Date: 2016-06-04
To: NONE
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This is a hike prep entry about my food and equipment choices for my section hike from Fontana Dam to Hot Springs. I'm going to include one every time, assuming I do more sections.Regarding the Title: Titles will have chapter numbers indicating the section and day of the hike. Since it's day 0 of the 2nd section of the AT that I've done, the Title will be prefaced with chapter headings like 2.0. On the first day of this trip, it'll be 2.1. Etc.Regarding the spreadsheet: The SUMMARY section lists totals by Category, and there is a TOTAL w/o consumables and a GRAND TOTAL. Since these are "theoretical" sums of every item weighed individually and may not include all containers, last minute items, and measurement error, the ACTUAL pack weight is also listed. That's what the pack really weighed as I was heading out the door.All weights are in grams and kg because I'm a big nerd who never really knew how much an ounce was, and prefers to just move decimal points. However, I converted the TOTALs to Pounds under the "In Pounds" heading. Items listed only in the Carried column do not affect pack weight unless they are also listed under Unit Weight, meaning that I have 2 of that item, one of which is in my pack.Anyway, here is the equipment list for this trip: ABCDEFGHI1CategoryItemBrand/ModelUnit WeightCarriedSUMMARY%2ClothingBase layer, thin short-sleeved polysesterRussell Athletic0150Clothing9710.18Questionable3ClothingHat, desert type with built-in-turbanColumbia17Electronics8300.1504ClothingInsulation, 1/4-zip polyester knitREI307Food1250.025ClothingPants, long-legged 3/4-length tightsStarter119Health3380.06Carried6ClothingPoncho, waterproofCheap generic but heavy220Misc00.00416.57ClothingShirt, long-sleeved cold-weather baselayerRussell Dri-Power 360251Pack9640.188ClothingShorts, running type with pocketRussell Athletic0167Sleep20530.389ClothingSocksWigwam Cool Lite5757Water1580.0310ClothingSweatband, neopreneHalo015.211ConsumableCuben fiber food bag, small carabiner, 4 days' food414012ConsumableDish soap in small hotel bottle (~1/2 full)6413Electronics2-port usb charger, cell phone, 20Ah battery pack, 1 microusb-2 cable, garmin charging cradle, LED flashlight, spare batteries, lens cloth, dry bag, ziplock830In Pounds14FoodBear Hang Kit (w/o Food Bag)50TOTAL5439g12.015FoodCan opener, tiny military type8Consumable4204g9.316FoodZiplock twist-loc container (4 cup) + large plastic spoon67GRAND TOTAL9643g21.317HealthDaily supplements (zinc carnosine, green tea extract, glucosamine) w/bag1618HealthFirst Aid Kit (gauze pads, 3-4 band aids, q-tips, safety pins, ear plugs, turmeric, diphenhydramine, famotidine, pepto bismol; squeezed out tubes of antibiotic gel, antifungal, toothache/mouth pain; maybe 1/2 bottle of anti-chafing powder)109ACTUAL9980g22.019HealthHygiene Kit (toothpaste, brush, floss, small sponge, laundry bag, tp, wet wipes)16220HealthTrowelCoughlan's5121MiscKnifeCold Steel Urban Pal027.322PackBackpack, light type with hip beltGranite Gear VC Crown 6096423SleepPad, cut to knee lengthThermarest Z-Lite28324SleepSleeping bagMountain Hardwear Lamina 4587025SleepTentBig Agnes Fly Creek 190026WaterBottle, 16 oz flexible squeeze bottleSawyer2527WaterBottle, extra 20 oz water bottle2028WaterWater filter backwash syringe with ~10' of duct tape wrapSawyer5429WaterWater filter with bottle strawSawyer mini59Unfortunately, my base weight (w/o Consumables) exceeded 5 kg, which I was hoping to squeeze into. Replacing the giant Anker battery pack with maybe a 5-10Ah version should help. My cell phone lasted 3 days in Airplane mode and I never needed to plug into an electric socket during the entire trip, even at the last hostel.I still ended up roughing it quite a bit, with only one of every piece of clothing except socks. This meant that doing laundry in the shower, or late in the evening when it was cool enough to wear the tights and long-sleeved base layer, were my only two options. Unless I happened to be alone at a shelter, which had a zero percent chance of happening.For food, I figured 4100 calories per day, not to be exact but because I wanted to add some extra walnuts to the evening meal. I figured 4000 was a good number given my BMR of about 2000 kcal and the lower daily average through the park. The final day was to be supplied completely from food available at Standing Bear, though I did end up saving a 1000 calorie pack of dried fruit just in case. The macronutrient breakdown was 74% calories from carbohydrates, 14.5% protein, and 11.5% fat. There were 800g of carbs, 80g of which were fiber, and 340g of sugar. Of the 55g of daily fat, only 6.7g were saturated. There were 150g of protein, which is my usual daily target.