Below is the gear list from the final Appalachian Trail scouting trip, taken June 21-28, 1934, in western Maine by members of the Bates College Outing Club—Professor William H. Sawyer, club president Sam Fuller ’35, secretary Harold “Ace” Bailey ’36, and member Edward Aldrich ’35. Reportedly 45-50 pounds per pack.
Read "Blazing a Good Trail: The AT in Maine" for the full narrative.
Equipment Used on A.T. Scouting Trip—June 21 to 28, 1934
Cooking Implements
- 5 cups
- 6 knifes
- 6 forks
- 1 can opener
- 7 spoons
- 6 plates
- 1 kettle
- 2 towels
- 1 dish cloth
- 1 sieve
- 1 frying pan
- 1 biscuit pan
- paper napkins
- salt and pepper shakers
- 1 pkg. Rinso
- 1 box matches
Necessary Articles
- 4 large packs
- 1 large tent
- 2 blankets per man
- 1 emergency kit
- 1 large axe
- 1 small axe
- 1 altimeter
- 1 directional compass
- 1 compass per man
- can of Fly-Tox and gun
- roll of toilet paper
- fishing rods
- bottle of insect lotion per man
- two pair heavy socks per man
- pair of heavy shoes per man
- good maps
- tags to mark trail
- 1 pair of field glasses
- notebook and pencil
- good camera
- harmonica
- playing cards
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Food
- 7 cans condensed milk
- 1 peck potatoes
- 1 peck carrots and beets
- 1 dozen oranges
- 1/2 peck onions
- salt
- pepper
- 2 pounds of cheese
- 3 jars of apple butter
- 1 can of brown sugar
- 1 package of prunes
- 1 package of pancake flour
- 1 jar of jam
- 2 cans of corn beef
- 2 packages of tea
- 1 box of matches
- 1/2 pound of corn meal
- 2 pounds of coffee
- 1 package of Bisquick
- one dozen eggs
- 4 bars of milk chocolate
- 1 package of oatmeal
- 3 cans of logan berries
- 4 cans of corn
- 4 cans of lima beans
- 4 cans of baked beans
- 2 cans of fruit
- 3 cans of peas
- steak
- ham
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Necessities Required on an Outing Club Hike
(from 1930s Bates Outing Club handbook)
- Clothing
- Footwear
- High boots, or regular policeman’s shoes (with hobnails or without).
- Heavy sneakers will serve the purpose.
- Heavy woolen hose.
- Pants
- Woolen knickers (not full) or
- Army pants, or
- Riding breeches, or
- Ordinary trousers tucked into high boots.
- Shirts
- A light flannel shirt, and a heavy flannel shirt
- Outer Garments
- A heavy sweater, or
- Sweat shirt, or
- Woolen or leather jacket.
- Hats
- An old felt hat is the thing.
- A red bandana
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- .
- Sleeping Equipment
- A light sleeping bag with water-proof covering, or
- Two woolen blankets and a poncho and 6 blanket pins.
- Toilet Articles and Miscellaneous
- Toothbrush and paste.
- Soap and towels.
- Flashlight.
- Waterproof match container.
- Jack knife
- Knapsack
- It should be large enough to hold blanket roll, extra clothing, toilet articles, and about 10 lbs. of food. *Knapsack is necessary only when supplies, etc. have to be packed into camping place.
- First Aid Outfit
- Small vial of iodine.
- Gauze bandage.
- Adhesive tape.
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Above: Bates Professor William H. Sawyer, Samuel T. Fuller '35, unkown, and Edward Aldrich '35.
Top image: Prof. Sawyer, Sam Fuller, Warden Conant, Ed Aldrich. 1934. Avery Collection
Photos by Bates Outing Club secretary Harold “Ace” Bailey ’36.