As Richard and I fly out to San Diego tomorrow to start our Pacific Crest Trail hike, I have prepared for the occasion by having my gear mostly ready.
Here’s what I’ve got planned.
Osprey Tempest 40 2 lbs
MSR 2L titanium pot/homemade cosy/homemade pop can stove 13.4 ounces
Crocs for camp shoes 8.6 ounces
Women’s Thermorest Neo Air Xlite, regular length, plus stuff sack 12.6 ounces
Telescope handsfree sunbrella 12.3 ounces
Zpacks rain poncho (doubles as a pack cover) 5 ounces
Sleeping clothes (long underwear top and bottom, socks), plus stuff sack that doubles as a pillow 1 pound, 2.2 ounces
water bladders (capacity 4.5 L) 5.6 ounces
Mini Sawyer water filter, plus stuff sack 3.2 ounces
Montbell Plasma 1000 down jacket 3.5 ounces
Sea to Summit 35L stuff sack (pack liner) 2.4 ounces
iPhone 4S in Life Proof case, 4G iPod, chargers for both, plus waterproof bag to carry them 9.4 ounces
Schoon menstral cup, plus cotton storage baggy 1 ounce
2 bandannas 1.8 ounces
Western Mountaineering Versalite 10 degree sleeping bag, plus stuff sack 2 pounds, 2 ounces
500mL Nalgene bowl with lid 2.8 ounces
Snow Peak titanium spork .4 ounces
sunglasses .8 ounces
Fenix HL22 headlamp, plus 1 AA battery 3 ounces
2 pairs Smartwool PhD Women’s Outdoor Light Micro Crew Socks 3 ounces
2 8-ounce alcohol fuel bottles 1.8 ounces
3 hair ties, lip balm, pocket knife, pepper spray, space pen, purell, nail clippers 3.5 ounces
TP and bag to hike out TP 2.6 ounces
toothbrush/paste, floss, 2 small tubes Vaseline (I tend to lose these), sunscreen 6 ounces
paper/permits, notebook, pencil, eraser 3.7 ounces
Credit card, debit card, ID, cash .6 ounces
food stuff sacks 2.7 ounces
TOTAL 12 pounds, 3 ounces
Not the lightest pack, but given that this trip is the first time I’ve put any effort into lightening my load, I’ll take it!
For those of you keeping track at home, you’ll notice one pretty necessary piece of gear missing from this list: shelter. Richard is carrying the tent (Zpacks Triplex tent; 1 pound 7 ounces). To balance it out, I am carrying the stove and pot.
I will be wearing a Patagonia All Weather dress, my mom’s polka dot sun hat that she bought at the Grand Canyon in 1974 and the Exofficio Dryflylite shirt.
I remember your Mom’s polka dot hat! I am excited for you and look forward to reading about your adventure. Talk about packing light . . . . but I am surprised you chose an all weather dress instead of pants to wear. Good luck with the start of your journey!