list no. 13 :: a packing list for the desert

It has been slim pickings on the posts around here, and I apologize for that.*

Next weekend there will be a mad dash to the desert. 30 hours,(give or take), with a good friend and our cameras; a bit of a shooting frenzy to be honest, but we've done marathon travel together before, we know what the other is like as a travel companion, (not something taken for granted I've learned), and I know it will be fun. 

Here's what I think I'll need, of course packing with less is more in mind.

1. Olympus OM-2 35mm film camera. While I prefer my OM-1, its been a bit wonky and the OM-2 is a power house. 
2. Kodak Portra 400 film.
3. Fuji Superia 800 film. Sunrise in Salton Sea, sunset in Palm Springs...pretty photos I hope to make.
4. Polaroid Spectra camera.
5. Polaroid SLR 680. 

I'd love to bring my SX70 as well, but when I have too many cameras, I get overwhelmed. Still trying to decide whether to bring my beast, thinking I'll leave her at home because the last time I was in the desert I shot with her. 

1. Bathing suit, because we're staying at the saguaro. (!!!)
2. Hat. I've been doing laser for sun damage so I'll be covered up in the hot, desert sun.
3. Cover-up, (see above). My Sicilian heritage thinks otherwise, soaking up sunshine like a black hole and I end up looking like Magda and I can wear the same cover-up out to dinner. 
4. Sandals to wear after I take off my boots. (Boots are good for trekking around the desert and in case of rattlesnakes.)
5. A hoodie. With any luck, it won't be blistering hot and almost always, when the sun goes down in the desert, it's cold. 
6. Maps. Even with my GPS Nigel, it's a comfort level for me to have printed material as back-up.
7. Powder and lipstick.
8. Pony tail holders.

If you know me, you know I'm like an 85 year old woman with my pocket book. I feel a need to carry a heavy bag and I'm leaving as much of that behind as possible including:

1. Make-up. The small-ish makeup bag I carry in my purse has powder and lippy, more than I'll need for this trip. 
2. Jewelry.
3. Hair product.

*if i were to go on comments, i wouldn't even add that sentence, but there are readers here. or the stats lie.