Hey look, it fits!

So I started to have paranoia that maybe my stuff wouldn't all fit in my backpack... eek! So I pulled out my newly-made gear list and loaded it all up. Shuffled some things around, trimmed some excess stuff off my backpack to make it lighter and more spacious... lo and behold it all fits! Phew.

Castle pointed out that having the bear can on top of my pack will probably make the load top heavy. My friends My-Lien and Richard were kind enough to show me their gear stash, and I found a couple of straps that might work to lash it to the bottom of my pack instead. I'll move the tent up on top.

I'm still trying to think up a reasonable way of attaching my ice axe to my pack.

I'm getting so excited! While I was at work today I talked about my trip with a number of my regulars, and the enthusiasm has been just wonderful. Everyone is so genuinely happy and excited for me and it's a big positive feedback loop. I left work feeling so psyched!

PS. and then Jon and I raced to squeeze in five miles before sunset. It was a beautiful day today!

So Much Love!

You guys already know that I'm a headstrong, independent gal. It almost never crosses my mind to ask for help; I usually find a way to get things done myself. Even when that stresses me out enormously, at the end of the day I'm gratified that I tackled a big job alone and did it well. Planning this trip wasn't going to be any different from my usual MO. When I started getting ready for this trip, it didn't cross my mind that I would have help with buying gear, preparing food, or, really, anything (except shipping boxes). I was prepared for that, and spent three years reading, researching, and saving up my money.

Preparing for this has been such an amazing experience, especially as the clock ticks closer. People I seldom talk to have come out of the woodwork on Facebook to offer me words of encouragement and to say "let me know if I can help in any way!"

My friend Lou was married recently, and at her wedding she thanked her guests saying "I usually think of myself as a pretty forgettable person... and now I see you all here and I'm thinking 'Holy shit! people actually like me!'"

Although I lovingly laughed at Lou at the time [OF COURSE WE LIKE YOU, LOU, YOU'RE THE BEST!], I'll admit I'm having the same reaction right now. So I want to THANK ALL OF YOU so deeply for the love.

My mom has been especially amazing. She has been 100% on board since I first announced my intention. She's been reading trail journals and websites, watching indie hiking movies, bragging me off to her friends, and bought me all kinds of gear from my wishlist for my birthday and Christmas. And yet she still asked me the other day "What can I do to help?" after she read my post about the Battle of Resupply Boxing. I gave her the task of inventing some good recipes for me with ethnic flavors. By the end of the next day she had rustled up a couple of dehydrators from the ladies at her church, visited three ethnic markets, and had started creating recipes. And when I offered to reimburse her she said "HELL no! I'm your MOTHER. I'm ENTITLED to buy you food! Don't be ridiculous." (Crap, now I'm all verklempt).

I've been promising everyone else that I would update my wishlist and let them know when it was ready. But last night as I weighed my gear I've realized: I'm pretty much good to go. Anything else would be "dead weight". Really, the only thing left that will have a major, positive impact on my trip is cash. Being who I am, I don't *expect* to receive cash and receiving any amount would be mind-blowing to me. But I've had so many offers to help... who am I to tell someone that they can't help me?

So cash it is. If you would like to send me something, send me a Facebook message and we can figure out the best way of making it happen.

$10 will buy me a big juicy burger and a milkshake when I come into town
$15 will pay the postage on one of my 30 resupply boxes
$50 will get me a motel room and a SHOWER and a tub in which to wash my clothes
$100 will get me burger, a SHOWER, and a motel bed PLUS a trip to the grocery store to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, a bit of meat and some bread
$150 will pay for a month of medical and dental insurance

If you do prefer something tangible... here's my wishlist... Caveat: it's only got a couple of "maybe nice to have" things on it.

Thanks again everyone and BIG HUGS!

Gear List

Okey dokey, true to word I've compiled my gearlist in Excel and posted it. Check out the link at the top of the page just below the John Muir quote.

My chart is missing weights for a few things, but I have the bulk of my gear weighed. I tried to include everything that I am responsible for moving. That includes the clothing I'm wearing, although others don't always include this in their total pack weight, arguing that it's not in their pack (Cheaters. You still have to carry it on your body!) This measurement of EVERYTHING is called "Skin Out Weight".

There are two totals: One is my regular skin-out weight. The other is my Sierra skin-out weight. The reason for the separation is that the Sierras require some extra gear: bear resistant food canisters, and potentially an ice axe and traction devices, depending on the snow level (we'll see how March goes).

I haven't measured consumables (food, water, fuel, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper). The way I'm going to handle that is to measure the weight of the empty container--since that is constant--and call it good enough.

I had been vaguely dreading the total tally. I had a rough idea that I would come in under 20 lbs based on the manufacturers' spec sheets for my gear. I was crossing my fingers that I'd be under 18 for my "regular" weight. I was downright giddy when I came in at 14.3 lbs and ran around the house telling all of our roommates that my pack is only 14.3 lbs so far! They've heard me talk about this long enough to know that it was good news :)