As a landscape and nature photographer, hiking is kind of second nature.  You have to get to great locations to get great shots that everyone else does not have.  The longer your hike is, the more important it is to pack light.  Weight matters!  My everyday/hiking kit I try to keep as light as possible.  The kit I'm going to show you is right at 7 lbs.  My big professional Nikon D800 camera and one lens weigh in at 5 lbs. That's only one lens, no tripod filters or anything else, just camera.  My hiking kit consists of four lenses (I have other ones in the wings to switch out if I need to), a tripod, filters, and lots of other goodies.  Here is a photo of my stuff and an itemized list.

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1. Camera Sony A6000 (crop sensor) with Pentax 28mm f2.8 vintage lens which I used on a film camera about 30ish years ago. With the crop sensor, the lens is at a focal length of about 42mm, good for close photographs like a walk in the woods.

2.Wide angle lens Sony 10-18mm f4.  Gives me a focal length of 15-25mm with the crop sensor.  Super sharp lens for big landscapes like the mountains.

3. Mid Range Telephoto- 18-105mm.  This one gives me a focal range of 25-150mm.  This is the lens that gets swapped out a lot with other lenses.  This is a great all-in-one lens and has given me some great photos.  Depending on where I'm hiking, this may or may not be in the bag as it is sometimes swapped out for a vintage 35-70mm f2.8 lens.

4. Telephoto Pentax 80-200 mm f4.6.  Gives me a focal range of 120-300mm.  This is a cheap plastic lens that I got 30 years ago, but it's lightweight and pretty sharp.  This is the range that I use the least.

5. Peak Design clip.  This allows me to put my camera right on my backpack strap to keep my hands free but gives me quick access to my camera.

6. GoPro Session 4 on a hat clip.  The GoPro is the newest addition to my camera kit.  I used to use my phone for everything video-wise, but this is a great piece of kit!  I can use it for biking also and it's waterproof.

7. Peak Design Leash.  Love this for this small camera.  It gives me a sense of security when it's strapped to my wrist!

8. Batteries and Charger.  Mirrorless cameras can eat up batteries, so I carry two extras and odds and ends in this case.

9. Polarizer Case.  I carry circular polarizers for most of my lenses.

10. ND Filters.  I carry a variable circular natural density filter and step-down rings to fit most of my lenses.

11. Anker 10500 mAh.  I use this to charge GoPro, camera batteries, and iPhone.

12. Bag for GoPro and cleaning clothes for lenses.

13. Joby Gorilla Pod for GoPro.

14. Stick Pick Mount. Allows me to put GoPro on my hiking stick like a selfie stick.

15. Trail Pix Ultra light Tripod.  I'm able to use this with my hiking sticks with one from a buddy and create a tripod that will handle up to 7 lbs.

16. Altoids, Advil, Tums, moist lens clothes for my glasses and or lenses.

17. Outdoor Products Hydration Pack.  I got this from Walmart for 40 bucks, and it works great for this small load.

18. Fleece skull cap, neck warmer, waterproof gloves, and bandana for keeping warm and such.

19. Kelty Trekking Poles.  This is probably one of the best kept secrets in hiking.  Trekking poles will save your knees and save your butt from falls.  They are great long trips.

20. Emergency poncho, wet wipes.  Poncho is for rain showers.  I got caught in the rain once on a hike and just got drenched, and since then I always carry an emergency poncho.  And for those emergency bathroom breaks without a bathroom, the wet wipes or toilet paper is a must.

21. Finn the Explorer, sunglass case, lens brush.  Finn the Explorer is new, and he travels with me.  I try to take a photo of him when we go to a new place.  Sunglass case and lens brush are self explanatory.

_DSC7397 In August my wife and I took a weekend trip to Charleston, South Carolina.  We took our Teardrop trailer and stayed on Joint Base Charleston.   Joint Base Charleston is a base comprised of Air Force and Navy, and we stayed on the Navy side for a very reasonable price.  If you are military or retired military, don't forget to check out military bases for camping spots.  They are very reasonable, clean, and safe.  Charleston is a big place with lots to do, and you can't see it all on a weekend. _DSC7375  My suggestion is to divide it into smaller trips to really get a good taste of Charleston.  That's what we did.  We decided to just go to the historic downtown area of Charleston and take a guided tour of the city from the back of a horse drawn carriage. Besides the downtown there are many things to see in Charleston.  There is the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown that is a floating museum that I really want to go see.  There is Fort Sumter with all of its Civil War history which I think you  have to take a ferry or water taxi to get to.  There are  _DSC7405 museums and an aquarium that you can go see if the weather gets rainy.  Folly Beach isn't far with all the beach things that you come to expect from a coastal community.   _DSC7347 There are old plantations that you can visit like Magnolia Plantation.  There is the Angle Oak Live Oak tree that is estimated to be over 500 years old located at Angle Oak Park.  So you can see that there is lots to do.  And, oh yeah,  Charleston is known for its fine restaurants! Lots to do and see and eat in Charleston!

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Sugarloaf OverlookMax Stansell Photography Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is a must see if you live in the southeastern US.  This lovely park, perched high in the Virginian Appalachians,in the Jefferson National Forest, is home to grassy pastures and meadows, mountain peaks more than 5,000 feet high, wild ponies, and crystal clear mountain streams lined with rhododendron tunnels. Providing a variety of unique sights, trails, and boulders, there’s something here for everyone. Creek CrossingMax Stansell Photography  Activities include hiking, bouldering, primitive and RV camping, and horseback riding.  My wife and I took our Little Guy Teardrop trailer there this summer in hopes to see the wild ponies there.  We hiked up to the Appalachian Trail that travels _MSP1283Max Stansell Photography through the park to find them, but we didn't have any luck.  The park is high enough in altitude to keep the hot weather away, and it was a very pleasant temperature while we were there.  Our Teardrop trailer did exceptionally well, and we really enjoyed our trip.  My trusty Sony A6000 was my main camera, and it performed well.  I love this park and have already gone back from the time The "AT' Grayson HighlandsMax Stansell Photography we took this trip for a little fishing trip.  Caught some local brook trout and had a great time in the area. If you like camping, the outdoors, and great scenic views, this is the park for you.