WSU HARBOR

Weber State University, HARBOR

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HARBOR Recommended Field Trip Personal Gear

Field Day Gear

Flight Team members should all have:

1. Thin gloves to keep your hands warm, but thin enough to do detailed work.
2. A warm hat is nice to have.
3. Medium weight coat and long pants. (It is surprisingly cold in the mornings, especially if there is a breeze.)
4. A multitool or good pocket knife is incredibly handy to have.

Chase Team members will need stuff for the hike into the field: 

1. A light weight backpack like a book-bag size day pack
2. Hydration bag ("CamelBak") or water bottles 
3. Some snacks for the hike. Gorp ("trail mix") and granola bars work well. 
4. Comfortable hiking shoes/boots that have already been broken in. 
5. Sunscreen and a hat.

Camping Gear

We will be camping out on most flights. If you are going to share a tent, trailer, stove, food, pots, whatever with someone, it is YOUR responsibility to arrange for this partnership IN ADVANCE. 

It will be cold at the Duchesne Near-Spaceport (i.e., the Rydman Flight Center) in the mornings.  Make sure you bring warm clothes! 

Below is a list of things you should strongly consider having. (Note that some of these items can be cheaply rented from the WSU Outdoor Program.) 

1. Thin gloves (it will be cold at launch time and you will need your dexterity.) 
2. Warm hat, pants and coat. Flight prep is not an aerobic activity. 
3. Light weight clothes for the chase and mid-day hanging out. 
4. A waterproof tent (not all tents are...) 
5. A mid-weight sleeping bag. If all you have is a light weight "summer bag" then bring warm clothes to wear inside the bag. 
6. A sleeping pad under your sleeping bag will make life much nicer. 
7. Headlamp. (Flashlights are useful, but not very handy. Recreation Outlet and other local stores have inexpensive headlamps.) 
8. Bug spray might be nice for the afternoon and early evening. 
9. Pillows are nice but take up a lot of volume. Inflatable pillows or just putting your spare clothes into your sleeping bag stuff sack is not as comfy but is much more space efficient. Do what gives you a good night's sleep.

Food

I try to fund most of our trips, including food (except breakfast). The most important thing is to be flexible. Options are often limited.

Breakfast: on your own. I highly suggest simple stuff like bagels, cereal, oatmeal, mealworms (well, maybe not), etc. There will be a few stoves usually that will be set up for hot water. Usually we'll have a toaster as well. Coffee is  usually more of a bother, so don't count on it. (Sometimes we can run into town.)

Lunch & Dinner: Usually I'll try to buy these meals for you. Sometimes they will be "in the field" and it might be "fast food" from a rural convenience store. Sometimes we will stop at a grocery store and bring stuff back to camp. Sometimes we'll eat out. You will want to bring some eating utensils. A camp/picnic plate and bowl will reduce plastic/paper waste.

Adult drinks: Nope, not happening. This is a university field trip. No alcohol for consumption is allowed.

A few additional comments for those with less camping experience: 

1. Select simple foods to prepare. Especially for breakfast, with launch prep starting at 0600 there simply won't be time for fancy breakfasts. (Note: bagels survive being smashed and abused better than bread does.)
2. Don't bring food for everyone. It is good to have some to share for fun and friendship, but if everyone brings an army's worth of food there won't be any room for HARBOR equipment! :-) 
3. There will be at least one stove (Dr. Sohl's). If you don't want to wait in line, bring your own. NOTE: bring your own (or arrange to share in advance) pots, dishes, forks, etc. etc. 
4. Camping Rule of Thumb: Life is easier if you don't have lots of clean up to do.   (Bacon sure is nice, but the clean up is misery unless you cook it over the fire.)

Important Note: Bring what you need, but be compact about it. 

Most nights we'll build a campfire (weather and fire conditions permitting) and make 'smores, be prepared to have fun! 

Miscellaneous Things to Bring

  1. A ham radio is helpful (if you are licensed).

  2. A Leatherman or Gerber style multitool is very valuable to have on your belt.

  3. GPS software on your phone or a handheld GPS is very valuable. Make sure you know how to use it.

  4. Headlamp!!!

  5. Writing device and notebook. All serious scientists are ready to make extensive notes at a moment's notice.

  6. Sunglasses

  7. Laptop and/or tablet for notes, calculations, programming, etc.

  8. Raincoat