Date: 2013-12-04
To: Gear Heads Only
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This is still being adjusted, and prior to a good shakedown and field-test later this month, but in case you're interested, here's what constitutes the 20 or so lbs I will be starting with. (Go to this URL: http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=18471 for details.) The sleeping pad could easily fail to make it all the way to GA. The shoes surely will. The bag and windbreaker may need replacing with heavier winter gear in the Smokies, but we'll see. The complete gear list, then:I.        The Big four:a.        Pack: Gregory Z65 medium, 65 liter or 3,966 cu in capacity, internal frame and smallish, with pouches for a 2L Coyote water pack and a rain-cover. It¢s relatively heavy at 3 lbs. 6 ozs., but comfortable and already much-loved.b.        Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo LE, with a hiking pole as its sole support, and 6 pegs that must be used weighs 15 ozs.; the newest addition, and my only UL piece of gearc.        Sleeping bag: Marmot Hydrogen 30f down bag; very light at 1 lbs, 9 ozs, but will exchange it for a Kelty Ridgeline 0f synthetic bag (3 lbs.) by winterd.        Sleeping pad: Klymit Inertia Staic V inflatable air-mattress; rather thin, and only a 2.0 r-rating, but light (14 ozs.) and tinyII.        Clothing (3 lbs worth, incl. their stuff-sack) & footwear:a.        Marmot lined light windbreaker; not hooded, but warmb.        REI convertible pants/shortsc.        Patagonia capilene long johns d.        Icebreaker merino long sleeve base layer e.        FL Trail Assoc¢ poly tee-shirtf.        Smartwool socks, two pairg.        Headgear, two sorts: a ¢beanie¢ synthetic warm hat and ¢fishing¢ hat with bug-net (2 ozs.)h.        Salomon XA 3D Ultra trailrunner shoes (light at 1 lb.) which I currently plan on mailing to Hanover, NH, for use in the hot "middle-third" of the walk; Keen voyager hiking shoes (2 lbs.) for use in the first month in the New England mountains; and finally, Merrell Moab's (1 lb. 12 ozs., to be mailed to Damascus, VA, for use in the bottom third and Smokies in November)i.        Crocs shoes for camp and stream-crossing (1 lb. 2ozs.)III.        Cooking (totaling 12 ozs.):a.        ¢beer can¢ aluminum stove, with 8 fl oz can of "Yellow HEET" methanol fuel plus home-made foil windscreen and pot-standb.        REI aluminum mug/pot w/ collapsible handle (but with no lid¢¦sad face)c.        Swiss army knife (w/ scissors) and sporkd.        LighterIV.        Accessories:a.        Hiking poles, collapsible and cheap, aluminum yet heavier than Komperdells @ 1 lb 2ozs b.        Headlamp with AAA batteries, by Black Diamond (4 ozs.)c.        Sawyer mini squeeze water treatment system plus Aqua Mira (2 ozs.)d.       2L Coyote hydration system (I am a trail ambassador for this new line of products) e.        Smartphone plus charger (8 ozs.)f.        Deet, moleskin, ¢bandaids,¢ nail-clippers, Aleveg. AT Guide Southbound Ed (6 ozs.)V.        Food & drink (2L or 5 lbs of water in my Camelback + roughly 5 lbs of food (in a cuben-fiber 1.5L stuff-sack to start with):a.        Home-made GORP 1lbb.        Home-made jerky 1lbc.        Power-bars, pop-tarts, oatmeal, dried soups, ramen, etc., 1lbd.        Electrolyte drink powder packets, tea bags (with honey) I total this to be about 17 lbs, "base weight" + 10 lbs food and water totalling 27 lbs. "starting weight" but this is probably a low estimate. I have a few overnight hikes planned to tighten this estimate up. My food and water needs will vary, so my actual carrying-weight is still determinable, but there's time for me to reconfigure clothing and accessories, and to modify my load. On a recent forum at http://www.whiteblaze.net (if you cut and paste this into your browser, maybe) you can access some comments, should you be a total gear head. I continue to receive tremendous advice there, and recommend to anyone contemplating a long hike to check out (and support) the site.Nick