Big Gee in Action
Compared to what I took on the southern portion of my AT thruhike there is a significant difference in bulk and weight. Unlike the AT, on this hike I won't really enter the mountains until March. On average I will be hiking in 50° weather. The nights should average in the mid 30s although there has been a recent cold spell. I have a bivy sack, really a heavy duty emergency space blanket, that I plan to use over my sleeping bag (rated to 30°). That should keep me plenty warm at night even in colder than normal weather.
I expect my typical carry weight to be only around 27 lbs maybe a bit more.
| Basics: | Gregory G Pack (lg 2,950 ci / 51 liters) 2 lbs, 14 oz REI pack cover Black Diamond Betalight tarp tent Kelty Light year 3D 30 degree sleeping bag Thermo-Lite Bivy Sack (if it really gets cold) Thermarest Toughskin sleeping pad New Balance trail runners (for the finish) Avia walking shoes (for the start) |
| Performance Outerwear: | polypro thermal top and bottoms midweight fleece jacket Sierra Designs light rainjacket Mountain Hardware windproof fleece gloves Moonstone liner gloves OR Rocky Mountain low gaitors 2 thermal caps OR Seattle Sombrero |
| Kitchen: | Peak1 Multifuel stove 32 oz fuel bottle 32 oz water bottle MSR Blacklight 1.5 liter pot with lid and grabber First Need Delux water purifier |
| Instrumentation: | Highgear Altiwear wristwatch/altimeter/barometer/compass/etc |
| Sundry: | BD Enduro CF Trekking Poles First aid kit Black Diamond Ion headlamp Leatherman Juice CS4 |
What sort of food will I be cooking up with my camp kitchen? The usual backpacking food: mac n cheese, shells and cheese, ramen noodles, scalloped potatoes, soups, pasta salads, etc. You get the idea. I try to eat hearty with carb-rich 800-1,200 calorie breakfasts and dinners. I usually just snack (500 calories) for lunch. Incidentally the backpacking burns at least 7 calories each minute. That will increase to around 11 per minute when I start humping the ups and downs of western North Carolina.