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Two Medicine Backcountry permit

Two Medicine Gear Checklist

What to carry on Two Medicine, and why. 9 more are worth the pack space.

9Total Items
9To bring

What to bring on Two Medicine

Specific to this permit, not a generic camping list.

  • Bring

    Bear spray, carried where you can reach it

  • Bring

    A stove

    all five camps are no-campfire

  • Bring

    Wind protection. Two Medicine gets the plains wind and the passes are fully exposed

  • Bring

    Water treatment

  • Bring

    Shoes you can ford in, if you use the North Shore reroute

  • Bring

    Trekking poles for the 2,400-foot pass climbs

  • Bring

    A bear-resistant container

  • Bring

    A four-season-capable shelter in September; this valley snows early

  • Bring

    Sun protection for long treeless traverses

12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.

Build a shared list

General backcountry gear

Kit we recommend for backcountry trips in general. This is not a checklist specific to Two Medicine โ€” the Glacier National Park rules for this permit are above.

๐ŸŽ’
Recommended
Wild Ideas

Bearikade Weekender

Ultralight carbon fiber bear canister. IGBC certified.

1 lb 15 ozultralightcarbon-fiber
$325
๐ŸŽ’
Recommended
Katadyn

BeFree 1L

Ultralight collapsible filter system.

2 ozultralightfast-flow
$44.95
๐ŸŽ’
Recommended
BearVault

BV500 Bear Vault

The most popular bear canister for Sierra backpacking. Fits 7 days of food.

2 lbs 9 oz7-day capacityapproved
$89.95
๐ŸŽ’
Recommended
Black Diamond

Distance Carbon Z

Lightweight folding carbon poles.

1 lb 1 ozcarbonfolding
$169.95
๐ŸŽ’
Recommended
Sawyer

Sawyer Squeeze

The most popular water filter for backpacking.

3 ozpopularreliable
$37.95

Gear Tips for Two Medicine

๐Ÿ’ก Pro Tips

  • โ€ขWeigh your pack before you go. A lighter pack makes for a happier hike.
  • โ€ขRent expensive gear if you are trying a new activity for the first time.
  • โ€ขTest all new gear at home before hitting the trail.
  • โ€ขCheck current regulations as some items may be required seasonally.

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