up!

Filter Water Bottle. All water in the backcountry of North America at this point is assumed to be potentially carrying several harmful bacteria or other microorganisms, the most prevalent of which is giardia. In order to insure that everyone on the trip always has access to clean drinking water, and to avoid spreading illness through sharing water bottles, Journeys requires each participant to have their own filtering water bottle that removes giardia and cryptosporidium. Here are some well-tested options:  

• Katadyn BeFree 

• Sawyer Water Treatment Filter Bottle

• LifeStraw Go or Universal (make sure it fits the 32 oz. bottle you have without leaking)--Do NOT get a straw filter without the bottle! We need to carry water, not just drink directly out of the stream.

• Aquamira Filtration Water Bottle

Note: Brita or Camelbak bottles that just filter out chlorine will NOT work). This must be a water bottle, not gravity bag or pump system—which is good, because the filter bottles are less expensive and easier to use.

Please get the larger filter bottles, minimum 22 oz. capacity—32 oz is preferred. 

Knives. We do allow knives on our trips, and believe that knife use can be a very important part of a rite of passage experience. They are a tool that requires maturity to use effectively and safely, and as a tool they allow youth to achieve significant independence and competence in the world. We are also quite careful with the use of knives because without guidance, they can be a significant source of injuries. We recommend fixed blade knives, and advise against bringing multi-tools. Here are our knife guidelines:

• Fixed knives: No blades longer than 5” (3.5”-4.5” is ideal). Must have a rigid sheath that secures the knife in place (firm click or strap).

• Folding knives: Any pocket or folding knife must have a solid, secure locking mechanism. Knives like Swiss Army Knives and some of the Scandinavian-type knives that do not have a solid locking mechanism to keep the knife from inadvertently folding while being used will not be allowed.

• Use of knives (varies by trip and age group):

  • On Explorers Journey, knives will be collected and kept by guides and handed out during designated whittling sessions. All knife use will be directly supervised by guides.

  • On Call to Adventure, knives will be collected by guides, and given to participants as they demonstrate the capacity to use them safely without direct supervision. Knives will only be used while under direct supervision of a guide, and youths must ask permission before using knives. Knives will be kept in packs when not in use (not worn on belts).

  • On Mountain Quests and Moon Rise, knives will be checked by guides, who will teach safe knife use before participants begin using them. Guides must be confident that each participant is competent before that person is approved to use a knife on the trip. Youths must check with guides before using knives. Knives will be kept in packs when not in use (not worn on belts).

  • On Solo/Queer Crossing/Olympic Odyssey, knives will be checked by guides, who will teach safe knife use before participants begin using them. Guides must be confident that each participant is competent before that person is approved to use a knife on the trip. Knives will be kept in packs when not in use (not worn on belts).

Clothing: NO COTTON! With the exception of T-shirts and underwear/briefs, all trail clothes should be material that remains effective for keeping you warm even if it gets wet. That means synthetic (nylon/polypropylene/fleece), silk (for base layers) or wool (usually for warmer layers). No jeans or cotton cargo/khaki pants, no cotton long johns, etc. Once cotton gets wet, either from rain or sweat, it loses its value as warmth/insulation, and actually acts as a cooling mechanism, so its more than just useless, it’s dangerous.

Layering. This is a crucial concept for clothing. The idea here is that the functions of warm and dry are separated into modules that we can mix and match as we need them. The layers are:

• Base Layer—thin polypropylene long underwear (long sleeve and full leg)—when mornings are cold or it’s buggy

• Core Layer—regular pants and top (both short and long sleeve options)—what you wear on a nice summer day.

• Warm (Heavy) Layer—coat or sweater top (don’t need heavy bottoms)—when it’s really cold

• Rain Layer—thin truly waterproof coat and pants that can be worn while also wearing EVERY OTHER LAYER.

The trick with providing layers is that each layer in that list needs to be sized to fit while wearing each earlier layer. If the raincoat fits nice and snug just by itself, it won’t work when you need to stay warm AND dry and have your base, core and warm layers on.

Borrowing Gear from Journeys and Donating Gear

Journeys owns a small amount of loaner gear. But before borrowing from us, please consider canvassing your larger circle of friends, family and community. This can be an amazing way to build community connections for your child and family, which is so essential in supporting the growth and transformation that occurs on these rites of passage trips. You will likely be surprised at how many people are excited to support you by loaning you their gear, or even renting or buying gear for you.

If you so need to borrow an item, please call or email ahead of time (as early as possible) and we can make sure you’ll have what you need.

