Date: 2009-02-06
To: Gear List Finalized!
Miles today: 0.0

Dear readers, I have just completed my Excel spreadsheet listing all of my gear and it's weight. My approximate pack weight starting at Springer minus food, water, and fuel looks like it will be around 23 lbs (depending on how many layers I'm wearing)! I'm aware this isn't a super light pack... I've known from the start I wasn't going to be one of those ultralight hikers. I have a three pound personal shelter, batteries and chargers to save me the hassle of a bounce box, extra long johns for sleeping, etc. All things that are certainly not necessary but that I want to start with. I plan on figuring out exactly what I need/use as I go and am expecting to send some things home or modify it a bit after I see what works for me. To begin with, I want extras (for my own peace of mind), and once I get comfortable and realize they are really not needed, hopefully I can ditch some stuff. Not to mention, once weather warms up, I'll be getting rid of a lot of my stuff. It's frustrating to think it could be warm and spring-like, yet I'll have to keep all of my winter gear because freak snowstorms and cold spells could always hit... If I'm gonna be carrying it, part of me hopes I'm at least using it! (not that I want cold weather, but...) So, yeah, with the addition of food, fuel, and water, I'm hoping for a pack that never exceeds 40lbs in the winter months (35ish would be ideal). Hopefully we can get that down to 25 come warm summer months and hundreds of miles of experience under my belt... Either way, it's a heck of a lot better than the 50-60 I was carrying at for work and will feel like virtually nothing, so I'm a happy camper. I will see what I can do about posting the official list on here.    My Icebreaker order arrived today- that put a smile on my face. Two pairs of socks and a longsleeve top got added to my gear list! My only concern with having Icebreaker shirts on my hike is that I can't throw them in the dryer. Hopefully I won't have to do laundry on any cold wet days where I need to get hiking... I also started bikram yoga today! I plan on throwing myself into it for the month leading up to the AT. After my 10 day intro period ends, I will be spending an exorbitant amount of money to have unlimited classes for one month. It is incredibly addicting - the physical, mental, and emotional benefits are noticeable almost immediately, in my opinion - and also incredible expensive. Hence, I am doing it only for one month. It targets strength, flexibility, and balance. I find it to be the perfect supplemental activity to stairclimbs/hikes with a full pack in prep for this huge adventure I'm about to embark on. It's hard to find ways to prep for something like the AT when you live in Michigan... Besides, when it's below zero outside, the thought of contorting my body into crazy positions in a 105 degree room as I sweat buckets for 90 minutes actually sounds somewhat enticing. A mini tropical vacation, if you will... Yes, my goal is to attend bikram yoga every single day that I am in town leading up to my hike. I began seam sealing my tent today. Can you tell today was a productive day? I am slowly checking things off of my to-do list. I think I will wait for my REI dividend before buying the last of my gear. It will be sent out in February and mine should be a hefty chunk of change this year (it helps to have the REI credit card!!!). That's all for now. Sheesh, this was a lengthy update. Time for me to catch some sleep so I can refuel for the adventures tomorrow will bring...Happy Trails,Amy