I just got back from a week-long mini-tour around St. George, Utah, including two rest days in Zion National Park. It was great. I did what I always do. 1) I forgot some things that were on my packing list (bonehead! - I actually brought some winter riding gloves which would have been great, but left them in my truck!) 2) I brought some new things that were great to have. 3) I brought some things I could have done without. 4) There were also some things I should have brought, had I thought of them.

I did something else I always do: I brought my mp3 player which has a voice recorder feature, and I dictated notes to myself about all of the above, among other things. I'll be updating my packing list based on my notes.

My advice to new tourers is always to do as much research as you can/want, and then get out and try a tour. Write or dictate notes to yourself during the trip for things you'd do differently next time. I'd suggest some shorter tours at first until you get your packing list and techniques somewhat figured out (although I don't think I'll ever arrive at the perfect packing list!)

Here are a couple of samples from my notes about this tour:

Positive: I brought a Cane Creek collapsible chair and it was wonderful! It was so nice to have a comfortable chair to sit in, read, nap, stare into space, etc. It's very light, was cheap, and I absolutely love it!

Negative: My sleeping bag may have been adequate for cold weather years ago, but no more. It got down below freezing at Zion and I froze! I put on everything I had inside my sleeping bag and it was barely tolerable. I made some definite notes about future packing list for cold-weather touring, and a new sleeping bag is on the list!