To: The Gear ~~~
Miles today: 0.0

I have packed, eliminated, re-packed, re-weighed, re-packed, turned my pack upside down and vehemently shook everything out of it, kicked something across the room (oops, the sleeping bag; I need that), and then, I STARTED AGAIN. Why, you may ask ?? Because I am trying to will about 30 pounds of items into a svelte 20 pound pack. Yes, I am sniffing glue.Pack Weight. Other than food, I don't know of anything else that will occupy a hikers mind more than every single gram that is hoisted up onto our earnest shoulders. As was once written before, there will never be a moment where I am not fully aware of each ounce and that I am on a voluntary hike. I actually wanted this. Mind over matter, mind over matter, ahhhhhhh~~~~~~Lucky me (and with a little research), I have been blessed to be the Padawan of two Obi wan's at the Travel Country Outdoors in Altamonte Springs, Florida, just north of Orlando. Greyhound and Lesser Weasel have both hiked the AT and are sworn "gram weenies." On my last visit, I brought everything I intended to carry and dumped it out for Weasel to sift through to fit into my new, lightweight backpack.   "I don't want you to be mad or get pissed off with what I put aside," he admonished with a gleam in his eye. "Would you please?" I begged, (and I AM on my knees when I say this). FYI, I do sympathize with any hiker starting out who does not have the luxury of picking clean a thru hiker brain. This store is almost two hours from my house and if gas were $10 a gallon, I would make the trip again; the advice was priceless.With that, Weasel eliminated half of my medical kit, a couple of clothes, hooked me up with a Platypus bladder and a compression sack that made my sleeping bag fit better at the bottom of the pack, laughed at my travel Deo and pronounced me ready to hike.And so, I have spent this past week weighing every single item down to the gram (28 grams = 1 ounce) to get THE most lightest, most comfortable fit possible. Did I mention I'm sniffing glue?? Okay, all joking aside, I feel that I've done a pretty darn good job. Here it goes:Granite Gear Vapor Ki Backpack + trashbag lining - 2 lbs. 3.4Cost $169.95 (kudos to Lesser Weasel)MontBell Super Stretch 30 Degree Bag in a compression sack + trash bag - 2 lbs. 15.06eBay new for $131 / valued at $150Thermorest Neo Sleeping Pad - 9.08 ounceseBay new for $99.99 / valued at $129Hennessey Hammock Deep Jungle w/ Snakeskins - 3lbs.1.8Rainfly / ponchoHennessey Hammock Water System 4 aluminum stakes and 2 S carbinersHammock - $269.95Rainfly/poncho - $89 (not too shabby for a double duty item)Water system - $9.95So for my Big Three, Tent, Sleep and Pack, I come in at 8 lbs. 12 ounces 26 grams. Anything under 10 pounds for your three main items is a winner ~ means more weight for FOOD.Now, so that I don't have to go through a gear check with my shelter mates, here are the reasons why I choose these items, though Lesser Weasel told me that because I'm starting at the halfway point, most of the whiners, moaners and gearheads have already dropped out and that by this point, everyone just wants to get north:Vapor Ki - lightweight and fits my torso. I wanted mesh pockets on the side, but the stretchable pockets will have to do. I have to be careful how I cram my gear into the bottom of the pack in order to leave just a wee bit of give on the sides to use the stretchable pockets (which is why I like the mesh, oh well).MontBell Super Stretch - I don't like "coffin bags." I wanted room to move. Though I tend to sleep curled up on my side, hugging my Snoopy (because I absolutely have to be hugging something when I sleep), this bag has everything I need. Hoping the 30 degree will be enough for me with extra clothing (I also tend to sleep warm and I have to have a foot or leg out from beneath the covers; I don't know why but it's just the way I sleep). The Thermorest Neo is brand new on the market and I bought it specifically for the weight. I want to have the option of using a shelter and it would be impossible to get any sleep without some type of pad underneath me. My old Thermarest was too bulky and weighed more.Hennessey Hammock - what can add to this wonderful product that so many more experienced hikers than me have not already said? Specifically, I am talking about Certain, a quite lovely woman and excellent hike blogger who was a sheer delight to read and has a huge appreciation of the Hennessey Hammock. This was the most expensive item I bought but I was determined to spend the money necessary in order to buy quality items that I would use on a daily basis. It was eagerly hooked up in my backyard the day it was delivered and I spent the next two nights in glorious comfort. That I don't have to scout for a flat site, that it can be put up in under 5 minutes and it has a bug net......snap !I did buy the model that has the zipper on the side as opposed to entering underneath the hammock. I'll let you know how it goes.The rainfly/poncho is a double duty item. Again, money worth spending, though I'll be honest in that I abhor the sound of flapping plastic in the wind and just might use the item for rainfly only. BUT, I have it as a poncho if I so choose. The water system is unique and I have not had the rain / opportunity to use it, but in theory it looks promising. You hook these plastic caps to the tether ends with water bottles screwed on (and this little piece of screen to block out chunks and stuff) and when it rains, the weight provides tension and gathers clean water for the next morning. If anyone has used this, give me a holler and let me know how it worked for you.Okay ~~~ time to go back to re-sort and becoming yet another gram weenie. It's funny; when everything is put on the bed, it sure doesn't look like a whole lot of stuff for the next six months. Try shoving it all into a backpack. The physics of it is not working so well here. As Snoopy would say,Bleah ~~~~~