The begnning of a 500,000 step journey

[Unicorn Jeff]

You ever killed any dogs with that gun?

Matt uses his bare hands.

[Strychnine]

Also, really interested to see the gear you pack...

For some reason I really like everything in my life like a swiss army knife and backpacking gear peaks my interest. My car camping bag could probably be lived out of for quite some time and my truck has similar equipment stowed away 24-7.

Here's what's been decided so far:
I'm watching weight, obviously, but certainly not getting into ultralight trekking territory.


Crestrail 70 pack - 70 liter - (4271 ci)
Weight: 5 lb

Kelty 0* Cosmic Down sleeping bag
Weight: 3 lb 11 oz
This one is "comort" rated at 17*F and bottom limit rated at 4*F. It will definitely not get that cold on the trail, but for those nights sleeping above 10,000 ft I guess it could always get interesting (see pic at bottom)
Bag ratings are based on someone wearing full long underwear and a hat and I won't be doing that. I'm adding a bit of weight over a 20* or 30* bag but there will be other (possibly colder) trips in the future so I'm not worried about it. Will be getting a compression sack though. The "stock" stuff-sack is a big big.





REI Passage 1 Tent
Weight: 4 lb 1 oz
Single person, 20 sqft floor area. Weight includes rainfly and footprint.





Komperdell "Trail" trekking poles
Weight: 1 lb 2.8 oz
Cork handles, aluminum shafts, removable snow baskets





Total weight so far: 13 lb 14.8 oz


BTW, I found a reaaaally detailed elevation profile of the trail


super hi-res: http://images.summitpost.org/original/538195.jpg







Random pics:

This is Evolution Basin




September snow at 11,680 ft (Consultation lake, 5.5 mi before Mt Whitney summit)

[Treybiz]

Awesome... I'm getting ideas for our bike packing trip to the Womble this coming spring.

[SlowLX]

Using my supply connections from the military to spOnsor most of my trip.
I'm a little skeptical of using a mollee pack I still miss my ILBE.

Just under 8lbs
slightly heavy at 6.5 but free is a good start.

[Sean88gt]

The night sky is really bright up there and lit by the stars.

[Danny46]

Awesome. I definitely need to do a trip like this.

[Strychnine]

Awesome. I definitely need to do a trip like this.

Go do it.


We already have some 'tune up' trips planned:

Sam Houston State Park this fall - 25 mi in one day
Caprock Canyons Trail in the spring - 64 mi

[SlowLX]

Got to fit Ouachita mountains in there for a good tune up some time.

[Danny46]

Nice I definitely need to plan for one! SlowLX, I love the Ouachitas.

[SlowLX]

slightly heavy at 6.5 but free is a good start.

I still haven't thrown out the idea of just taking a solid bag with a bivy sack and a tarp. Always saved space in the Corps.

[jameswilson]

Those pics are AWESOME!!!

[Strychnine]

More gear added:

MSR Sweetwater microfilter
Weight: 11 oz
Can filter around 1L per minute. Around 750 liters per filter cartridge. Small and compact, active carbon core eliminates over 99.9999% of all waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of common protozoan parasites.

Black Diamond Storm 100 headlamp
Weight: 3.9 oz w/o batteries (x4 AAA)
LED Type: 1 TriplePower, 4 SinglePower (2 white, 2 red)
Lumens: 100
Max Distances: 70 m (TriplePower LED); 25 m (2 SinglePower LEDs)
Max Burn Time: 200 H (TriplePower LED); 125 H (SinglePower LEDs)

Thermarest Prolite Sleeping Pad
Weight: 1 lb
Self inflating, 1" thick, three season capable. Lightest most compact self inflating pad available.






Total weight so far: 15 lb 13.7 oz

[Stephen]

better hurry! the world ends in 3 months and 3 days

[SlowLX]

More gear added:

MSR Sweetwater microfilter
Weight: 11 oz
Can filter around 1L per minute. Around 750 liters per filter cartridge. Small and compact, active carbon core eliminates over 99.9999% of all waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of common protozoan parasites.

Black Diamond Storm 100 headlamp
Weight: 3.9 oz w/o batteries (x4 AAA)
LED Type: 1 TriplePower, 4 SinglePower (2 white, 2 red)
Lumens: 100
Max Distances: 70 m (TriplePower LED); 25 m (2 SinglePower LEDs)
Max Burn Time: 200 H (TriplePower LED); 125 H (SinglePower LEDs)

Thermarest Prolite Sleeping Pad
Weight: 1 lb
Self inflating, 1" thick, three season capable. Lightest most compact self inflating pad available.






Total weight so far: 15 lb 13.7 oz

Sleeping pad? Pussy!

[Sean88gt]

Sleeping pad? Pussy!

Make sure you get the queen size, I'm not sleeping on dirt.