You do seriously believe the gas tank is necessary? What about water pot? Cooking gears? If the long haul is by car, it won't be an issue, though..

I took camping as a temporary measure to spend the night usually. I always take a flash and a cooler with me. A tool box will be always helpful for setting up the camp.

When you are looking for a camping site, checking up a few things
1. office working hour;
2. sanitory availability;
3. available shops aroud the corner;
4. BBQ facilities;
5. power onsite availability;
6. safty in terms of youself and your food

Really?  Did whistler help people on Titanic?

Hi, stephen_su:

What's the whistler used for? To scare a bear away? What about the mirror?

How do you carry your tripod with your backpack? I have a Bogen 3021. I carried it by hand for a short distance hiking once. The experience was not nice.

云深处, I'm sorry I have not actually been Colorado. A couple o weeks ago, I was going to go there in thi August. After doing some extensive research and finishing a detailed plan, I changed my mind at the last minute. I'm reading a book written and photographed by John Fielder (Photographing the Landscape), the most stunning pictures (as my opinion) were taken in Maron Bells-Snowmass Wildernss, did you think about this place?
I bought my tent at $30. Since I camped only at roadside campgrounds, I've never felt the need for that fancy stuff. I do not think three-season tent is necessary. I did a couple late fall/early winter camping, and I believe I will get crashed before any tent is crashed. The best sunscreen and and insect repllent are actually long pants and long sleeve T-shirts. I usually do not use them because bugs always prefer other people to me. A couple of months ago, I went to Florida and I used sunscreen and insect repllent, but the lenses were very soon became oily. As of my experience, the only essential things are a spacious tent, a ~30 degree sleeping bag, a foam sleeping pad, a knife, a sunglasses, a whistler, a mirror, first ad kit, a water bottle, and a backpack that can hold your tripod (inside or outside). Hope you can benefit from my good/bad camping/hiking experiences.

Thanks for all the replies. I just found a magazine 'Backpacker' in the library. There is a paper about 'Ultimate Gear List'. Here is the list for the normal three-season backpacking:

Gear:
internal or external frame backpack
three-season tent
down sleeping bag
inflatable sleeping pad
trekking poles

canister stove and fuel canisters
lighter and waterproof matches
cookset
eating utensils, bowl and insulated mug

headlamp w/extra batteries and bulb
32 oz. water bottles(2)
water treatment(filter, tablets, or drops)
pocket knife or multitool
compass
sunglasses
first-aid kit with personal medications
stuff sacks
assorted zipper-lock bags
bear-bagging rope(or canister) (What is that?)

insect repellent
mesh head net or suit
sunscreen(SPF 15+)
lip balm (SPF 15+)
toilet paper and trowel
______________________________________

Clothing:
Outerwear:
waterproof/breathable jacket
waterproof/breathable pants
fleece jacket or wool sweater
waterproof gaiters
synthetic hiking pants
synthetic shorts

Base Layer:
midweight long john top
midweight long john bottoms
long sleeve T-shirt
synthetic briefs
synthetic sports bra
synthetic T-shirt

Accesories:
wool or fleece hat
midweight wool or fleece gloves

Footwaer:
waterproof hiking boots
camp footwaer
wool or synthetic socks(3)
liner socks(2)

Extras:
sun hat
bandanna

I don't think anybody will buy all these stuffs, but it's good to take it as reference.

By the way, I am in Texas. Does anybody know if there is a place nearby good for visiting? How about Big Bend?

In most US national parks, camping is easy. You may buy an easy-to-set tent. Mine is very easy; I can set it up in 5 minutes without any rush. Make sure your tent is big enough, and your sleeping pad is cozy enough. After some camping travels, I think good sleep and food are the key to your travel and taking photos, especially when you need to hike.
云深处, in rocky mountains, bears MAY be a big problem in September. Since they have very outstand smell capability, you cannot bring anything related to food into your tent, and a bad experience about this. To contiguously camp serveral days in the wilderness may make you tired if you are not experienced at this, so I think it is better to stay in a motel every a couple of days. BTW, a even bigger problem is bugs. I think you may consider two other NPs for your trip in September: Black Canyon of Gunnison in CO, and Badland in SD, both are 300-350 miles from Denver.

Well, you can find some camp ground has shower place...

Cloud,

Sixflags? You live in GA?

Anyone living in southeast can show me some good places for short trips? There aren't many good places to visit in southeast except Gtreat Smoky Mt in fall, New Orlean in spring, and beach in FL, I think. It's not easy to schedule a long trip(only once a year maybe)....

Cloud,

This Spring when I was in NH, a little bear and me find the other by each other . He shown a great curious of me and keep watching me taking photos

And I almost run into a grant Moose.

Cloud, you can get 瓦斯罐 in local store.
Hmmm... dining? I don't think you never more than 1 hour of driving away from a restaraunt

May be a silly question, but, is it hard to setup a tent?
Do I have to dig a hole on the ground?