[pct-l] My Gear List - Need Some Experienced Thoughts

[John Abela]

Hello All,

First I would like to say **thank you** to everybody who has responded both
on and off list.

Thanks to a lot of people I have been able to readjust some gear and get
things down from 18 pounds to somewhere around 10.83 pounds or so at this
point.

Of course, there are not things on my list such as spare glasses, bear-bags
and such that I still need to get listed. Most the very light stuff that
will probably be another 0.5 lbs or so.

I know I had an insane amount of cloths listed. I will be honest and say
that the whole cloths category has been the "toughest decisions" for me. I
have spent so long in a rain forest I have forgotten how things are outside
of one.

I do plan on responding to everybody that has responded. Just taking time. I
hope nobody gets offended with all of my response posts over the next day or
two.

My updated list (10lb one) is located at:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As-hvbUBJ_X_dHJXU3ZDb2VlOElUczlWS3JaUmNtNGc&hl=en&authkey=CLCE2LAO#gid=4

There are a few changes I have made that I am not 100% sure I want to make.
Such as ditching my beloved Minibullldesign mini-atomic for an esbit setup.
I 100% understand the differences (less weight, slightly safer)... it is
just one of those things I really have to give some thought too. It would
save around 1 - 1.5 onces if I did. The last 5 or 6 months I have been
trying to go 'cookless' as much as possible. There have been times though,
when I just wanted to rip open one of my hawkvittles and grab my stove.


@chiefcowboy,

I love the rain!! It has rained 36 out of the last 39 days here were I live.
I live in the middle of the Redwood forest and 96% of the time love the
rain. Something is probably wrong with me, I know ;)

I would say the only time I am really truly miserable is when my sleeping
environment gets wet. It was for this reason that I ditched my TarpTent
Moment and went with the HyperlightMountainGear Echo 1 system. The Moment
was simply unable to keep out the rain mud and muck here were I live. Here
is a photograph of a typical trail here where I live, this time of year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abelajohnb/4619499718/ - When things are this
bad, the TT Moment simply did not have a high enough bathtub to keep the
crap out, so, I switched over to the HMG Echo1 as it has a bathtub that is
somewhere around 8 inches high. It also saved me 5 ounces (yeah, and cost
twice as much, sigh)


> From: chiefcowboy at verizon.net
> > Subject: RE: [pct-l] My Gear List - Need Some Experienced Thoughts
> > Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:26:59 -0600
> >
> > My base weight for my 2009 thru-hike was 18 pounds. I had EVERYTHING I
> > NEEDED, but not a lot of extra junk. How much do you think you'll enjoy
> the
> > rain (and there WILL be some) when you are wet and miserable because you
> cut
> > a pound to go lighter? I suggest not focusing on a target weight, but
> > carrying essentials (to include things to keep you comfortable and SAFE).
>


Anyway cowboy, I totally know what your saying. I do!

I grew up in the Mojave desert. It took me a looong time (probably 5 or 6
years) to get to a point where I don't mind rain.

For me, its the snow. I hate snow, like most people hate rain. 'Loath' is my
definition of snow - giggle. (sorry ned, lol) I spent 5 years in Big Bear
growing up so I am not unfamiliar with snow, but I would not consider myself
a skilled person on snow/ice. If I could get away with it I would take my
Nunatak Torre Parka setup for the snow areas LOLOL.


Thanks everybody,
John