Oware Cat 2 tarp, with sill nylon stuff-sack (12.1 oz.). An 8x10 silnylon tarp with a caternary cut for stability. I wanted to take a tarp with me last time, but chickened; tarps are lighter and less civilization/comfort baggage, even if you can't keep the bugs out. From Oware; go to their website and look for a "Cat Tarp" link on the left.
Aquamira water treatment (3.1 oz.). On my last hike I sent home my pump after a month and a half; it was nearly a pound and a half. Now I filter my water through a bandana, and treat it when my cautious common sense directs me.
6 High visibility titanium tent stakes (1.5 oz.). Stupid people like me pay more for the high-premium, lightweight, low-benefit gear now so that the rest of you can pay less later. It's my duty as a going-to-be-moderately-well-paid engineer to spend money on gear.
New Balance 806 shoes, size 16 (37.1 oz.). I've heard mixed review, and I'm afraid that these shoes will break down before 500 miles, but what else am I going to do; you try shopping for a pair of 16s.
Nike Usurper Slide sandals, size 15 (11 oz). They are as light as my old Teva flip-flops; they don't have the toe-strap so I can wear my socks in them. They fit very uncomfortably and I may have to ditch them.
Smartwool Adrenaline Mini Crew socks, 1 pair (2.0 oz.). Socks from the future.
Photon Micro-Light II, with key ring (0.35 oz.). Flashlights are too heavy. Headlamps are too heavy. I have two LED lights: red and "night vision green"; it worked last time.
Appalachian Trail Data Book, 2004 edition with price-tag (4.3 oz.). If I didn't want to keepsake the book after it's all over, I would tear out and throw away the pages I didn't need, cutting the weight.
Montane Aero windshirt, XL with stuff-sack (3.4 oz.). This windshirt is a luxury item I'm not sure what I'll do with—wear to keep the bugs off, wear to keep the sun off, or wear to keep the cold wind out. In the end, it's a light layer, so it goes into my pack; let's see if it makes it to Katahdin.
Posted by Tom at March 18, 2004 08:33 PMThose shoes are WAY too heavy. I say leave them. Just go barefoot, and if/when your heels slough off and start bleeding, just wrap them with duct tape. Actually, duct tape is probably too heavy to carry around too so scratch it--the blood loss will help you lose even more weight anyways.
Posted by: JFu at March 19, 2004 11:21 AMBe careful what you modestly propose:
http://members.aol.com/CAR525/hike/pages/bfsisters.htm
I will detach my left arm and put it in cryo for the summer, then I can splurge on the duct tape.
Posted by: Tom at March 19, 2004 01:37 PMHmm, I think you may be onto something with that cyro-storage idea. Why not just store your entire body? Build an ATV with neural control and attach your head. I bet you'd be the only person on your block to have one.
Posted by: JFu at March 19, 2004 02:56 PM