Date: 2015-03-21
To: ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂFinal Shake DownÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
Miles today: 0.0

RETIRED! 4 days left and then I hope not to have an ¢Oh S#*!¢ moment! As I have communicated to many of you here is my final answer...No, my final packing list and some of the rational or the why I chose what I chose. If you have any questions as to why I did not bring something you may think I should have brought just pop me an e-mail via a guestbook entry and I will make an attempt to get back to you with a proper answer. Most of the items I have selected are not manufacture specific. I have provided the name of the company I chose and I am by no means endorsing any particular company. There are many fine companies out there to choose from, after all that is what¢s competition is all about. I only hope that I have selected companies that provide quality products and most importantly stand behind their products. Generally you do get what you pay for. But, first...Yes, there are always BUTs....There are a couple of ground rules: Always remember: ¢If you don¢t have it with you; you can¢t put it on but, if you have it, you can always take it off.¢ ¢Things will always occupy every inch of space provided.¢   ¢Time Spent in Reconnaissance is Seldom Wasted.¢   Finally: ¢I get to say ¢Just because!¢ (If you are not interested in this kind of detail please don¢t waste your time reading this post, or skip right to a section that interests you. I won¢t talk about anything else, promise!) So, here we go: Oh...Hold on a moment...My pack weighs out at 35.6 pounds with 2L of water and 5 days of food to include 5 days 3 times a day power bar snacks. Now here we go:   My pack: Osprey Kestrel 48...If I had purchased a 50 Liter pack I would have filled it to capacity and then some. So, to protect me from me I got the smaller capacity pack. The reason for the Osprey is that other packs I tried on just plain did not feel right this includes some of in the Osprey line of products as well. With weight in the pack and everything synched and snugged up correctly I felt one with the pack. Finally, Osprey has a good reputation and from what I understand they stand behind their products which I believe is extremely important. Pack Liner: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Pack Liner...Yah, I get it...A heavy duty trash bag works just fine...or does it? They rip, they tear, they smell at times, they are oversized, yah, sure, you can cut them down to fit but do you really want to be fooling around with a trash bag when there are other more important things you could be doing? If you are on a budget do yourself a favor budget it in you will be happy you did. What I was looking for was a liner that was larger than my pack 50L vs 40L that way the odd shapes and sizes could conform to the pack rather than the liner. I wanted a liner that would open very wide inside the pack. I wanted a roll down top to secure the opening from the elements and a potential disaster like the pack falling into a river. Always remember ¢Murphy is always around looking to raise his ugly little head!¢Dry Sack: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil View dry sack...Ok, belt and suspenders...There is nothing like opening your pack in a down pour ¢ and you know it will happen ¢ to have everything get soaked as you hunt for that thing at the very bottom of the pack. I was looking for a light weight bag that could work independently of the pack liner. I was looking for a bag that had a roll down top and a see through window so I could see what was inside. Also, I got different colors and I have items in certain colored bags. Compression Dry Sack: Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack...I wanted a dry sack that I could compress items in it. As an example: I have all my second clothing in the bag and I have synched it down as tight as I can to compress and take up as little room as possible. I did not want a bag that would trap air in it. The bag had to be waterproof. I wanted the roll top and 4 straps for synching the bag down. Bear Bag: The Friendly Swede 500D PVC Tarp Dry Bag: I was looking for a light weight bag that was as indestructible as possible. I wanted a bag that would not let the smell of food out into the atmosphere for the critters (bears) to find. Again waterproof with a roll top opening I chose a smaller bag because I was only going to carry about 5 days worth of food except through the 100 mile wilderness, but that is still quite a way up the trail!Hydration bladder: I selected the 3L Platypus Big Zip LP Reservoir. I was influenced by advertising. But, I felt that you can always fill with less water based on resupply points and if need be you can go max capacity of 3L. It has a low profile and I like the wide mouth with a zip lock method of closing.Trekking Poles: Black Diamond series: Mountain: I was looking for a 3 way light weight adjustable pole that had flick lock adjustably. I wanted natural cork handles I feel that they are softer on the hands and are not as hot as sponge rubber or other synthetics. I was looking for a handle with straps and a slight tilt ¢ no more than about 15 degrees. I wanted carbide tips with the ability to cover over the tips with rubber tips for smooth rock hiking. Tent: I selected the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 1 Tent, Fly and Ground Cover... this decision was based on available selection at the outfitter and what I felt was value for the money. I liked the overall footprint of the tent, the height and the self contained floor. The width of the entrance door and the mono construction of the main pole / support system I felt were very well designed. The rain fly provides sufficient coverage with an adequate amount of separation from the tent to allow for proper air circulation. The ground cover seems heavy duty yet it is extremely light. I probably could have saved a few dollars but I can point the finger and say: ¢I used your ground cover!