Airplane bags - The Colorado Trail

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#1

Just a few things about checking my bag in when I am flying out to Denver for the start of the trail…

Will I have any problem checking my small backpacking knife in my stuff.

While I was looking for restrictions on the website for the airline I’m flying with I didn’t see them mentioning food in checked bags. I plan on putting my first 7 days of food in my checked bag. Will the airline have any problems with this.

Is there anything else I need to worry about when I check all my hiking stuff in.

I plan on buying a new stove and gas at the REI in Denver so i don’t have to worry about problems along those lines at the airport.

Is there anything else I need to think about when checking my bags?

Can’t wait

#2

You’ll have no problems with any of the above. Just put your pack in a duffel, address the duffel and the pack, AND have the check in person put the carrier tags on both items. Yes, you can bring your stove. If its a white gas stove, clean and wash the bottle and leave it empty, outside the pack for easy looking by TSA. If you’re just using a butane one, throw it in the cook pot and get on wit it. Oh, yeah, if you have trekking polls, strap them up and put a heavy sock or mitten or some other padding on each end and stick next to your pack. We leave the hiking shoes out of the pack also in case they wanna look at them. Haven’t had any issues in several flights recently. We use heavy nylon duffels from Dick’s Sports. They’re about $20.

BW

#3

I ran into this issue last month and found out the TSA has restrictions on lithium batteries, lighters and strike anywhere matches in checked baggage. On top of that I flew Southwest which has a more restrictive policy regarding lighters than the TSA. Any knife should go in your checked baggage along with brass knuckles and black jacks (no joke, they actually mentioned these items).
To meet the requirements I placed my lithium batteries and a single disposable lighter in a plastic bag with my carry on items. I left my emergency matches and extra lighter at home. More info can be found at the TSA web site.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#11

Still Lookin

#4

Thanks for the help…

I’m going to check just about everything except for my sleeping bag and cloths which are my most needed items. I can’t afford to replace the sleeping bag.

Is there anything else I should carry onto the plan for safe keeping besides the obviouse camera and iphone?

Can’t Wait

#5

just mail your pack to the hotel you plan to stay at , you can avoid all the airport problems, and with the cost of checking your luggage its probally cheaper. Just be sure to call your hotel in advance.

The Hobo

#6

Stoves may not be able to fly unless they’re brand new, unused. Check with your air carrier on this. Knives in checked bags are fine.

Plan on TSA thoroughly inspecting your stated 7 days of food. Lots of backpacking food (peanut butter, oils, energy bars) carries similar signatures to plastic explosives and other contraband. For best odds, make sure your PB containers are new and unopened, bars are in their original packaging, and so forth. Pasta and such I wouldn’t worry so much about - store in ziplocs or what-have-you. Label anything that wouldn’t be obvious to a layperson, as it may help TSA along, so to speak.

I wouldn’t mail your entire pack to the hotel. That can be okay for some of the replaceable items in your pack, but to lose the whole pack due to delivery problems or issues on the receiving end would be a real slow-you-down drag. At least when the airlines lose or damage checked goods they compensate you for it immediately at the baggage claim office.

Tron

#7

The only food I would be taking would be dehydrated food like Mountain house. I’m assuming there would be no problems with this type of food.

the rest I would pick up at the store when I get there. I’d pick it all up in Denver except for the fact that I have a lot of the dehydrated food sitting around the house and just thought it would be cheaper to use what I got.

Has any body had problems with Lithium batteries? I was looking on the TSA site and it seems they limit you to only a couple in the checked bags.

Can’t wait

#8

I flew into the GA for the At in 09 and just carried everything on. If you are going to go to REI, just pick up a knife there, and food at the store. Save some $$. If 6you akready have the food priority mail it you yourself in denver somewhere close to trail head. Po office or something. Theyhave a flat rait box for $10. When u starting? i have a friend doing it this year and im sure she would help w/ rides and such, if she hasent started by the time u have.

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