Date: 2007-09-09
From: Back to My Other Life...Sill I Rise.

To: The gear I finished with...
Miles today: 0.0

-Mountain Hard Wear Vapor Trail Pack (3rd pack-you'll have to read my journal to understand why). -Internal 3 liter bladder with bite valve and cover. -Inside the pack I put a hydroseal dry bag that matched the internal capacity (much better than messing with trash bags and pack covers!). Inside my pack everything is in smaller bags to simplify finding and use.On the bottom: -Hikers First Aid kit. I started with it on the outside of the pack. I did not use it, but...-Big Agnes inflatable rubber mat-my biggest luxury and worth it. -Moutain Hard Wear 36 degree bag (June to finish). -Cocoon sleep sheet for warm nights and colder ones as well.-Black #5 stuff sack:All my food, stove, extra fuel cell, spork, Omega-3 fish oil, Leatherman and tabasco sauce (went through 3 bottles).-Orange #5 stuff sack:(in a smaller orange #3 stuff sack) all my toiletries; tbrush, tpaste, floss, comb, motrin, tylenol pm, small mirror, nail clippers, Pond's exfoliating wet textured towelettes (which are great). Headlamp, Highgear am/fm radio (in a ziplock), extra batteries, one 1GB memory card for the camera, 2 chargers (phone & camera--in a ziplock), Survival kit from Diane, flask, Bag Balm, extra ziplock bags, and a genuine shiny LOCE coin.Next I would roll up my TNF summit series fleece (with gloves and skull cap in the pockets) which I wore most nights.On top Blue #6 stuff sack: extra socks, long trousers, one extra tshirt and trail snacks in a large ziplock.In my shorts pockets:-Lip balm-Lighter (with a pack of...)-Olympus Stylus 720 SW Camera -Motorola Cell Phone-ID, debit card and cash moneyThe following were carried in a see through waterproof bag in the outside pocket of my pack:-Pocketmail composer & case-ATC thru-hiker companion 2007-Small green notebook & pen-Maine guidebook and profile map series (of course this is the end bit)On the outside of my pack:-Big Agnes Tent-A #4 dryseal bag with my TNF flight series rain jacket, Moutain Hard Wear gators, and Outdoor Research rain hat (all an easy grab when needed and quite honestly I rarely used).-Hand trowel for cat holes and TP-SteriPen (a must)-Sunglasses (used only a few times)-Gumby figurine strapped to shoulder strap (reminded me to be flexible and not take myself too seriously).-Red Sox cap- Two 32 oz./.9Ltr Gatorage bottles for water (outside pockets)-Small camera case 'like' bag for bug juice, TP and one days supply of snacks (on a carabenier with the camp shoes) a small stone from Springer Mt. to put on Mt. Katahdin (kinda crazy hey?).-Waldies Camp Shoes with 2 loops of 550/parachute cord at the toes (I saw lots of lost shoes along the Trail)-Highgear multi-function watch on shoulder strap-Mostly in my hands and one of the best pieces of gear I had on the Trail, my Leki Makalu hiking poles.What I wore: Mountain Hard Wear shorts and t-shirt. The shorts have four pockets with zips and strechy material in the seat. Great kit. One bandana that also served as a wash cloth. Sock liners and smart wool socks over them. Finished the Trail with Rachile leather boots from REI. They were very comfortable but did not last very well (approx 700 miles). Last but not least, sock like gators that kept out dirt, sticks, rocks and the like--really good piece of gear.