[pct-l] all those 'extras'

[Kevin Cook]

I second Steel-Eye's recommendation to make a gear list.

It doesn't have to be as complex as some of the examples being shared here.
I started using one about 5 years ago, and I still cannot believe I ever
backpacked without one! Like Steel-Eye, I put EVERYTHING on my list. This is
the only way I can avoid forgetting something. Before each backpacking trip,
I would make a copy of the previous trip's list and then modify as needed.

Of course this thru hike has me altering my list approach a bit this time. I
am now using a spreadsheet with extra info such as weight. ;)
It doesn't have a lot of macros, but I do sort the data in various ways.
I've found sorting by weight to be useful for finding where I can make the
biggest improvements in weight.

I also like Diane's perspective. The trail becomes your life, and you will
just end up carrying the things you need to live on the trail. I can't wait
to call the trail, "Home." As they say, home is where the heart is, right?
;)

On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 7:56 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:

> Good morning, Paul,
>
> Similar to my food selector, I also have a grand gear summary
> spreadsheet.  Every
> item in my gear locker is a spreadsheet line-item which includes its weight
> from a digital postal scale or, for the very small items, an accurate
> powder
> scale.  When I select the quantity of an item the weight is extended,
> summed, and a check-off box is opened adjacent to the item.  After the
> spreadsheet is macro-sorted in descending order of extended weight I print
> a
> copy of the list of selected items which is then used as a pick-list when I
> load my pack for departure.
>
> When I say I account for “every item” I mean it, down to a single postage
> stamp.  The weight of very small items isn’t significant to the total, but
> I
> want those items to appear on my pick-list so they aren’t forgotten, and a
> weight is necessary to make the sort macro function.  I need the list:  My
> memory is very good, but it’s short.
>
> I do all that not because it’s necessary but because I can; and I enjoy
> doing so.  A more practical approach is to make a list of items to carry,
> and poke all that stuff in the pack.  Then if the pack is too heavy when
> you
> pick it up, it’s time for a choice:  What do I toss out or replace with a
> lighter version?
>
> For training hikes I often carry much more than I would ever select for a
> long-distance hike.  The additional weight is good for physical training,
> and the extra items – if any – allow me to test gear by comparison.
>  So-what
> if I carry two different alcohol stoves to compare, or two jackets, or two
> ground cloths, an array of different socks, or both a cook pot and a cup
> for
> cooking?
>
> Like most experienced, gear-head hikers I have lots of stuff:  Good stuff,
> crummy stuff, old stuff, new stuff, hi-tech stuff, homemade stuff, primary
> stuff, extra stuff, unnecessary stuff, and stuff I can’t seem to bare to
> pitch out.  The good thing is all that stuff makes me choose because it’s
> more stuff than I can possibly carry even if I tried to compete with the
> heavy-hikers.
>
> The problem faced by many beginning hikers is that they only have a few
> items – maybe only one of each type of item – and once they buy that single
> item they become emotionally attached to it.  They avoid considering
> options
> because they’ve already make that decision, and they aren’t comfortable
> changing their mind at the last minute.  Besides, “I spent big-bucks for
> that thing and I’m by-damn going to use it”.  These are all very human
> reactions, but such tendencies don’t do much to lighten the pack.
>
> Steel-Eye
>
> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 4:13 PM, Paul Robison <paulrobisonhome at yahoo.com
> >wrote:
>
> > i feel really discouraged about weight...
> > ... i make my list, i weigh my gear, i say 'wow i'm down to X number of
> > ounces'.
> >
> > so this weekend my wife and i packed for our trip.  we said  'if we left
> > tomorrow, what would be bring'...
> >
> > ...then it start growing... and growing... and sun screen... and a
> > packtowel...
> > and growing... and first aid... and toothpaste... and stove fuel...and
> the
> > camera!
> >
> > by the time it was all said and done our shared 22 lbs baseweight (11
> per)
> > was
> > up to almost 30 lbs  (15 per/ person) !
> >
> > then comes the ten liters of water (5 each)  the 12 lbs of food  (4 days
> > worth)...
> >
> > now we sit, staring at 53 pounds of stuff,  and i go 'oh, and i forgot
> this
> > T
> > shirt!'
> >
> >
> > Does anyone else do this?   really makes me reconsider what weight to
> shoot
> > for
> > for training.
> > has anyone else done a shakedown trip, or at least a complete pack out,
> > where
> > you pile all your gear and say 'okay this is it,   no more gear, no more
> > spending money' ...  if you have,  how far from your base weight were
> you,
> > by
> > the time you threw in sunblock, fuel, etc. etc.
> > ?
> >
> > ~Paul
> >
> >
> >
> >
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-- 
~ Kevin
Soon To Be PCT Thru Hiker!
"The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial." Edward Abbey