¢ should a problem arise. I like the fact that there are reflective guy line and reflective webbing on tent corners. I appreciate the ability of being able to set up just the fly during the warm / hot nice weather season.Sleeping bag, sleeping hat, ear plugs, air mattress, and pillow: I selected the sea to summit ULTRA-DRY Down¢¢ 750+ Loft bag. The down is significantly enough water-resistant. The bag is a three season bag with a 23 degree F lower limit. The zipper does not go all the way to the bottom of the bag but stops just short, allowing the bag to be opened as a blanket with a pocket for my feet. This will make for comfort during the hot weather months. Sleeping hat ¢ What can I say? My head gets cold at night ¢ the one I used in the Army ¢ Ear plugs ¢ Foam and functional... The air mattress: Exped Synmat UL 7: This has a lofted microfiber insulation which is laminated to the top and bottom of the inner walls. This system will provide additional warmth and insulation from the ground. It takes about 4 to 5 puffs to fill. ¢I¢ll use Erin lungs and mine as back-up.¢   It is a wider mattress that a lot of the others I looked at ¢ I move from side to side a lot at night and I don¢t like falling out of bed so I figure I won¢t like falling off the air mattress either!   A portable pillow: Yep, you got it...Just because... Feathered Friends. What can I say?...¢No laundry bag or ammo-can for this guy!¢ This is a stuff it into its integrated stuff sack and when pulled out it expands to 3 times its packed size. Stove, Wind Screen, Fuel, P 38, Lighter, Spork Cup, Bowl, Aquamira: For the most part this is easy ¢ self explanatory ¢ Stove with wind screen: Optimus Crux Lite...This is a self contained unit that has everything: Stove that screws onto the fuel canister, a wind screen, a lighter and 2 pots for boiling water! It is compact and weights only 16.05 ounces. ¢Erin gets to carry this anyway!¢ Fuel is: Butane/propane gas canister. Each of us will carry 1 canister. P 38: This is a small hand held can opener that you rock back-and-fourth to cut the top of a can off. I used it to open my C-rations (Army Food).   I have had it since I first went into the Army in the early 1970s and ¢I am not going leave home without it!¢ So, ¢just because!¢ Bic Lighter, back-up Oh, and not a Zippo! Spork...The Titanium one ...¢Just in case I need to dig a Foxhole!¢ Light weight spoon / fork combination used for eating food...¢I know, according to Steve Jobs fingers work just as well.¢ Sea to Summit X ¢ Bowl and X ¢ Cup. They collapse flat...¢Yep, you could use your cook pots but why mess them up with crusty old bacteria carrying food?¢   Aquamira water treatment drops: I have looked at several systems, pump, filter, Ultra Violet (UV), and drops. I went with the tried and true drops. I felt that the pumps and filters clog too much and have too many moving parts. UV is scientifically proven but bulky and a bit expensive. It also takes a bit longer to get the results you are looking for: Potable Water!¢Dress for the activity and understand the impact of the weather.¢ Briefs, Short Sleeved and Long Sleeved Tee Shirts, Long Underwear set (tops and bottoms), Convertible Pants, Jacket, Vest, Organic Cotton Flow Hat, Baseball Cap, Knit Hat, Neck Gaiter, Bandanna, Gloves, Waterproof Mittens, Rain Suit / Wind Breaker and Pants, Camp Shorts, Crocs: Briefs: Elastic or Spandex type of material keeping the boys in line. And below the thigh just above the knee in an attempt to prevent chafing. Short Sleeved and Long Sleeved Tee Shirts: With wicking properties to keep perspiration from becoming cooled causing the lowering of the body temperature. Long Underwear set (top and bottom): Primarily to remain warm in the sleeping bag at night. As a secondary layer for activity during very cold spells they should also have wicking properties. Convertible Pants: Light weight pant that can be converted into shorts with activity or during warmer periods.   Jacket: Very warm but very light weight and able to compress to the size of a baseball. Vest: Same as the jacket only without arms. Organic Cotton Flow Hat: Still not too sure about this one. It will keep the sun off of me quite nicely. I need to be careful because people with Parkinson¢s are more susceptible to skin cancer.   Baseball Cap: Got it! Louisville Slugger!   