Odyssey 2008 Gear List

GEAR LIST (pounds-ounces.tenth ounces)

0-05.4 Gossamer Gear® Whisper™ Uberlight Backpack
0-00.7 Gossamer Gear® Hip Belt Pocket, medium
1-04.1 Wanderlust Gear Nomad Lite Tent w/four Titanium Goat Carbon Fiber Stakes/stuff sack
1-06.0 Mountain Hardwear® Phantom™ 32° two-season sleeping bag
0-13.0 Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3™ Short sleeping pad
0-03.5 Western Mountaineering® Flash Vest
0-07.0 Wanderlust Gear Poncho
0-07.0 Mountain Hardwear® Epic Pant long
0-04.0 Mountain Hardwear® S/S Wicked T
0-03.0 Mountain Hardwear® Epic Glove
0-00.8 Outdoor Products H2O Bottle Bag
0-00.5 Photon Freedom Micro Light w/cap-bill clip
0-03.4 1-Liter Mountain Dew Bottle (2)
0-02.2 Honey and Bear Fleece Ditty Bag/Pillowcase w/First-Aid, toiletries, etc.
0-06.9 Canon PowerShot SD 1000 Digital Elph Camera w/case, tripod, battery and memory card
0-07.7 PocketMail Composer w/two AA lithium batteries (6.7 + 2x.5=7.7oz)
0-04.1 Sony M-17 Microcassette Recorder w/two AAA lithium batteries (3.5 + 2x.3=4.1)
0-00.8 Trip Maps and Data (average, four days─one day’s maps and data are “worn”)

6-14.3 Total Pack and hip belt

On my person (other than pack or hip belt):

0-12.6 Leki® Ultralight Carbon Ergonomic Trekkers (Carbonlites)
1-09.4 New Balance® MR810 AT cross trainers
0-02.3 Bridgedale® Ventum Light Hiker (fast and fresh) socks
0-02.0 Mountain Hardwear® Nut Shell Scree Gaiter
0-09.0 Mountain Hardwear® Talus Pack Short
0-06.0 Mountain Hardwear® eXtend Featherweight Zip T
0-04.0 GoLite® Ether Wind Jacket
0-01.0 Mountain Hardwear® Training Cap or Headsweats Sweat Tech® Skull Cap
0-00.8 Rx glasses with Transitions® photochromic lenses
0-02.2 Suunto® Core ABC Wristop
0-02.0 wallet and contents
0-00.2 one-day maps and data

4-03.7 Total (other than packweight)

11-02.0 Total gear weight

*All items have been weighed to the nearest pounds, ounces, tenth-ounces (00-00.0) on certified postal scales. Please keep in mind that the total of these numbers represents “dry packweight” (food and water not included). Food and water can add considerable weight, and that added weight will vary according to water availability and the number of days between food re-supply. Customarily, I carry no more than two liters (a tad under four pounds) of water at any given time, even across barren stretches, because I travel light and travel fast. My food bag, on average, contains no more than two pounds/day. So, out of town and fully loaded for three days between re-supply, the average for this trek, my total packweight (water to the next source, plus food) would likely come in at or below 21 pounds. It should be noted that ultra-light backpacks are not designed to carry heavy loads, nor should one be trekking in lightweight cross-trainers when lugging heavy packs.

A Long Time Ago