Gear Modifications

For a long time I've been searching thrift stores, looking for the perfect wind vest, something I can wear when it is cold outside, but not so cold that I need a full on wind shirt or jacket. I could have purchased something from a bike store or other specialized place but it grates on my nerves to spend $50 or more for a bit of nylon and a couple of zippers. I hadn't yet found anything to fit the bill so instead I started looking around for a wind shirt I could modify to meet my needs. 

Enter the latest attempt to solve this puzzle.

As found - 7.8 ounces

An Old Navy jacket with lots of bells and whistles. An inner liner, heavy metal zippers and two pockets. After cutting out the liner and sleeves I was able to drop off 3.7 ounces. This is keeping the metal zippers and pockets. If I were to change out the front zipper and eliminate the pockets, how low could it go? I'd say at least another ounce or two.  Is it worth it? We will see. Stay tuned.

Initial modification - 4.1 ounces

Hat or Visor?

I am a confirmed visor wearer. Year round I can be seen with one of my many visors clamped onto my head, shading my eyes from sun or in other circumstances, keeping rain off my glasses. They are lightweight, can be colorful and usually stay on my head fairly easily. Two years ago in a big wind on the PCT in the Southern California deserts I did almost lose my favorite but I was saved by my hiking partner who picked it up before it flew off to Mexico.

The only downside of visors in my mind is that they don't cover my ears. Most of the time this is fine but in hot sun it can be a difficult problem. I've used my 104 (what Girl Scouts call bandanas's) as a drape to cover my ears and neck but this makes the top of my head hot. So a couple of days ago I was looking at a hat I bought years back and I realized I could cut off the top and have ear and neck coverage and still be able to vent the heat off the top of my noggin. The result is fantastic and I now have a new hat for this years trek. The only downside I can think of is that is weighs 2.1 ounces and my standard visor weighs 1.7 ounces. For the added usefulness I'm fine with that! Plus it has one of those dopey chin straps so it won't sail off to parts unknown in a big wind.

Some final gear choices…

Sometimes I really hate being a Libra. Should I do this…. or should I do that? This costs big bucks and is warmer and lighter, but I already have X and that should be fine. Don't waste your money on a few ounces… But, a few ounces here and there add up to pounds and you aren't getting any younger you know. You get my drift.

Last week I hurt my low back and strained my iliopsoas, making it hard to stand up straight much less hike with a pack. Since then, and with more pressing concern for the lightest pack I can manage, I've popped for some additional gear, all lighter of course. And expensive - but beautiful.

Voila! Behold a Zpacks 10 degree quilt. 19.5 ounces of warmth in a quilt - $420. Everyone, but everyone I have spoken to who has this quilt absolutely loves it and thinks it is the best bag on earth. I don't know about that part yet but when long distance hikers rave about gear, Shelly listens.

Bearing in mind that quilts don't have hoods how will I keep my head and neck warm in big cold? Since a hood isn't necessary everywhere I opted to buy a hat/hood to pack and wear only when I need it. I'll start with it and when I get to Washington in fall I'll have it sent to me again. 1.3 ounces, $65. 

Yum, warm.

To round out the final (to this point) gear choices I decided to sell the tent I had and go with the Zpack Hexamid Solo Plus. Total weight 18.5, including ground cloth, stakes and stuff sack. WOW. Also $475 - double WOW. But it is palatial and better suited to my needs than the other one. Again, great reviews from long distance hikers who've lived in them for months at a time.

So there you have it. The most up-to-date choices I've made and will be going with in less than two months. I only hope my back/iliopsoas trouble clears up soon so I can get back out there and keep walking. Heat, stretch, ice. My new mantra.

This and that

I just finished dehydrating two pounds of ground turkey and two jars of spaghetti sauce into 8 portions of dried stuff. I'll include 3 ounces (dry) of pasta and some Parmesan cheese and there you have it. Tasty!

That makes 16 spaghetti meals… add this to the Mac and Cheese meals and the Chicken Chili and I've still got a lot to do. Oh well, one foot in front of the other I guess.

Something exciting happened yesterday. I received my permission from Canada to enter via the PCT! It only took a couple of weeks so I guess this is why it's good to do this bureaucratic stuff early. Details, details, details!

One last thing for today. As of yesterday I've lost a total of 21 pounds! I still hope to lose another 4 or so before leaving on my trip but even if I don't, still this will help with my energy levels and my ability to carry the water weight that will be required of all of us this year. Unless something very remarkable happens in the next two months, natural water sources will be few and far between. Well, no need to fret as what is, will be and there ain't no use fighting against it. I'll just have to go with the flow…

More Food and Fire

I met with my friends a couple of days ago and we had a fun, three hour yack. Food, scheduling and how many miles to schlep in each section…on the way to Canada. Once we were done it became clear to me that I needed to get on the food thing or I'd end up eating commercial foods purchased for vast sums of money. So I made my first, of many, trips to Costco…

The current plan is to cook up lots of foods, dehydrate them and pack them into individual meals. I've begun the Turkey Spaghetti, Mac and Cheese with Pork and will soon begin the dehydration of canned chili from Trader Joe's - I can't make it any better. I have some 90 bags of breakfast begun but need to spice them up…oatmeal needs help. I finally tried to make yogurt last night in the manner of my friend Shroomer and I'll be darned if it didn't work! It wasn't as firm as commercial yogurt but it was good enough and tasted fine. I just put a table spoon of plain non-fat yogurt in that baggie, added 1/4 cup of Nido (full fat powered milk) and one cup of water, put it in that black bag for about 18 hours and in the morning, yogurt. Who knew?

The drought. It is getting very scary around here in California. 2013 was the driest year on record in my home state and it appears, though things could still change, that 2014 will be more of the same. Because of fire danger, and knowing I'll be having to schlep many liters of water on any given day, I'm about 90% sure I'll be going stove less for the greater part of the hike. At least through California and who knows beyond that. I prefer to heat my dinners but what with having to carry the extra weight, and having to find fuel canisters in trail towns, I think I'm gonna give it a go. 90% sure. Once I get to Washington I can have my simple alcohol stove sent to me and be able to heat water for a more palatable food experience, as I won't be carrying as much water by then. Plus, it is likely that by then I might be into Fall and may be dealing with cold and rain. It is prudent to be able to heat water, if only for safety's sake.

BTW, if there are people out there reading this blog who aren't familiar with our climate out here in the West and you think you can bring your high humidity habits with you from home, think again. Please, please do not light campfires for any reason, in any situation other than in extreme hypothermia. I'm gonna guess that fires of any sort will be banned this year, throughout California and possibly Oregon as well so there will be no excuse or possibility for confusion. I hate to be a hard ass but I will not be polite if necessary. No fires, period.

Socks

Who knew that socks would be such an important factor for hikers? For many years I've been wearing nylon Silver Toe socks, purchased at Sears. Six socks for 10 bucks. For me this has been a good deal and in all that time, no (fiction) blisters. Most people like some kind of blend sock: wool, polyester, whatever, but I love my nylon socks from Sears. However, they are no longer to be found! There are lots of blend socks but no nylon socks. So today I got some 98% polyester, 2% spandex socks to try out... Six pair for $3.99. - crazy, but if they work, I'm a happy hiker.

Who's reading?

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