Date: 2014-04-11
To: Hike and Learn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Nine days and 120 miles, hardly a great distance, but a great time in all types of weather. From rain to sunshine to snow from 60's to Low 20's we had a little of all.   Mountains jutting up into the atmosphere can give you any weather any time of the year. Good thing to remember.Equipment wise, I had some keepers.The torso klymit, inflated only by mouth, worked well under my Z-Lite sol. I am 6 ft so the body mapping worked well for me. No hard spots under me. Not a winter setup. Felt cool when it went to 20 at night. Although my Z-lite has lost a lot of the silvering which gives it its reflective warmth. Weight wise, heavier than a single pad. But my Z-lite does so much more than a X-lite or X-therm. I use it for breaks, naps, to sit on when there is no seating. To roll my tent on, to enter and exit my tent with getting soaked. I will try cutting down the Z-lite to reduce weight for the summer, because the coating has deteriorated a great extent. Trying the pad inside the bag would only work if you don't move at night.The Jetboil did another outstanding job. We used the Zip and it worked well for the two of us. Gas knob could be a little easier to use, but you get used to it.The tyvek mitts my wife sewed for me, worked well the two times I used them. But they definitely are not long term. Wear quickly if using them with trekking poles. Two continuous days at best before being trash.My boots worked well, Vasque Men's Taku GTX Boot, considering I got them the day before departure on a warranty replacement from Vasque via Moosejaw outfitters.My feet stayed dry and warm, two blisters but that could be expected.The garbage bag rain skirts worked good, breathable, and combined with my tall gaiters kept me dry. I used shock cord and duct tape to make a belt. A lightweight winner.I tried just stuffing my sleeping bag directly into my trash compactor bag. Worked well, left more room , better balanced.I use trekking poles and after wearing out 4 sets of k-mart poles in 7 years, decided to get some quality Leki Corklite AS poles. Liked them alot the lower lock mechanism snapped on the second day due prehaps to not enough tension. Failed as I pulled up from a grabbing root. My fault? But Leki replaced the lower section, no questions asked. Now I really tighten as much as I can and removed the little baskets.My hybrid pack, kelty frame and G4 pack worked well. I like the combination, and ability to keep all the weight on my hips. I have ideas to improve the system, lower the weight, narrow the frame. The metal waist quick release buckle is heavy, but well worth it.What I would change?Half the time we had to dip water from pools. Usually getting a lot of sediment. Beginning to think of a pump filter with a silt filter on the inlet, instead or in conjuction with the Sawyer. I had the Aqua Mira, so we used it in addition to the filter. Doubt I will use it again. 5 minutes to activate and half hour to use. Think I will go back to the household bleach. Much easier and cheaper to use. Upside we did not get sick.Definitely need a lightweight camera, using the phone does not work well.Should have brought the maps, will not leave them out next time. I am getting more used to the Z-pack hexamid. Used 4 times this trip. Cuben fiber is so nice. No water absorbtion just shake to remove most water or frost. But the screen all around gets awful cold in a breeze. Great tent in a dryer climate. Thinking I may need a different tent for the East in the shoulder season. What's next, Comfort Zone and I have the North Country Trail to finish from the Mackinaw Bridge to Kalkaska, Mi this spring. Waiting for the snow to thaw from the trail, could be mid-May the way this winter is hanging on.