[pct-l] Travel with gear

[Mary Kwart]

I fly a lot with my backpack--I always check it. I fly usually with Alaska Airlines and get a heavy duty clear plastic bag for putting the pack in from them at the airport. I carry a few plastic twist ties (the heavy duty ones you can only use once) to secure the plastic bag end. I don't trust having my pack being handled without being in a plastic bag--stuff can easily get abraded and torn up. I also have packed the pack in a large duffel, which I mailed back home before I started hiking. 

I have telescoping hiking poles that I pack inside of the pack and put a sock over the pointy end. I just carry a stuff sack I have turned into an impromptu carry on that I put all of my more expensive gear in , like GPS and camera. 

I use an MSR Firefly stove, so have to procure isobutane at my destination. I also have had a friend ship canisters to me, but you can only ship the 4 oz ones, not the 8 oz--there is a  limit that can be shipped. The package also has to be clearly labelled and you have to declare the canisters to the post office counter person when they are mailed. He had no problem, but had to quote the exact rule that allowed the canisters to be shipped--the counter person gave him a hard time and said they couldn't be shipped. If you search this list serve, rules for mailing isobutane are covered almost every year.

Good Luck,

Fireweed