Question of the day: If you could only take one small pack on a several weeks-long mountain trek, what would you put in it? What items could you absolutely not live without? This is a question that both the heroine of my current book and I are grappling with right now — and we desperately need your help!
My heroine is hiking through the Andes in Peru. She’s hot on the trail of an ancient artifact — and a sniper is after her. So she’s traveling fast and light — by foot and horseback — on forgotten Incan trails through very rugged terrain. And she only has one small backpack with her. So of course, as I’m writing about her journey, the question keeps popping up — aside from the diagrams of the Inca tomb (which she needs to recover the artifact), what would she have in that pack?
And as luck would have it, I’m also heading off to Peru in a couple of weeks to the same remote area where my heroine is. I’ll be traveling mostly by car through the mountains (with medical missionaries), not hiking or riding on horseback. But since every bit of my check-through luggage is filled with medical supplies, I’m left with only one carry-on bag for the entire twelve days of my trip.
One bag! For twelve days! Yikes!!!
Now, I don’t generally carry much luggage when I travel — in fact, I despise carting a lot of stuff along on a trip. Hate it, hate it. But one bag? One little bag? For twelve days? This is a stretch even for me.
So of course I’m anguishing over what to take. I have my digital camera, notebooks to jot down my research, extra batteries and pens. We’ll be at high altitude, so I’m packing my 65 SPF sunscreen. And I’m buying travel-sized everything (shampoo, deodorant). But I’m still getting frantic. It will be warm during the days (60-70 degrees), down to the 30’s at night. Possibly rainy. And everything has to fit in that one small bag.
Help! Do you have any miracle packing tips? If you were me (or my heroine), what would you pack in your bag? What could you absolutely not do without? Please share!
And since I haven’t given away a book in awhile, I’ll send a copy of one of my backlist books to someone who helps me out. I’m begging here…
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Well..i’d say try and limit the clothes you bring, you can always wear a top or something for more than one day, and they wont get too dirty i think if you’re in a car. Other than that, try and get a camping bag, or one with lots of pockets so you can carry more little things, lke travel sized items as you said.
oh! and if you want to bring a wetweather coat, dont try and pack it *in* the bag, try and find a way to attach it to the outside. it acts like a waterproof for your bag in light showers, and if it gets heavier you can easily detach it and put it on then =D
hope this helps
by Ayla
on September 27th, 2007 at 5:30 am
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ROLL EVERYTHING! My daughter taught me this and it’s amazing what all fits in a suitcase.
Sunglasses, baseball size hat, rain parka( collapsible one), small flashlight, bandaides,heavy socks and good athletic shoes.
by Laurie
on September 27th, 2007 at 5:35 am
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Ayla - I’ve never gone on one of these trips before, but my impression is that we will get pretty dirty working in the clinics all day. And I will definitely have to rewear my clothes for multiple days  . By the end of the trip I’ll probably want to burn my clothes. I’m not sure what to do about the coat. It gets cold at night so I think I might just take my jacket — but it isn’t waterproof, so I need to rethink that. This is so hard!!!!
Laurie - great idea to roll things! I’ll definitely try it.
by Gail Barrett
on September 27th, 2007 at 5:50 am
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I have learned to layer everything when I travel so I am ready for warm days and cool evenings by just adding or removing a layer or two. Very important are good shoes and I use those small pads you can put in shoes and gloves for cold or damp weather that give off heat and last for about 8-10 hours (used a lot by hunters or campers and most sport stores carry them. They don’t take up a lot of room as come in small packets and activate when opened.
by Shari C
on September 27th, 2007 at 6:49 am
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http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/womenpacking.htm
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/womenpack.htm
Geared toward european travel, but probably useful for your travels as well. 