Knit Hat: Skull cap that I used while in the Army for those frigid early morning days. Neck Gaiter: This item has many, many functions and abilities. It all depends on how you want to use it. I will probably use it to cut the wind from my face in high altitudes. Bandanna: I need something to wipe my brow. It might as well be something functional rather than just a rag. Gloves: Spandex snug-fitting to primarily offer some protection for the fingers from foreign objects as well as from the weather and to prevent blisters from forming on my hands. Waterproof Mittens: They go over my gloves and act as a barrier and provide warmth from the elements.   Rain Suit / Wind Breaker and Pants: keep me dry from the rain and to help keep me warm on windy days both in the valleys and at altitudes.   Camp Shorts: loose fitting, light, cool and dry for comfort in camp. Crocs: allows feet to relax and breathe while in camp also for forging waterways. High top hiking boots with rounded toe: I selected Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boot. I was looking for a boot that felt comfortable right out of the box. I wanted a rounded toe which provides clearance from tripping over tree roots and rocks that are sticking-up in the ground. I wanted a boot that had a high top significantly above the ankle for full ankle support. The boot needed to be waterproof. I was looking for a boot with an air mesh design which would allow my feet to breathe; my feet generally run on the warm side. I also wanted a GORE-TEX boot. Finally I was looking for a boot that had a deep sole for gripping capabilities. This boot seems to fit the bill. Insoles: I selected the GREEN Superfeet insole: I was looking for an insole that had shock absorption and support. When I first put on my boots they fit really well. After walking around the outfitters for a while I changed the insole from the manufactures insole to the GREEN insole and there was a night and day difference. My foot felt snug but not tight I felt that I had more arch support and there was less impact on my heel. Inner Sock: I wanted to do everything that I could to prevent blisters and to keep my feet from getting cold. I chose an inner sock from Wigwam. It offers synthetic materials that will keep my feet dry from sweating and also warm because it will wick moisture away from my foot. Outer socks: I choose Smartwool men¢s hiking medium crew wool sock. I wanted a sock with overall comfort that would not sag after a few hours of use. I was also looking for an outer sock that would be firm conforming to my foot but at the same time not tight.   550 cord: You may ask why 550 cord called 550 cord? Because it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds. It is just a generally-used, all purpose cord ¢ never leave home without about 50 feet. AT Thru-hiker companion: A triple A Trip Tik on steroids ¢ what else can I say other than a must have or make room for it! Duct tape: Small roll because it fixes any and every thing...Just ask Cheryl Strayed. Carabineers: NOT NECESSARY! But, my whole Army career I have absolutely never, ever, been without them! I will weigh the pack without them and then with them. Then I will make my decision to just BRING THEM anyway! Headlamp: So I can hands-free see at night. Not that I intend to wander about at night. Small pocket knife...What can I say I have my Leatherman Multi-Tool from my military days so it will have to do. Whistle: TO KEEP THE BEARS AWAY and to summon help. This is just one of those because: After bite, Poison Ivy cream, Benadryl, Antibiotic cream, Blister Fixer, Lip Baum, Pain Medication, Ibuprofin, Tums, Moleskin, Band Aids, Nail Clippers, Tick Puller: All for comfort for when the ¢IT¢ happens. Trowel: For what else digging Foxholes ...Fooled you...Catholes! Biodegradable Baby Wipes: For general hygiene, Toothbrush with Toothpaste: Oral hygiene, Micro fiber towel: To dry after that quick dip...   Point-and-Shoot Camera, Dictation app for Apple iPhone: to send home posts as an iTunes file for my wife to transcribe and post on trailjournals.com, SPOT device or ¢Breadcrumb Tracker: So you folks can track me as I advance up the AT Trail... http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Cq68PWVbWd3VYtpdpTqkbiWn2gI0Wtxj"...That¢s All I Have To Say about That.¢ Forest Gump¢ Tom HanksCAUTION:   The Company Wigwam: Their FF2153 Gobi Liner had a failure. I have been recently breaking in my boots at work and wore them for the second time on Friday, March 13, 2015 along with a pair of these inner socks. Regrettably one of their socks, F2153 Gobi Liner, had a failure. It tore along the right side of the sock. I sent them an e-mail asking for a replacement of this sock at no cost to me and I would of course return the ripped sock to them for quality inspection if they wished. I even attached a photo of the defect (you can view the photo in my photo section). I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in this company. It is not so much that their product had a failure; rather, it is that they did not care about me as a consumer. You see, I understand that there will be product failures from time to time; it just comes with the territory. However, it is how a company responds to that failure that is important. Wigwam simply did not respond. They did not even acknowledge my e-mail. It is not even the fact that they beat me out of $7.00 for a pair of socks that failed the second time of wear. It is that Wigwam just plain did not care despite what their guarantee states. Of course it didn¢t help that it happened on Friday the 13th!