Equipment - more than 1 day
Modest clothing for walking through woods and over rugged terrain, long pants/skirts (no shorts) and well broken-in hiking shoes are a must. Other essentials include:
a small backpack to carry throughout, containing:
» your lunch for the day & canteen of water/beverage
» revitalizing snacks - dried fruit, chocolate bars, nuts etc.
» a light coat, warm jacket, or pullover
» a poncho to protect from rain
» a hat to protect from sun/rain
» band-aids, simple medication for blisters, headaches & muscle pain, medicated foot powder, moleskin
» pilgrim's booklet - supplied, containing hymns & prayers
» a Rosary
a larger bag transported by the Company of St. René, and retrievable at bivouacs, containing:
» food reserves (your additional meals & drinks)
» a cup for tea/coffee/soup/instant hot breakfast cereal
» a flashlight
» changes of clothes - kept throughout in water-proof packing. Socks such as Thorlos®, CoolMax®, Smart-Wool® strongly recommended; cotton socks not advised
» light shoes - for the evening
» toilet paper & toiletries
» night clothes & bug repellent
» sleeping bag (kept in water-proof sack throughout) & thick ground sheet
personal tent - notify organizers if you do not have one.
Each pilgrim is reponsible to keep dry all his own gear, but especially sleeping bag & personal clothing - even inside his larger bag - by wrapping such gear etc. in water-proof packing throughout the pilgrimage. When it rains, it has been known to pour.
Pilgrims bringing more than essentials must arrange to transport their extra baggage themselves, or leave it in their vehicles.