Date: 2008-01-19
To: Random Entry #2 - Dreams, Gear, and Food
Miles today: 0.0

And here is the second random entry, which makes three entries total, which means people will actually be able to read this!I've started having dreams about the AT. The only one I really remember involved a former thru with a ridiculous name (something like WolfShadow or DreamSoarer) showing me the contents of her refrigerator so I could plan my hike. Yeah, I don't get it either.I have also bought some shiny new stuff! I will be using some gear from previous hikes, but some of it is just too damn heavy, or too worn. At some point I will fill in my official gear list (click on the link on the left of this page to see if I've done it yet), but for now, here is a list of my recent purchases: ULA Circuit pack At 2 lbs, this puppy is lighter than what I used on the PCT (Mountainsmith Ghost, which is no longer made), but more durable than what I used on the JMT (original Six Moon Designs Essense, which also didn't have a frame). I haven't gotten this yet as Brian won't have it in stock for another week or so. ULA Amigo Pro gravity water filter Lighter than the Katahdin filter I used on the PCT, and without the yucky taste of the Aqua Mira I used on the JMT (it should be noted that I am a water snob). Looking forward to testing this. Tarptent Rainbow 2 lbs, freestanding, and fully enclosed. Inigo, my cat, even gave it his seal of approval when I set it up last night. I did seriously consider getting a hammock for the AT - more on that later. Thru-hiker Quilt Kit I've always wanted to make my own gear! Sleeping bags have always felt a bit restrictive, so it's time to try a quilt. Plus, at ~17 oz (I'm adding extra down, so mine might weigh a bit more), it is far lighter than my 32 oz REI Kilo Plus sleeping bag! Thru-hiker Whitney Down Jacket Kit I do have sewing experience, but this may push me a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm up to the challenge - possibly because I know two sewing superstars I can call when I run into trouble! And, you can't argue with 9.3 oz. Well, I suppose you could, but I have no desire to do so.I'm aiming for a base pack weight (i.e. weight of everything in my pack minus food, water, and fuel) of around 12 lbs. It was 20 lbs on the PCT; 10 on the JMT (but I was sharing a tent someone else carried, and it was a shorter hike). The more weight in my pack, the worse I feel. The worse I feel, the more I whine. The more I whine, the more people avoid me. The more people avoid me, the worse I feel. A vicious cycle I'm trying to avoid. Lastly for Random Entry #2: food. I am doing mail drops. Most people avoid them, and strongly advise against them, but I am a discriminating (picky), semi-vegetarian. I cook every day in my "real" life, and I eat tons of veggies. And, I tried the typical hiker diet (Lipton, Ramen, mashed potatoes, candy, etc) on the PCT, and it just didn't work for me. I think it contributed to my feeling so tired towards the end. Being worn out wasn't the reason I got off the trail, but it certainly didn't help.So far, I have dehydrated lasagna (seriously!), hummus, chili, and fruit (dehydrated watermelon is awesome!). I have some ideas on how to make some of my favorite recipes at home into trail food, and I've been consulting my copies of Lipsmackin' Backpackin': Lightweight Trail-tested Recipes for Backcountry Trips and Lipsmackin' Vegetarian Backpackin'. If you have a good recipe, send it my way!