Your tent should be a small lightweight 3-4 season tent. There are many brands available.

It may be possible to share tents. I can help organise tent accommodation. Contact me about borrowing or sharing a tent if you do not have one. If you do have a tent with spare space, please let me know.

Rent a lightweight 1-person tent (Nemo Hornet or Big Agnes or similar) for 3 nights: $50

You may borrow a lightweight 1-person tent from me for $50.

Brand: Nemo Hornet or Big Agnes Coppur Spur

Weight: About 1.1kg

The cheapest form of sleeping pad is a foam mat such as Thermarest Z-lite, however these are bulky.

Other recommended brands are Thermarest NeoAir, Nemo Tensor, or Sea to Summit pads. The Thermarest NeoAir is the lightest for the amount of warmth, insulation, comfort and compactness. But it is also the most expensive.

Enough to hold 3-4 litres is required. 4 x 1L Nalgene bottles are recommended. Alternatively just take old soft drink bottles or used wine cask bladders.

Once we are in the Red Rocks there is very little water available en route and you need to be able to carry enough water to last a full day and night. It is very important that your bottles and bladders are watertight. Before the trip, check all water containers carefully. Bladders with bite valves are prone to leak whenever pressure is placed on the valve so please be careful with these and take screwtop Nalgene bottles as a backup. Bottles with a wide mouth are preferred.

Cooking and eating utensils:

• Billy or cookset
• Plastic cup
• Spoon
• Pocket knife

Camping stoves are optional. On most trips we will have a campfire which you are welcome to use for cooking on. Camping stoves can be shared, and I can provide you with boiling water for your cooking needs.

A "billy" is a small aluminium pot which is used to cook over the fire. Alternative to a billy if using a stove is any kind of camp cookset.

We adopt a minimal impact approach to bushwalking so stoves are preferred over campfires and we will always adhere to park fire bans or total fire bans.

Stoves may be shared, one between two. If you do not have, or don't bring a stove, you may either share mine or have me boil water for you, 

There are many types of camping stove. For this type of trip, a gas stove such as Soto Windmaster is the lightest, most compact, and easiest to use.

Bring enough food for yourself for the duration of the trip. Normally everyone brings their own food unless specific arrangements to share food are made.

See food suggestions below for help on what sort of food to bring.

For this variant of the Red Rocks hike you require:

• 3 breakfasts
• 4 lunches
• 3 dinners

Shirt and shorts or long pants for walking in during the day

Additional warm clothes (depending on time of year):

• Beanie
• Gloves

Check the weather forecast prior to the trip. The weather in May-September can be variable and cold weather is likely, especially at night. Ensure you have sufficient warm clothes for chilly evenings and mornings. Most likely not needed on trips in March, April and October.

Personal items:

• Toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer gel
• First aid

Keep to minimum. Due to limited water availability and for environmental concerns, do not bring soap, shampoo or detergent. Hand sanitizer gel (that doesn't require water) should be used for hygiene and for cleaning hands after toileting and before handling food.

First aid kit must include as a minimum:

• 1 x compression bandage (minimum dimensions 7.5cm wide x 2.3m long unstretched)
• band aids
• Pain relief tablets or any personal medications
• Blister prevention and treatment, eg: compeed pads, micropore tape, strapping tape

Also recommended:

• Minor wound dressings/swabs
• Alcohol swabs
• safety pins

The trip leader will carry a more comprehensive first aid kit for emergency use however for common and minor first aid needs, please bring your own kit.

A compass is optional, for use if you want to practise navigation skills learned on the MountainSphere navigation training weekend.

For your personal expenses travelling to and from the start point. For example, your accommodation on the night before and after the trip, a meal on the way home, or whatever.

A whistle is an important safety item for attracting attention in an emergency or in the unlikely event that you become separated from the group.

Some backpacks come with a whistle built in or attached. These are often too small and feeble for a genuine emergency. Bring a separate pealess whistle if you have one. If you don't have one, MountainSphere can supply one for you for the trip.