Date: 2013-08-15
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

This journal entry is a supplement to the Gear Tab to the left of this journal.Gear not listed which I will be taking:Underwear: wearing one and packing two.Under shirts: wearing one and packing two.Long/short sleeve shirts: wearing one and packing one.Convertible long pants/shorts: wearing one packing one.Hat (ball cap) sweat band, bandana/washrag, reading glasses/sun glasses. First Aid Kit: Includes bandages, bandaids, mole skin, Motrin, Neosporin, Visine, and tweezers.Bear bag with 50 feet of cord, and a small amount of duct tape. Extra batteries for headlamp, small backup flashlight, whistle, ear plugs, camp soap, hand cleaner, moist towels, small knife, nail clippers, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste and pack cover.My Catholic reading book "The Daily Word" which my wife will bring to me when she comes to visit. (Published monthly)I like to read and will start out with a paperback novel, but my backpacking experience has shown me I don't usually get time to read them. Writing my journal every evening and reading my Bible might be all the time I have until I need to go to sleep. I have several cookwear and stove set combinations. The stove, cookwear, utensils, fuel, matches, lighter, along with the Jet Boil pictured all comes in at less than 20 oz. This will be the complete stove and cook system I will take on the A.T. At some point along the trail I may abandon this cook gear and go to eating all cold food at all meals. Sometimes cooking is just a nuisance to me and I have eaten many cold breakfast's and suppers out in the woods. When I get into the towns to resupply or to stay the night I will eat all the hot meals I have the time to consume. I will also eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can while in the towns.I do tend to carry a lot of water and that equates into weight. I was dehydrated once and don't want that to happen again. If I find that I don't need to fill up the 100 oz CamelBak I won't. The AquaMira water treatment has been working well for me. In the event that it doesn't, I will revert back to my Katadyn Hiker Pro water pumping system. I have never had to use chemical treatment plus the Katadyn water pump together. It's always been one or the other, not both.The rule of thumb is for every one pound you carry extra on your feet it's like an extra five pounds on your back. Knowing this, I still have to go with the Asolo Fugitive hiking boot. If I ever come across a boot that will protect my feet as well as this boot does, and it is lighter I will buy it. The Superfeet Inserts go into all my shoes. My feet are sensitive to injury and I need this protection. I haven't come across any camp shoes that are less weight than the Waldies that I have. I have used them several times and I am pleased with them.It doesn't seem smart to go on a hiking trip and not take compass and maps but I do trust my ability to follow blazes. That's why I am only taking "AWOLS" A.T. Data Book.My body building background taught me that the legs needed to be built up as much as possible and that is why for most of my life I did not use trekking poles. I wanted my legs to do most of the work, to keep them strong, and fit. Now at 66 years old it has become apparant to me that I need to use trekking poles to save the knee's. For three years now I have been using trekking poles and would not think of not using them. The carbon cork poles pictured to the left are light and strong and they don't slip. They have become a neccessary item for me .I consider myself a poor sleeper, although since I retired last May I do sleep better but there is still room for improvement. On the trail it will be very important for me to get a good nights sleep and I have displayed the sleep system to the left in the gear list that will help me get a good nights rest. I have noticed that the more I hike the better I sleep, so maybe on the trail I will be well rested.When the time comes to start this hike on March 1st 2014 I hope that the total pack weight with five days of food and the 100 oz. CamelBak will be no more than 35 pounds.