Date: 2008-01-21
To: Final packup
Miles today: 0.0

Although my train down south doesn't leave until tomorrow, I wanted to go ahead and get everything packed today. Gives me a last chance to see if I forgot anything or still may need to buy something. The following may be useful or you may have your own, better way of doing everything. Just throwing it out for consideration.I have time to arrange everything within and outside the pack that works best for me. I've really become a fan on the Sea to Summit dry sacks. (They are all available from REI, local or mail order). They make a "pack liner" that specifically fits the shape of your pack and still can be sealed watertight. There are different sizes for different packs. The are made of silnylon and weigh about two ounces.I'm also using another silnylon dry sack (13 liter) for my down sleeping bag. Remember, I don't use a pack cover - preferring to keep everything inside in waterproof containers. (Actually I am carrying a 1 ounce silnylon pack cover - but don't plan on needing it).For carrying my tent (minus poles and stakes) I have a more durable (not silnyon) Sea to Summit dry sack (8 liter). A couple of ounces heavier but made of more durable material.Here's how I pack everything: the sleeping bag goes into a separate compartment at the bottom of the pack. In the main compartment my clothes and fleece bag liner go in the bottom. Next are my stove, fuel and a couple of ditty bags with misc items. I'm carrying a (empty) 4-liter playpus water "tank" (with those web handles). On top of that is my food sack. Finally, the highest item is my tent - which barely fits within the pack and allows me to pull the drawstring closed. I've taken off the top pack lid because I don't have anything to put in it and it saves 6 ounces of weight.The two side pockets hold my tent poles/stakes, thermarest pad, and a 1-liter water bottle. My z-rest pad is strapped to the bottom of my pack. The mesh pocket on the back of the pack holds my bag of "change-out" clothes for wearing during a cold-weather break. Also, my rain gear.I bought a small nylon case from Walmart and have attached it to the side of my hip belt. This holds my camera, weather radio, bleach bottle, and some misc items. On the other side I have a 1-liter water bottle holder & plastic bottle. Last, I have a small, mesh bag attached to my shouldar strap. This holds my snacks for the day so I don't have to dig through the pack (or even stop, unless I want to). My logic for packing things this way is to try and keep the heaviest items up high and close to my back. That gives a better center of gravity, with less effort. It makes it easier to shift the load front and back from a comfort perspective.So what does all of this "stuff" weigh? First, remember that this is a winter load with "extras" like more clothing; fleece bag liner; extra fuel; and a little more food per day to offset the extra calories burned.Without any water and with 5 days of food the total weight is 38 lbs. Add to that 2 lbs for each liter of water. I think there is sufficient water in most places now to (hopefully) carry only 2 liters at a time. That makes for a total of 42 pounds. Fortunately, I can offload some items to a bounce box as becomes necessary. I may also bounce my tent from Fontana to Standing Bear when I go through the Smokies. Time will tell.