Gear... take two!

September 20 2009

Here I go on the gear again. I like gear. I talk about it a lot and don’t get tired of it. Maybe I should work in a gear shop, though I wouldn't be able to sell anyone a two wall tent or boots...

So this is what I used.

Packs
ULA Relay for New Mexico. I switched to my old GoLite Jam2 that I used on the PCT for the rest of the hike. It held up remarkably well and I wouldn’t doubt it if that pack made it through another thru hike.

Sleeping
2009 GoLite Ultra 20. The rating should be closer to 35. I picked up a cheap pink fleece baby blanket in Chama New Mexico which kept me warm in the snow. I slept on the same half length Ridgerest from last year.

Shelter
Six Moons Designs Gatewood Cape and Serenity Net Tent
22 ounces total including stakes made for a very light double wall tent system which kept me very dry. I used one of my trekking poles to set it up. It flapped a bit in the wind but I would use such a shelter again.

Cooking and hydration
I hydrated food in a plastic peanut butter jar again which worked well. I treated water with a Sawyer inline filter for the first half and used Aquamira chemical treatment for the rest. I treated about 10 total liters in Colorado due to most of the sources being from high up, with lots of snow melt. I didn’t treat much at all that came out of high mountains, and didn’t suffer any of that revenge stuff. I might go for something lighter. The Sawyer was problematic and became too difficult to use after two months

Clothes
Again I wore long sleeves, often using my Marmot wind shirt from last year. I slept in thermals often, and hiked in shorts only a few times. I used no rain gear other than a $1.99 poncho.

Shoes
Montrail Hardrock 2008 size 10.5 wide. I wish they still made them. I used five pairs and never had foot or knee problems.

Baseweight

Crazy Cook to Chama
6 lbs 4 oz

Chama to Steamboat Springs
Just below 8 lbs
Added ice axe and down jacket, and my Jam2 was slightly heavier than the Relay.

Steamboat Springs to the end
Just below 7 lbs
I ditched the axe and jacket, added a pair of running shorts and kept my blanket until near Lima. I say near Lima because I gave my blanket to a hiker who misplaced his pack 20 miles from Lima.