Date: 2004-02-25
To: Mass Email from today
Miles today: 0.0

This is my mass email sent on Feb 25. It is posted here in case anyone was wondering about my gear. I am not bothering with the actual details and brand names. Just that I have the gear is sufficient at this time. I will take a complete inventory before I leave. Not going to bother weighing the different articles. I have no way of doing this, nor do I have the means of replacing overweight items.Hello All,   Just a quick email to let you all know that I am hoping to be hiking in about 2 weeks. With lots of help from my friends here, I am getting things (and some money) together for the trip. I am making daily progress toward that goal. One of the best things I have done/learned in this process is the website http://www.trailjournals.com . I have learned about a number of the people I may meet on this journey, and therefore have been mentally on the trail for a the last week or so. Now to make the physical leap. On top of these mass emails, you can learn more from my trip on my site at www.trailjournals.com/Vagrant . Vagrant being the "trail name" I have chosen for this hike. I am using almost all of the gear that was used in my cross country trip, except my tent which has become too damaged to be of use. Some items were used in my 1995 thru-hike attempt. Some things, my pack for one, I was hoping to replace before this trip. Time and finances have made that not an option. I just hope the pain I felt from the pack this summer does not return. My hiking boots are almost in new condition. They are actually 1 1/2 years old, but seldom used. My sleeping bag has seen better days, but still has a couple of years use left in it. Clothing will be mostly used except a few items I need to buy ... socks and thermal bottoms. Food still needs to be purchased. I will do so in Georgia, will save some of the weight I will have to take to Georgia. I am hoping I can borrow a tent for the trip. Gene just bought one in Idaho. I doubt he will need to use it before September. Still not definite on that yet. My stove should be fine. I need to buy a spoon (light weight heat resistant plastic) and should probably have an extra fuel bottle... but not sure on that. I want to bring my digital camera, but have no spare memory cards for it. And it uses 4 AA batteries (kind of heavy). My thermarest (inflatable air mattress) is still usable, though abused a bit in the past 9 years. My pack cover is shot. The waterproof lining is peeling off of it. I have no water filter at this time, though I still have a few iodine tablets left. I prefer the filter systems to tablets, but I will try without. I am pretty set on my clothing. My stove was new June 1, 2003. It could use a good cleaning, but should work fine. I have a swiss army knife that I will continue to use on this trip ... along with a mini maglite taking 1 AAA battery. My start off expenditures should be less than $300.00 including transportation. That's a good thing since it is about $300.00 more than I have right this moment. Good thing for income tax returns. So, that is how things are presently looking. Any extra I get from the sale of items will be what I use for the first few weeks or until I can find some small jobs to do along the trail. I am getting very excited about this trip. In 2 more days, I should have all the stuff I am leaving behind packed and stored. Then I can focus on the other items. And yet I still have to wait for funds to come. I hope it gets here before I plan on heading South.    Well, that's it for now. Sounds pretty scary looking at all of the facts. I have started adventures with less preparation. This email reaches you hoping that you are well. Thank you all for the well wishes and positive remarks. Your hopes and prayers will help to make this another successful Adventure. I am happy to have all of you along on this trip.    Take Care                     Always                              Fran (Vagrant) James