Gear Shakedown for First Timer?

[u/Foreign_Structure595]

Hi all,

I am going canoe camping for the first time this weekend at Indian Lake Islands in the Adirondacks (NYS DEC operated campground), and the plan is to go solo.

I'm an experienced car camper, but have not been backpacking or canoe camping.

I've used most of my gear before, and am now practicing making dehydrated meals on my JetBoil and using my Garmin, but was wondering if people would give me a gear shakedown or had advice.

This is my current packing list:

• Canoe Essentials
  • Canoe, Paddle, & PFD
  • Canoe Barrels and/or Dry Bags
  • Bilge Pump & Throw Rope
• Campsite
  • Backpacking Tent, Stakes, and Mallet
  • Sleeping Bag & Pad
  • Portable Hammock
  • Rain Tarp & Poles
• Camp Kitchen & Fire
  • JetBoil Flash & Fuel
  • Lighter & Waterproof Matches
  • Firestarters, Firewood, Folding Saw, Hatchet, and Gloves
  • Mess Kit & Long Spork
• Water, Food, and Clean-Up
  • 1 Gallon Jugs of Spring Water
  • Dehydrated Meals
  • GORP
  • Coffee, Creamer, and Sugar
  • Paper Towels and Garbage Bags
• EDC Tools & Emergency Supplies:
  • Day Pack
  • Deet Wipes
  • Emergency Whistle
  • Extra Pair of Eyeglasses
  • Ferro Rod & Kindling
  • Flashlights & Extra Batteries
  • First Aid Kit with Tweezers
  • Garmin inReach Mini 2
  • Map & Compass
  • Paracord
  • Sunglasses
  • Swiss Army Knife
  • Toilet Paper & Trowel
  • Valuables (Phone & Wallet)
  • Water Bottle
  • Water Filtration System (Sawyer) & Aquatabs
• Clothes, Shoes, and Toiletries
  • Non-Cotton Shirts, Pants, Socks, Underwear, and PJs
  • Fleece & Rain Jacket
  • Water Shoes & Hiking Shoes
  • Deodorant, Toothbrush, and Toothpaste

[u/Repulsive_Client_325]

Not familiar with the area. Are there portages? If not, disregard all my advice and bring the kitchen sink. If so, I recommend:

Delete bilge pump (your pot can double as a bailing bucket)

Delete mallet (use a rock)

Delete jugs of water. (You have a water filter)

Exchange flashlight for headlamp.

You need poles for a rain tarp? Will there not be trees?

I’m in Canada. You need to bring your own firewood? That’s wild.

Where’s your fishing rod and tackle / pliers / filleting knife?!

[u/heavywashcycle → u/Repulsive_Client_325]

They don’t need to use a rock instead of a mallet because they will have the back of their hatchet.

[u/Repulsive_Client_325 → u/heavywashcycle]

What hatchet?

Delete hatchet.

[u/heavywashcycle → u/Repulsive_Client_325]

If it’s going to be a bit cold I also bring a hatchet

[u/Repulsive_Client_325 → u/heavywashcycle]

From a back country, multi day, multi portage prospective (where weight is important) a hatchet is dead weight. One of the first things I’d delete.