“Sherie, thanks for giving me the opportunity to live vicariously,” my high school friend wrote, “while lounging on my Tempurpedic with feet up waiting for the lobster to finish steaming and the martinis to chill. I want details!” she demanded. So here are some details.
Imagine you are packing a diaper bag for your baby for an overnight trip. What would you pack? Or what do you put in your briefcase for an important meeting? When I stuffed items into the nooks and crannies of my pack, what were my criteria? I asked the question, what do I value in my life? The answer: survival, comfort, hot food and good health (not necessarily in that order, but survival is first on the list).
My first list came in at a bit over 38 pounds. Ouch. I’m fortunate that my hiking partner carried the tent, water purifier and stove. (I have these things, but don’t carry them if someone else is a gentleman.) Here’s are the items that meet my criteria.
| Item | Weight | Item | Weight | ||
| Wool sweater/shirt | 7.45 oz. | Pack | 6 lbs | ||
| Long-sleeved light weight shirt | 6.9 oz. | Bear canister | 2 lbs. 12 oz. | ||
| Bandana 2 | 1.7 oz. | 1 liter water bottles | 4.7 oz. | ||
| Boots | NIP** | Water in bottles | 2 lbs. | ||
| Jacket | 2.8 lb. | Fuel bottle | 4.9 oz. | ||
| Shorts/long pants | 13.5 oz. | Fuel | 1 lb. 6 oz. | ||
| Long john bottoms | 6.45 oz. | Pack cover | 5.7 oz. | ||
| Long john top | 3.7 oz. | Cup | 6.2 oz. | ||
| 2 pair wool sox | 4.70 oz. | Fork, spoon | .7 oz. | ||
| 1 T shirts | 3 oz. | Sleeping bag | 3lbs. | ||
| Undies – 2 pair | 3.2 oz. | Dark glasses; glasses case and reading glasses | 5.3 oz. | ||
| Tent | Ed | 2 Sleeping pads | 2 lbs. 5.8 oz. | ||
| Rain coat | 1 lb. 13 oz. | Ground cover | ED | ||
| Hand towel | 1.7 oz. | Swiss Army knife | 3.7 oz. | ||
| Handkerchief | .4 oz. | Hat, ID | NIP | ||
| Matches in plastic | Steno pad, pens | 6.7 oz. | |||
| Camera and card(Fujifilm digital camera FinePix A303 – about 8 years old) | 6.4 oz. | Cash $$ | See hat | ||
| First aid kit/moleskin/tape | 8.7 oz. | Tiny hand sanitizer, toilet paper, big spoon | 4.9 oz. | ||
| Compass/map | 1.05 oz. no map | Headlamp/flashlight/batteries | 2.55 oz. | ||
| Mosquito netting | 5.5 oz. | Dish towel, cleaning pad, small whisk | 5.35 oz. | ||
| Chapstick, sewing kit, nail kit, hand lotion, medications, mask, earplugs, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant, face soap, moisturizer | 14.45 oz. | Pack repair kitDuct tape | 2.6 oz.2.65 oz. | ||
| Walking sticks | NIP | Breakfast | 2 lbs. 1.31 oz. | ||
| SunscreenInsect repellent | 3.1 oz. | Lunch | 3 lbs. 13.3 oz. | ||
| Knee brace | 8.6 oz. | Dinner, salt, pepper | 3 lbs. 11 oz. |
** NIP not in pack
I didn’t always carry a full bottle of water, so some weight decreased there. I figured the pack weighed about 35 pounds.
I’ve answered your questions, so where are my lobster and martinis?
THANK YOU TO LES LLOYD who suggested taping my feet. I had the hint of a blister only.
THANK YOU TO LYNN PRIBUS who suggested using moleskin. That is what I finally used on the ball of my right foot.
Thirty-eight pounds???!? I am endlessly impressed, Sherie!
How many miles do you think you covered?
I think we did between 20 and 25 miles. Thank goodness. I really needed the middle two days to recoup.