Neither of us are veterans in camping. I’ve camped 2 times with the guys from the church. I think Hani has hiked/camped more times than me. So for our first year anniversary (October 27), we’ve decided to hike 3 miles uphill and spend the night at Crystal Cove State Park’s camp ground.  I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not to hike 3 miles with our 40 pound backpacks on a first year anniversay; but we are a bit excited preparing for the hike.  

Last weekend (October 11, 2008) we went for a say 2 hour hike with our friends Tim and Jennifer at Del Cerro Park, California.  This was our second time hiking at this trail and we did a lot better this time compared to the last time.  Last time I wasted my energy running on an uphill at the beginning of the trail and I didn’t have strength hike back to the car!  But this time we just had a relaxed walk talking with our friends and covered more distance and we weren’t exhausted at all.  After the hike last Saturday morning we ended up in Hof’s Hut a great breakfast food place in Torrance.  I think we gained more calories that morning eating at Hof’s Hut than the calories that we lost in the 2 hour hike. :)  

Anyway, back to our camping preparation.  Hani and I did some shopping this weekend getting ready for our first camping ever, here are the gears that we have so far: 

  • North Face Terra 60 and Terra 40 bacpacks
  • Coleman queen size air-bed
  • Ozark Trail 9′ x 8′ hexagonal tent from Walmart
  • Ozark Trail 9′ x 12′ heavy-duty tarp from Walmart
  • Coleman Micro Packer Lantern 
  • Energizer 6 LED Head lights 
  • Swiss Gear queen size sleeping bag
  • Compact Stove + container (to heat-up the soup)
  • Campbell’s Chunky! (THE soup) 
  • First aid kit
  • Emergency pancho

We need to pack in water since the campsite does not have any water.  We are looking for some kind of a water container that could hold water for an overnight camping for two people, and remember we need to hike 3 + 3 miles with it. Could you please let us know if you have any suggestions on that and if there is anything else that we should pack ?