Also, if you own extra gear that no longer fits your child please consider donating it to our Gear Bank for future participants! Every year we lose a few items to the adventure so we always need to replenish our supply. Bring your extra donate-able items to your program start, or leave items with us at the conclusion of your trip.

If you have any gear-related questions, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to offer advice on good products and where to get them.

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Journeys works very hard to provide safe and healthy food for participants on our trips. We prioritize simple, whole foods as much we can. Extended backcountry trips require foods to be energy dense and less perishable, so we opt for cheese and some processed high-fat meats. When we have frontcountry meals, we load up on fresh fruits and veggies and fresh meats. Here is a sample of the food on a typical Journey. We are able to accommodate most common dietary needs with some simple substitutions, though backcountry options that are within our financial capacity are somewhat limited. If you have specific dietary requirements that may not be satisfied by our standard menu, please contact us before registering. We are usually able to come up with a plan for families to provide additional food items that will provide satisfactory nutrition for the trip.

Breakfasts: 

• Oatmeal or granola or rice porridge (gluten-free option), with fruit (dried or fresh strawberries, blueberries, bananas) and nuts, milk (soy, almond or powdered coconut milk options)

• Sausage and eggs (frontcountry treat)

• Pancakes (gluten-free option)

Lunches

Frontcountry sandwiches: bread, lunch meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, Mayo, Mustard), tortilla and potato chips, fresh fruit and veggie sticks

Gluten Free Substitution: Gluten Free Bread
Vegetarian Substitution: Hummus, Extra Veggies, Extra Cheese
Vegan Substitution: Vegan Meat Slices or Hummus

Backcountry Lunches: Meat & Cheese w/crackers or wraps:  

Mission flour tortillas or hearty crackers, salami or summer sausage, cheese, dried hummus, trail mix (raisins/dried fruit, nuts, rolled dates, chocolate bits)

Gluten Free Substitution: Gluten Free Tortilla and crackers
Vegetarian Substitution: Hummus, Extra Veggies, Extra Cheese
Vegan Substitution: Vegan Meat Slices for Meat

Backcountry Dinners: 

• Pasta: spaghetti w/red sauce and summer sausage; mac & cheese w/canned tuna or chicken; ramen w/peanut sauce

• Rice and various dried bean mixes (black beans, lentils, split peas) and cheese, sometimes eaten with tortillas (burritos), fresh veggies if available

• Served with: Gluten Free Elbows, Cheese mix (Powdered Cheese & Butter), Tuna or Canned Chicken

Gluten Free Substitution: noodles
Vegetarian Substitution: stable-pack Tofu/tempeh
Vegan Substitution: Tofu/tempeh

Frontcountry Dinners: 

• Burritos: Mission tortillas, ground turkey, canned black beans, fresh veggies, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, 

• Stir Fry: Lots of fresh meats and veggies, rice

Gluten Free Substitution: Gluten Free Tortilla
Vegetarian Substitution: Tofu or Tempeh & Black Beans
Vegan Substitution: Tofu or Tempeh & Black Beans

Snacks:

• Granola Bars

• Trail Mix

• Apples, oranges, bananas

• Chips, salsa, guac

Tree-nut and Peanut Allergies

Journeys can provide nut- and peanut-free food for a participant, but cannot provide an entirely nut-free trip (i.e. with no one else on the trip consuming nuts). If your child is trace sensitive to peanuts or tree-nuts, such that exposure to dust from bags of trail snacks being packed together in the bear cannister would trigger their allergic reaction, we may not be able to provide a safe environment.

• People with tree-nut allergies should bring their own snack bars. If sensitive to traces, you may also need to bring granola as well.

• People with peanut allergies should bring their own snack bars and spread for sandwiches (peanut butter replacement).

Other Dietary Restrictions

We are able to accommodate common non-medically necessary dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free and vegetarian choices, though our alternative foods in some cases are quite limited. We generally can provide gluten-free grains and pastas, and substitute meat with cheese and nuts, and occasionally plant-based meat substitutes.

Vegan diets are difficult to accommodate, as, aside from nuts there are very few energy-dense substitutes for meat and cheese that are reasonably affordable for the backcountry. 

At this time, Journeys purchases organic options wherever feasible, but cannot ensure that program food will be all-organic.

If you have other dietary restrictions that are not accommodated by our replacement options listed above, please call the office (425) 485.7396 and talk with us. We should be able to come up with a way for you to provide the necessary food alternatives to be able to participate.

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Rites of Passage Journeys (ROPJ) offers tiered equity scholarships in order to be accessible to people of various financial capacities and life situations.  We do this as long as scholarship funds remain in our working budget.

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