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I’d take a change of clothes or two, a reading book or my PDA would be a must for me. I’d have all the trial size items in a zip loc bag. I’d take a wash cloth & hand towel. Take a quart size bag filled with medical supplies. My cell phone & a water bottle. Maybe some light snacks if they fit.
by Tammy G.
on September 27th, 2007 at 10:33 am
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I can’t imagine one bag for 12 days!! Man! I would say don’t forget bug spray. I don’t think I would be able to have only essentials. I’d have a problem with this since I always over pack. By the way, this book sounds REALLY good and I love the fact that you’re actually going to Peru to research this!! Very cool.
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Thanks, Rachael. I am also very excited about this book. It’s the second book in my miniseries (The Crusaders) for Silhouette Romantic Suspense. I don’t have a title for it yet. The first book, Heart of a Thief, is set in Spain. I set this one in Peru just so I’d have an excuse to go there.  And I am really excited that I’ll be able to get a lot of authentic details and see some areas way off the beaten tourist path.
However, I still have the packing problem… Tammy — I’ve thought about packing granola bars. I’m actually very worried about getting sick on this trip (very third world conditions - we had to have a ton of shots), so food will be an issue. I’m also taking a water bottle. The problem is that by the time I get all that stuff in the bag, there will be no room for clothes!!! No cell phone — it won’t work overseas anyhow. The towels are a good idea, maybe old ones I can leave there.
Shari - thanks for suggesting gloves. I forgot about that. My husband has some neon orange hunting gloves (not that he hunts) that are very lightweight. Maybe I’ll stick those in the bag, or cotton gardening gloves. Everyone says to layer, but I don’t really have a lot of clothes that layer. Maybe I’d better hurry up and buy a few things.
by Gail Barrett
on September 27th, 2007 at 11:12 am
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Cotton and layers. Tank top, t-shirt, button up fleece, walking shorts, 2 long pants, lots of socks and undies. Roll everything up and wear layers on the plane. So you have what you’re already wearing and what’s in your pack. Have fun! Sounds like an amazing trip.
by Vivi Anna
on September 27th, 2007 at 11:15 am
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Ouch, I am not the expert for packing as my roomates from the RT could tell you or my mom. LOL.
Definitely I would take a warm pullover or sweater, plus lots of socks and underwear. Otherwise I would recommend some cotton stuff that you can wear in layers.
by Danny
on September 27th, 2007 at 11:32 am
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Ah well, it’s rather easy for me to pack because the last time I actually went on a trip that required packing was 1993. LOL The most I’ve done lately was a day trip to NYC I made sure I had my book with me, in addition to what I usually keep in my purse. What can I say, either we can’t do it or just can’t afford it. LOL
Lois
by Lois
on September 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am
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Am assuming that all of your medical needs are in other bags and don’t know what your accomodations will be so will make the list as if I were roughing it a bit and on a trek, but going through some towns, too.
Clothing you can layer and multi-purpose clothing is tops (stretchy leggings can be worn under normal slacks if you are cold, act as sleepware and be worn under a crinkled twisted skirt for a bit of extra warmth, tank tops and t-shirts double as undershirts, a long sleeve jacket/coat/sweater/sweatshirt thing, think fabrics that are light in weight but sturdy and warm, I keep a parero handy it can act as a scarf, head covering, shawl, skirt, or easy to dry towel, as well a very light blanket), good shoes/hiking boots if you will be doing lots of walking can be worn on the plane so need not go into the bag, crushable hat with good brim to protect from the sun and keep head warm if necessary, if has a strap will not be blown off in a good wind. Don’t forget some underthings and socks (if you carry one of the newer traveller’s twisted clothes line, you can wash things out overnight and hang things to dry near the fire without need of clips or pins….a bit of fabric is caught in the twist to hold…again newer sturdy lightweight fabric is good for this). In a pinch, and running out of soap, shampoo can wash clothes, body, as well as hair. A light but not too cheap rain poncho that can fold down and fit into it’s own bag, a bit of duct tape wrapped around an inexpensive pen to fix poncho or other things,. Bring along a water bottle/canteen that can hook on securely to your bag so that it is accessible and doesn’t take up room inside bag. I can see that others have already mentioned the rolling up of clothes to maximize how much you can pack. Don’t forget a small sewing kit, nail clippers and tweezer, and swiss army knife as well as matches or lighter, chapstick, and some lotion/cream in case your skin cracks, multiple sizes of zip loc type of bags. Whatever you can’t carry with you, see if you can buy when you get there even if it is to be discarded before your return. Frequently, the things that I use up from what I originally pack makes space for souvenirs, etc for my trip home.
