What I Packed And How I Trained For Hiking In Zion National Park

Let’s just say I am SO HAPPY to be finally done with training for my big adventure hiking in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. 

The best part about training for this trip has been all the extra food that I’ve been able to eat because of all the fast walking and stair climbing that I’ve been doing. 

And well, I’m headed out the door now and I hope I did enough to set myself up for a successful trip. 

The HH still cannot believe I traded my rug hooking money to sleep in the dirt {okay, a tent} and to be honest with you, neither can I. 

It should be interesting. 

I haven’t slept in a tent since I was 19. The idea of having to get up in the middle of the night in the pitch black and walk to the loo with a headlamp and possibly battle a pack of chupacabras at this stage in my life has zero appeal for me. 

Also, I’m a little worried about my tea and cookie schedule!

I should probably be more worried about things like how my body is going to handle the elevation change {sea level to 6,000 feet} but I’m more worried about getting a headache because my daily routine will be messed up.

I’m too old for this. I’ve been told I should drink LOTS of water. So that is what I am going to do!

I basically live at sea level. The biggest hill around here is like 75 feet and I really didn’t want to get in my car, drive an hour or two {each way} just to hike on some hilly, elevated terrain. So I didn’t.

My month of training mostly consisted of fast walking {to get my heart rate up} for 30 minutes to 2 hours at a time and going for 15-20 mile bike rides* around town 5-6 days a week.

*I only have an electric bike, so I put it on the lowest setting possible when I could.

I also strapped a backpack full of water bottles onto my back while I went up and down the stairs in the barn and around the house multiple times and climbed up and down rocks at the beach. Although I’m not sure what good it did. 

I know I probably should have trained more. But I didn’t and well, it’s too late now so that’s that. 🙂

Moving On…

I like to travel light under any circumstance so packing for this trip was pretty easy for me. My friend Jen and I are hiking with a group and were given a list of what to bring and I pretty much stuck with it. 

Things like tents, sleeping bags and cooking gear are someone else’s responsibility. All I really needed to pack was my clothing and a few personal items.

Also, I figured since I would be sleeping in the dirt and hanging around a campfire, and probably sweating all day, I wasn’t going to need multiple outfit changes so I have packed pretty much the bare minimum. The weather looks like it will be really nice {lows upper 40’s, highs 70ish}

Here’s What I Packed For My Hiking Trip

2 fast drying pairs of shorts

2 fast drying short sleeved shirts

2 cotton tank tops

6 pairs of socks and unmentionables

2 bras {I decided against the dumb sports bras}

1 pair hiking pants 

1 pair cottonish pants for early mornings

1 pair long underwear

1 long sleeve fast drying top with a hood

1 cozy zip up fleece

hat and gloves 

1 raincoat

1 pair rain pants

1 pair of trail shoes

1 pair dumb water shoes

Sunscreen, sunglasses and a few toiletries

My electric kettle + tea bags, sugar {there’s got to be a plug in somewhere, right?}

A thermos in case the stars align and I do find a plug in!

A few snacks {and cookies!} and 5 liquid IV powdery things

*I’ll pick up 6 water bottles that I can refill when I get to Utah

My Selk’ Bag {for early mornings and evenings. Who knows, I may even sleep in it}

A piece of cardboard and a sharpie {What if we have to hitch hike?}

1 piece of formal wear {If you’ve been reading this blog for a really long time you know what that means}.

1 small tub of glitter {you never know}

1 small car wash towel {that’s all I need right?}

2 day packs. I’m not sure which one I’ll use

1 head lamp and a flash light

Well, I think that’s it. I hope I packed enough stuff. I guess we’ll find out. 

I’m super excited for our trip. I hope it’s a good one!

Peace Out, 

~Mavis