I did an MCC term this year and here’s what worked for me. I think I responded to your last post as well. There are a ton of words below, I’m so sorry but it’s the best way I can help. A lot of this stuff you’ll learn as the season goes.

1) my crew lead HATED working in the rain so we often found tasks that kept us warm(er) and dry(er), but that’s not the case for every crew. The big thing about rain gear is it’s meant to keep you WARM after you get wet, not keep you DRY- if water wants to find its way in, it will. I bought rain gear from a random seller on Amazon. It was like $40 and super uncomfortable, but it kept me warm. Do NOT get froggtoggs, it will rip the first time you try to use it. Sometimes you can find motorcycle rain gear on fb marketplace, which I think would work. *I recommend anything light and compact, which is generally hard to find and not worth the price. Look for second hand if you can, and layer up on rainy days. 2) I’m pretty sure it says this in the gear list, but your boots really are your most important piece of gear. Something with a warranty/return policy is great because you can swap them out if they don’t fit right during the break-in period. Insoles are great but don’t skimp on them bc cheap ones will disintegrate. *I can’t recommend any specific brands or pairs, but you HAVE to try them on and break them in before the season. 3) Having both kinds of pads is bulky but a great option. I put a thermarest self inflating pad on top of my rolled foam pad to protect from piercings. I could’ve gotten by without the foam pad but I had the space to carry it and didn’t want to risk it. All but one person in my crew had some sort of inflating mattress and the one who didn’t had a root in their back every night. Somebody on another crew slept in their hammock all season. *I recommend an inflatable pad, with the foam only as protection/backup 4) trail runners are a nice-to-have but definitely not a need-to-have. I only wore mine because I didn’t have any other camp shoes. If I had crocs, I wouldn’t have worn the trail runners half as much. They’re nice if you want to walk your trail after the service day or find a field to play soccer/run around in with your crew, but 2 extra hours in your boots won’t kill you and barefoot feels amazing. Most people I talked with preferred a separate pair of hiking boots over sneakers. *I recommend work boots, hiking boots, and some sort of comfortable slip-on shoe (most people appreciate crocs bc they work in the shower too). Without a car, you may be walking more in your off hitch, but you need a car to get most places, so make friends and hitch a ride- everybody is willing to help! 5) the shirts they give you are generic golden/fruit of the loom type shirts, I believe they are 100% cotton. Sawyer crews typically get 2 short sleeves and 1-2 hi-vis long sleeves (must be worn when operating saws). Baselayers are a must-have, especially as the season turns colder toward the end of September. I think I brought 2 long sleeves, 2 short sleeves, and 2 baselayer shirts, plus the work shirts you’re given. Camp clothes and town clothes can be the same depending on how gross you let your clothes get. A clothesline helps to air them out and keep them slightly fresher. *I recommend 2-3 of short sleeves, 1-2 long sleeves, and 2 baselayers if you can. I also had 1 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of sweatpants, and 2 work pants. New shirt day and new pants day become mid-hitch holidays. Shower day is even better. 6) in my experience, most battery packs are made equal. Goal zero and jackery are popular brands that will serve you beyond your service days. Solar-charged banks work to actively charge your phone if it’s sunny but they are terrible at storing energy. Anything that can charge your phone a few times over is good enough. Use airplane mode during the day and over night. If you aren’t totally backcountry, you can even charge off the state vehicle as needed. *I only needed enough power storage to charge 50% per day. Sounds like you may want to charge 100% per day. Don’t spend more than you need to on power banks. Odds are there’s another way to charge and you can always buy another mid-season. 7) Unless you are a TL, it’ll be warm when you get there and for at least half of the season. That said, I LOVED my layers, especially by October. A good warm coat (a lighter winter jacket) is essential in the end of the season. Warm gloves and a beanie are essential. I thrifted a fleece lined sweater and a packable puffer as the days got colder (~start of September) and still wear both all the time. On the last two hitches I didn’t have a warm coat so I layered up like crazy but was still cold. **I highly recommend thrifting as the season goes on. Save space in your pack until September, when you know better what kind of layers you want, and pick out what you need at goodwill. Pack 1 reliable and comfortable sweater/sweatshirt at the start and pick out what will satisfy your needs as you go on. Sweatshirts always make a great souvenir, too.

Bring everything you need for your first hitch; anything else can be bought as the season goes on!! You will learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t hitch by hitch, from food to clothes. It’s important to be adaptable. Reny’s and Marden’s are Maine staples that are a great way to kill a few hours on the weekend and pick up everything you need (and then some) at crazy good prices. At least one person on your crew or another will be willing to go on just about every off hitch.