Ian's Black Rock Pages
Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Black Rock Camping Checklist
Here's a sample camping checklist for trips to Black Rock.
Please do not assume this is absolutely everything you need.
But go ahead and use it as a place to start planning out what
you need to bring with you.
Obviously packing needs differ per person - for example,
add to your personal checklist any prescription items
(plus spares) you may need.
Plan to slightly overpack on consumable items (food, water, ice)
just in case, since you'll be about two hours from the nearest city (Reno).
Also remember you'll be in the wilderness -
plan to pack out every last scrap of everything you bring in.
We should all want it to still be wilderness for
our grandchildren and more generations to come.
- Shelter & Transport
- per-person items
- folding chairs
- sleeping bag
- foam pad or air mattress
- pillow (optional)
- containers or stuff sacks to pack items
- per-group items
- tent (enough tents for all people in the group)
- rain fly for tent (for extra shade or for rain)
- shade canopy (optional)
- stakes for tent and canopy (for wind)
- camping mallet to drive in stakes
- Food & Cooking
- per-person items
- water containers
- water (imporant in desert)
- food for all meals and snacks
- plan your list before departure
- freeze-dried backpacking food is the most compact
- pick up any perishable items (like fruits) by Reno/Sparks
- zip-lock plastic bags to contain food odors (for areas w/ wildlife)
- mess kit or paper plates/bowls, eating utensils
- 1-2 trash bags per person (leave no trace of your campsite!)
- pocket knife/tool
- per-group items
- ice chest
- ice (important in desert) - pick up in Reno/Sparks while enroute
- extra ice chest
- extra ice
- camping stove w/ fuel
- cooking pots
- matches (preferably waterproof)
- biodegradable camping soap
- Clothing
- for cold (near freezing) nights
- for warm days
- all the clothing you need for a few days at camp
- hat/cap
- sunglasses
- other
- towel/washcloth
- hiking boots (in case rain turns playa temporarily to mud)
- Personal items
- first aid kit
- sunblock
- sunglasses
- bug repellant (not critical on the playa, needed at edges or off the playa)
- chapstick/lip balm
- personal hygeine items
- camera with film or memory cards (optional)
- binoculars (optional)
- Desert Navigation, Survival & Rescue (for all ventures away from camp)
- per-person items
- portable water container (i.e. water bottle)
- water
- "fanny pack" or similar for supplies
- snacks (i.e. trail mix) - enough to allow for next-morning rescue
- flashlight
- batteries
- compact emergency sleeping sack
- bring additional clothing for overnight rescue
- per-group items (for each group that ventures away from camp)
- GPS
- Northern Nevada map (DeLorme Nevada Atlas w/ GPS Grids recommended)
- radio which can communicate with your group
- 2m/70cm Ham radio (w/ licensed Ham operator) recommended
- Family Radio Service (FRS) - short range, don't wander far away
- extra batteries for GPS, radio, flashlight
- extra water jug for individual refills
- Large-group Base Camp items
- 2m/70cm Ham radio w/ licensed Ham operator(s)
- large battery or generator for radio
- 2m/70cm vertical antenna
- mast for antenna
- ropes for mast "guy wires"
- stakes for guy wires
- additional Northern Nevada map for base camp rescue planning
- fire extinguisher
- duct tape
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