Date: 2009-02-20
To: Lightweight Backpacking?
Miles today: 0.0

Since I set my start date and started a journal, thru-hiking has not left my mind for more than a few moments. At times I wonder whether I can be this focused for the remaining 383 days before I start my hike without going crazy, but overall, I am insanely grateful to have this much preparation time! As I have said before, the most important prep for me is mental preparation. At the moment, however, I am focused on gear preparation. (What hiker doesn't like gear???) I have been hiking every chance I get, as well as thinking, "How am I going to handle this when I'm alone on the trail?" in every situation, such as being sick the last couple of days or waking up in tears from a terrible dream a few nights ago. In addition to those things, which I will continue to do for the next 383 days, I have been thinking a lot lately about how to lighten my gear. As I have said, all of my backpacking experience up until now has been with others, sharing the weight of water purification, cooking gear, and first aid, among other items. Even with that, in 2006 I know my pack could have easily been lighter! I also go into this topic with a (probably unfair) bias against the ultralight backpacking community. Many of the ultralighters I have known have been judgmental gear snobs who often feel the need to voice their disapproval of items that they don't even have to carry. I don't believe I'm the only one in the hiking community who feels this way, though it has recently occurred to me that perhaps I should just be biased against jerks, instead. So, that said, I happen to have a very cool friend, Sam, here in Bozeman who works for Backpacking Light, a great company on the forefront of ultralight backpacking. On Monday, during a wonderful trip XC skiing and soaking in Yellowstone National Park, he and I had the first of many conversations about options for me to lighten my load. I am fully aware that in some categories of gear I may end up sticking with what I have now, but I am open to and excited about trying out tons of different options! My first step, at Sam's suggestion, will be to make a complete list of my current backpacking gear and their weights and then pare that list down, bit by bit, as I find new things that I like (and can afford). As soon as I get that going, I'll share that info on here and keep it updated with my search for lighter gear. Sadly, however, I cannot begin this process (by personal decree) until I get my tax info to my CPA (aka my incredible mother!). So, taxes here I come! Postscript, February 27, 2011: Wow! I started rereading my journal yesterday (with the first prep entry), and am already finding this an enlightening experience. I remember that crazy feeling of having committed to this venture, but being still unsure of whether I'd really make it. The progression of my views on pack weight has been an interesting one. If you've read the rest of my journal, you know that even in hiking 2,179.1 miles, I never became anything close to an ultralighter. I do, however, now have a much better awareness of each addition to my pack and whether or not it is something that I deem necessary. The technique that Sam suggested stuck, and that spreadsheet proved very helpful to me in the 13 months of planning that followed this entry. It's fun reading over these entries with the knowledge that I made it, and no one can ever take that away from me.