Plans can change at a moment’s notice. You know that, your plans probably changed about five times today already. Sometimes the change is a bummer, like having to put some overtime hours in at work, which totally cuts into your fun 5-9 time outside of work. Then there’s those times your friend calls you up on a Friday afternoon and says “Right when you get off work, let’s go (insert awesome destination here) for the weekend!”

That’s happened on more than one occasion for me and I absolutely love it when that happens. This feeling of euphoria overcomes my insides and it’s like I’m late for something really important and I’m just hitting every single green light. You’ve probably had the same feeling when your friend calls you up like this on a moment’s notice. Then the panic sets in “Oh crap! I have to pack. Wait, what am I going to pack?”

The ultimate solution to that moment of panic is to have a Weekend Grab Bag always packed and ready to go. It’s got all the essentials of what fun last minute plans might throw at you. Weekend Grab Bags can and will change with the seasons too. Keep it relevant and you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Here are a few things I always keep in a few of my Weekend Grab Bags:

Hiking

• Rain Jacket
• Granola Bars
• Nalgene
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Water

Sport Climbing

• Rope
• Carabiners
• Slings
• Quickdraws
• Chalk
• Climbing Shoes
• Tape
• Granola Bars
• Water
• Flask with some bourbon

Bouldering

• Camera
• Granola Bars
• Water
• Climbing Shoes
• Chalk
• Tape
• Flask with some whiskey

Surfing

• Wetsuit (If you’ll be in cold water)
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Wax
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Spare Fins

If none of your friends have ever called you up on a moment’s notice asking if you’re down for a weekend full of fun, you may want to consider adding some more fun and adventurous friends to your life.

-Justin Fricke