Equipment

“No need for doubling up on Equipment.

As far as a tent goes, do we want one or would we rather utilize bivy sacks? If we need a tent I use an REI Half Dome plus 2.

As far as stoves and filters - I use an MSR Dragonfly and a Sweetwater filter.”

“Oh, and I'm not a gourmet chef on the trail. I'll have some granola and freeze-dried food. That's about as exciting as I get.”

“Zwabaire, I travel real light, and usually bring all of my own equipment and backpack fully self-contained for the following reasons.

My stove is a 3.5 ounce pocket rocket. My water purification system is a 3 ounce Aqua Mira. No waiting for you to finish cooking to start my meal. No fustration if the only stove breaks down. At 3.5 ounces, the weight for convenience is well worth it.

My solo tent is 3.5 pounds, and my tarp system is lighter than that if I use the tarp. Most two person tents weigh around 6 pounds so there is very little weight advantage to sleeping two to a tent. My teenage kids claim I snore very loudly, so bivy sacks/solo tents work better.

If someone wants to travel at a different pace/ go on a detour/ finish early, by traveling self contained, they have the option to do so.

As to food, freeze dried is light, convenient and boring. On a week end trip, I will probably bake some apricot scones or fry an omlets the first day, and pancakes after that. Lunch is my own homemade energy bars. Dinner will be vension steak or faitas, with maybe a fresh baked cherry cobbler or butterscotch pudding for dessert.”

“Rock on, Prosecutor. You are an animal! The gear discussion is complete then - we'll travel self contained.”

“I've been checking the Silver Bay weather periodically. If I had to guess, we can expect highs to be in the 60s or 70s with lows in the 40s or 50s? Does that sound right? Any typically quirky weather patterns in our hiking area that I should plan for?”

“My gear: Extra socks, Arcteryx Theta AR, Rain pants, Mountain Hardwear fleece, Columbia base layer, one pair of pants(worn) and a Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt....Oh, and a light pair of gloves.”