Mission Prep, Pioneer Trek & Backpacking Guides from a Family That's Done It

Firsthand Guides for Missions, Pioneer Treks, and the Backcountry

I'm Chris Ballam, a returned missionary, father of four, and lifelong backpacker in Highland, Utah. I served a full-time, two-year mission in Scotland. Since then my wife and I have sent a son to the Brazil Rio de Janeiro South Mission and a daughter to the Argentina Tucumán Mission, I've served twice as a pioneer trek Pa, and I've backpacked 100+ mile stretches of Wyoming's Wind River Range.

Every guide here is built from what we actually packed, wore, and carried — and what we wished we'd left home. A packing list from experience should supplement your mission call packet or your stake's trek instructions, never replace them, so I point to the official guidance wherever it exists. You can read more about my background here.

LDS Missionary Packing Lists and Mission Prep

A mission in Rio de Janeiro and one in Tucumán need different gear, so these lists are country-specific. Each includes a complete packing list, an FAQ, and a cost breakdown based on what my son and daughter actually took into the field. Check them against the Church's official Guidelines for Elders and Guidelines for Sisters, and follow your mission call packet where they differ.

• LDS Missionary Essentials Hub — Every missionary guide in one place — packing lists, preparation timelines, clothing, costs, and FAQs.
• Elder Missionary Packing List for Brazil — A complete two-year list for a hot, tropical mission, built from my son's gear in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro South Mission.
• Sister Missionary Packing List for Argentina — A complete 18-month list for sisters, built from my daughter's gear in the Argentina Tucumán Mission.

LDS Pioneer Trek: What to Wear and Pack

I've served twice as a trek Pa — Mosida, Utah, in 2019 and Hardware Ranch, Utah, in 2023. The guide covers pioneer clothing for young women and young men, a complete packing list, Ma and Pa leader gear, what not to bring, and a typical 3-day itinerary. Trek rules vary by stake, so follow your stake's list where it differs.

• Pioneer Trek Guide: What to Wear & Pack — A firsthand guide for youth ages 14–18, parents, and Ma & Pa leaders.

Backpacking Guides for Utah and the American West

Each backpacking guide covers permits, trailheads, route options, water, the best season to go, and a packing list tested on the trail. They draw on years of backcountry trips, including three stints as a Boy Scouts of America Scoutmaster, desert canyons in southern Utah, and 100+ mile stretches of Wyoming's Wind River Range.

• Coyote Gulch Backpacking Guide — Permits, trailheads, route options, water sources, and a 4-day itinerary for one of southern Utah's best canyon hikes.
• All Backpacking Guides — Every backcountry packing list and trip guide, plus FAQs on permits, water, and gear.

Budget and Family Travel

I've visited 29 countries across 6 continents, most of them with my wife and our four kids, around a full-time career and a fixed number of vacation days. That includes a 7-week, 8-country family route through Southeast Asia. My budget vacation guides cover shoulder-season timing, points and miles, where to stay, and real daily costs, and the budget travel hub collects the rest. Photos from these trips are in my photo galleries.

Most Popular Packing Lists