How To Pack
18 and 13 gallon rubbermaid totes and coolers work really well for packing into the high mountains. Del Sol recommends them because they are water and animal resistant, and are easy to pack. We recommend that your gear is weighed evenly and marked with the correct weight. Backpacks and Duffel bags work great, especially if they are around 75% full. Sometimes we might need to move items around to adjust the balance of the load, so by having lose duffels we can swap items around easily. If you are not sure about packing, please give us a call.
Del Sol will not allow excessive amounts of gear which has not been mentioned prior to your trip. We allow up to 120 lbs per pack animal or 60 lbs per side. We ask that you make an effort to arrange your gear in 60 lb packs so that we can quickly get items loaded and on the trail.
>> Hunters: Bows and rifles are best packed in soft cases and will be top packed for safety and accessibility. <<
By signing up to go on a trip with Del Sol you are agreeing that we will do the best we can to get your items safely to and from camp but will not be held responsible in case of damage. There are lakes and streams in the high mountains to keep your drinks, veggies and fruit cold.Instead of packing ice in a cooler, consider cooking meals ahead of time, freezing them and using them to keep your cooler cold.
Plan to pack everything out that you packed in. We would also appreciate that clients are ready to go and at the trailhead on time so that your time is maximized in the backcountry. Keep in mind that our packers have to pack you in and ride out in the same day, so staying on schedule is important. We are usually ready for clients at 8AM at the designated trailhead. There are a couple motels to stay the night in town for those who are traveling over the day before. If you have any questions or concerns please get ahold of us.
It’s important to have your gear weighed out evenly and ready to go when you show up at the trailhead. This helps us get you in the mountains in a timely Del Sol fashion.
We appreciate compact loads. Please try to limit large bulky items they are hard to manage into a load that will ride comfortably on an animal.
We like to stack two rubbermaid totes together and wrap them up. This helps fit more onto one side on an animal. limit totes to 30 pounds so we can stay in our weight limit.
We limit our loads to 120 pounds an animal. Please try to fill containers in a way that minimizes rattling.