[pct-l] my first post: a test. *GEAR*

[Paul Robison]

Thank you so much for the input !

i work for Indiana Underground so as my job i walk 12 miles a day right now.  at 
work i wear a 22 lb pack (i run a RADAR).  i basically planned on just going 
slow and getting used to the trail from mexico to big bear, and then pushing 
miles from there.  not going to be one of those 'oh i have to get my 20's in' in 
the very beginning.  my wife doesn't work but she's been 'training' on a 
treadmill... We're just planning on finding a naural pace and letting our 
conditioning adjust, then pushing hard out of wrightwod depending on how early 
we are set to get at KM.  we started a 2010 thru hike but we had an attrocious 
amount of gear  (think survival camping load out)... and then we got into a 
little bit of legal trouble which ate up 3 weeks of our time and 5,000$ in 
lawyers fees;  so we decided just to put the wholething off until 2011 and 
approach the trail more educated and financially ready.

please note i'm hiking with my Wife;  so 2X neo-airs is one for me and one for 
her.  my wife's rainjacket is the arcteryx paclite and it's significantly 
lighter, but i do love my MHW Typhoon.  i used to use the MHW Phantom 32 
sleeping bag but i've been making Quilts since i was 11;  so i ended up sewing a 
high tech one, and we just used it at 22 F and we were plenty warm under it 
together.  that's 2lb 2 oz to share, so we save a LOT of baseweight on the MYOG 
top quilt.

the neo air and the Z lite weigh the same... and i tried a montbell ultrathin 
foam mat and that thing was impossible to sleep on.  i have a few foam rolls 
like the ridge rest, but they actuall weigh more than the neo air.  BTW,  our 
are the thigh length version.  Actually i saw shroomer useing the neo air and i 
bougth one later this year for smaller excursions but after feeling how nice it 
was i couldn't resist buying a second for my girl.

i dont have a lot of expirience with the Meta 2P yet... i've used it for a 4 day 
trip on the AT and a 5 day trip in michigan and just a few overnighters... but 
it's held up to so pretty good storms.  and stays DRY. what i love more about it 
is the ENOURMOUS vestibules and the peak height is on either side of the tent 
instead of in the middle.  obviously a small tarp would be better, and maybe is 
the right choice until idyllwild etc.  but based on how cold the beginning of 
2010 was;  i'd like the protection of the tent.  and past there,  it's bug proof 
which is kind of nice.

ahh the canister stove issue.  honestly, i've never tried alcohol.  i do like 
the idea of it because i realize my kitchen is the last place i have that i can 
really shave some weight  (that and my trekking poles; but the mont bell 
ultralight poles i keep hearing about snapped poles and with them being my tent 
poles i wanted some heft.)  my worry is with cooking for two,  the added fuel 
needed for the alcohol almost offsets the weight of the cannister.  that and 
'ease of use' of the alcy stove,  it's familiar and comfortable.  i suppose 
around the new year i should make an alcohol stove and play with it then decide 
closer to april which to take.

How do you guy measure your baseweight?  does it include all your worn 
clothing?  if it does not include your shoes or the clothes you wear i can see 
us being under ten pounds each as possible,  if we can do that we'll be 
laughin'.

thanks again for the reply and advice,

~Paul




________________________________
From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
To: Paul Robison <paulrobisonhome at yahoo.com>; pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wed, November 24, 2010 2:49:30 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] my first post: a test.


How many miles per day do you pan to hike (roughly)?  Are you thinking 10-15, or 
(more commonly) 19-21 , or (faster) 25+?
 
Or (same question, phrased a different way) how long do you plan to take 
(roughly) to complete your hike?
 
The answers to these questions might help me be able to make better gear 
recommendations.
 
By the way, your gear list looks pretty awesome so far!  
 
I would recommend leaving the canister stove at home and going with either and 
esbit or (more commonly) an alcohol stove.  That'll save you some weight if you 
choose to do that.
 
BTW, the MHW typhoon jacket is freaking awesome.  Good choice.  There are much 
lighter ones out there, but that jacket is rad.
 
2 X neo air.... you do like your good sleep don't you!  I (as f you couldn't 
tell already) am a UL gram weenie.... and I think my knees might buckle under 
the wieght of this thing!  LOL.  I recommend trading it in.  But then again, I'm 
one of the guys that use a half-length closed cell foam pad (4oz).  Just a 
thought.  Don't ditch anything you can't enjoy your hike without.

And the tent is awesome... I love it.  But for a thruhike I'd bring a tarp 
instead... you'd  cut about 2 lbs off your shelter weight.  Then again... it 
*is* an awesome tent and frankly 26 pound split between 2 people is only a 13 
pound base pack wieght for each of you.  You're already starting off on the 
right foot.
 
I usually hike with an 8-9lbs base packwieght.... but if you pictured me 
basically sleeping with just a little piece of plastic between me and the 
ground, beating the midnight rain rain with a little squar of Tyvek, and cooking 
over a burning match - you wouldn't be far off from the reality of the 
situation.  :)
But I'm comfortable that way.  Your comfort zones (and your girlfriends) may be 
different.
 
Good list so far.
 
Man you are in for an awesome 2011!-- 
Austin Williams

www.PlanYourHike.com
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