This type of packing often saved me but since I am pressed for time I may have forgotten something in this note. Hope you have a fantastic trip. Have always wanted to see Peru.
by Little Lamb Lost
on September 27th, 2007 at 11:42 am
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Wow, Little Lamb — you sound experienced.  I don’t think I’ll need a skirt, but the rest of your suggestions sound good (well, except they probably won’t allow the knife in my carry on). I’ve put another empty nylon sports bag inside my bag so I can fill it up with souvenirs. Luckily, I’ll have space for checked luggage on the way home. So if I throw things out as I go, I can fill up my bag with alpaca wool blankets, etc. I never thought about hooking the water bottle on the outside. I was just going to take a cheap plastic bottle I could toss out. I’ll have to see if there is some way to hook it to the outside. This is really going to take some creative thinking!
by Gail Barrett
on September 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
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Okay - I just ordered three long sleeved t-shirts as the first part of my layering process. Keep the suggestions coming!!!!
by Gail Barrett
on September 27th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
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Hi,
I am not an expert, but always keep things that are easily washable and dry fast like nylon and polyester. And don’t forget your medical kit with an antibiotic cream and a canif
by Nathalie
on September 27th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
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Never had this sort of situation before where I had to pack light, but I guess dry, canned foods are always nice to have especially when you are super hungry or have a difficult time with the food there. Plus hygiene must not be extra-good… So antiseptics and soap are a must!!
by Lily
on September 27th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
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Maybe a light weight but lined rainproof jacket with a hood. You can always tie it around your waist when not needed. I would take an extra pair of comfortable walking shoes in case one pair gets wet (you can alternate). Maybe you could find some extremely cheap underwear ($1) and throw them away as you go so as to have more room for everything you’ll want to buy. I would wait until getting there and not carry anything really heavy since you said you wanted to buy some alpaca wool items - maybe a poncho. Be sure to stuff things into other things like socks into shoes. Lightweight tops that you can wash and maybe one of those tide pens. They have pants that you can unzipper the bottoms so in the day take them off and add them back in the evenings. I would also take a good pair of jeans that can be worn over and over. Maybe the high energy bars instead of the granola’s. And M&M for your chocolate fix (since they won’t melt lol). Are you allowed a purse too? Make sure it’s a big one that has zippers and pockets.
Have a wonderful trip.
by catslady
on September 27th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
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Cats Lady - I am taking my oldest socks with the thought of discarding them as I go. I figure I can wear each pair twice and then just throw them out (they are very thin in the heels and won’t last long anyways). I’m not sure about a purse. The crime rate is extremely high in Peru (thefts and muggings are rampant). I have a money belt to attach to my leg under my pants. I’m considering a fanny pack to hold toilet paper, hand sanitizer, my camera and so on, although I HATE having anything attached to my waist. But I think a purse would be too hard to guard, as would a backpack. A small fanny pack would keep my hands free while I’m working in the clinic, etc.
Lily - you’re right about the poor sanitation. We are supposed to carry hand sanitizer with us and use it liberally. Getting sick is a real possibility. One lady I know who went on this trip last year spent a weekend hooked up to an IV because she was so sick.
Anyhow, thanks, everyone for the great suggestions! I only have two weeks before the trip now, so I need to start making my lists and piles. Thanks so much for helping out. Now I have to figure out what my heroine has in HER pack
And Vivi Anna - you’re my winner! If you’d like a book, email me with your address (gail@gailbarrett.com).
Thanks again, everyone! I’ll be back next month with Peru photos! Wish me luck!!!!!
by Gail Barrett
on September 28th, 2007 at 6:43 am
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an’t wait for the pics. Have a great time.
by Dena
on September 30th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
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