When you think of Idaho, do you think of stark, almost alien fields of jet-black volcanic rock? I certainly didn't. But last summer, on my way from Colorado to Oregon, I spotted something peculiar on the map.
The place is called Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Typically in a '52 Trips' (what you're reading now) we ask someone for the practical gear they take to a given place.
This time, though, I want to be a bit more aspirational. It's called Craters of the Moon after all, so we're going to run with the lunar theme.
Do you need this stuff to visit a national monument in Idaho? Well, I guess that just depends on how good you want your Instagram to look.
If you're trying to explore the monument, there's a trail that you can take up to and beyond the aforementioned viewpoint. For that you'll need a daypack, and the Summit Pack from Hyperlite Mountain Gear fits the bill functionally and thematically thanks to its white Dyneema fabric and black detailing.
For our last item we have an extra large flashlight for adventuring in the lava caves. Who knows what you'll find in there 👽