Date: 2009-04-19
To: Prep #2
Miles today: 0.0

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A GEARHEADI think either you are or you aren¢t, and I fall into the latter category. However, planning an ambitious thru-hike screams for closer scrutiny. I¢ve done quite a bit of winter camping in snow which, like desert camping, is always heavier than one would like. It¢s easy to pull a gear sled over snow with 45+ pounds of gear and food rather than carry it, so never was overly concerned with shaving ounces. Not so with this endeavor. I know within a couple of days on the AT I will begrudge every unnecessary ounce so for awhile in this prep phase, I will become a major gearhead.If I were to start tomorrow with what I already own, this would be my gear list:PACK: Older Camp Trails, unknown specs, which hugs me like a lover¢s arms but I sense is too heavy at 5 lbs. 12 oz. Also have a twice used Lowe Alpine 75 and a once used Lowe Ophir M/1 60, neither of which I find particularly comfortable for more than a few days hiking. Also don¢t like the ¢load everything from the top¢ design and lack of external pockets. (Really need to put the Lowes on craigslist.) Waterproof rain cover 4.6 oz.TENT: Don¢t laugh¢I¢ve used a $49 freestanding Coleman 3-man mostly solo for 10 years. Bathtub floor, never seam sealed, has kept me dry as a bone through blizzards and rainstorms, but weighs in at 6 lbs. 2 oz.BAG: 0° North Face Goliath, 4 lbs. 14 oz. and midweight fleece bag(liner) good by itself down to 45° at 28 oz. Used in conjunction with the Goliath, has kept me warm down to -20°. 5/8¢ CSF pad (bulky) for cold/cool weather 17 oz. Downsize to 3/16¢ CSF pad for summer 7 oz.COOKWARE: MSR Whisperlite Shakerjet, 11 oz. Reliable, durable.   Used mostly just for boiling water as food is predominantly freeze-dried or dehydrated. 11 fluid oz. fuel bottle weighs 2.8 oz. empty. Aluminum coffee pot 9 oz. , 12 fluid oz. insulated mug 5 oz, silver spoon 2 oz. (my luxury item). No bowl, no plate, no fork. Matches (in waterproof container) and lighter. Camelbak 70 fl oz unbottle reservoir 12 oz, and 1 1-liter water bottle 1 oz.ESSENTIALS: Compass, cheap watch, maps and trail guide (will carry only sections I¢ll be hiking between mail drops), paper and pencil for journaling, small lightweight knife, headlamp, candle lantern (maybe), AquaMira, meds, first aid kit (chapstick, 6 bandaids, 2 2x2 gauze squares, iboprofin, Neosporin, splinter remover, moleskin, vial of betadyn¢replenished as needed at mail drops), DEET, 50 ft. bearbag rope, digital camera, extra batteries (for camera and headlamp), packet Kleenex, TP. Guesstimate of total weight here is 38-48 oz. CLOTHING: Cold/cool weather: long-sleeved polypro shirt and long johns, polyester/spandex athletic pants, 300 mil fleece coat, wool Laplander hat, hooded goretex rainjacket, nylon windbreaker pants, hiking shoes, fleece gloves, 2 prs. mid-weight wool socks, down booties for camp. Warm weather: lightweight long-sleeved polypro shirt, cotton (yes, cotton) T-shirt, microfiber long pants, lightweight wool socks, brimmed hat with mesh crown, goretex rainjacket, lightweight river shoes for camp and fording, bandanna. May add 200 mil fleece vest and lose the cotton T-shirt before heading into the Whites.MISC: Toothbrush/paste, hand sanitizer, comb, dehydrated cottonelle wipes, deodorant, small basic cell phone and charger. Guesstimate of total weight is 16 oz. 2 hiking poles (perfect length downhill ski poles).So, using my existing equipment, my cold weather pack weight including fuel would be 25 lbs 3 oz plus food and water and my warm weather pack weight including fuel would be 20 lbs 7 oz plus food and water. That¢s not as bad as I thought it would be. One upside is that I will lose 40 pounds in the next 9 months so even with a full pack my legs will be carrying less than they are today without a pack. (See an upcoming prep entry on physical fitness and training.) Another upside is there¢s lots and lots of room for shaving pounds and ounces. And this is where I¢ll start becoming a gearhead. The following is the gear I plan to replace with functionality, weight and price (in that order) factored in:PACK: 3 lbs or less which reduces weight by 2 lbs 12 oz. Listed first but last thing I¢ll buy to be sure all my other final decision gear fits in it.TENT: 1-person freestanding at 3 lbs 8 oz or less. Weight savings of 2 lbs 10 oz.BAG: 0° bag is overkill. A 20° bag should be fine and I¢ve been meaning to buy one for years. Synthetic weighing 3 lbs or less which reduces weight by 1 lb. 14 oz. COOKWARE: Considering getting a titanium pot 4 oz. Weight savings of 5 oz.With purchasing this new equipment ($650 max), my cold weather pack weight including fuel would be 17 lbs 10 oz and warm weather pack weight including fuel would be 14 lbs. 12 oz plus food and water. None of these weights include clothing as I will be wearing most of it and in my brain, that doesn¢t count. I¢ll update the gear list as final decisions are made. Any feedback on recommendations or glaring omissions or inaccuracies are welcome.