Wall's Gear on the Pacific Crest Trail

Wall and Fish relaxing at Kennedy Meadows.

This was posted pre-trip.

At least by my standards, I am planning to go lightweight during my thru-hike. I am planning to go with running shoes, New Balance 806s, during the PCT hike. Note the use of the word planning, everything goes essentially out the window when reality sets in ... which is happening May 12, 2003.

Here is the planned gear list. I am using four mail drops for shoes and I do not plan to mail any gear ahead. I will carry nearly all gear for the entire hike with me at all times. This list contains all gear for the entire trip. All gear was weighed using an extremely accurate postal scale. All weights are given in ounces. The list is now final, May 3.

My starting weight will be around 165 lbs. I am fit but the weight will probably come down to 157 lbs during the summer. During my AT thru-hike I lost three lbs but started the hike at about 160. Now eight years later, well ...

• 2-person tarptent (Squall) by Henry Shires: 31.2
• GVP G4 pack with sleeping pad plus waist and shoulder pads: 25.0
  plan to dump waist and shoulder pads afer a week or two
• Mountain Wisp 30F sleeping bag in stuff sack: 22.4
• nylon rope (50 feet) (may cut to 40 on trail): 2.1
• plastic bag to further waterproof sleeping bag: .2

• North Face jacket: 14.5
• black long sleeve polypro shirt: 8.5
• thorlo running socks, medium weight (3 pairs): 7.2
• blue coolmax T-shirt (short sleeve): 7.1
• nylon shell pants: 5.8
• green shorts: 4.8
• swim suit: 2.1
• balaclava: 1.7
• mosquito head netting: .4
• plastic clothes bag: .2

• New Balance 806 trail running shoes with orthotics: 32.8
• brown long sleeve cotton T-shirt: 6.2
• black shorts: 4.0
• thorlo medium running socks: 2.4
• sombero: 2.4
• Jalbo sherpas: 1.0
• bandana: .7
• small watch in pocket: .5
• nothing else on my person

• Leki Super Makalu trekking poles: 21.6

• nalgene bottle (1 liter): 3.8
  I want a wide mouth bottle that I can mix up drinks in that is essentially bullet proof---thus, the heavy nalgene bottle.
• platpus w/ drinking tube (1.5 liters): 3.7
  The tube is a luxury and may have to go.
• polar pure iodine (empty): 3.2
• sunscreen: 3.0
• platpus w/o drinking tube (4 liters): 2.5
• floss, tooth brush, tooth paste: 1.7
• PCT-related materials (databook cutup): 1.7
• platpus w/o drinking tube (1.5 liters): 1.6
• bug juice: 1.5
• footcare package: 1.3
• GoLite food bag: 1.2
• toilet paper: 1.1
• mouth guard: 1.0
• nail clippers: .7
• advil: .7
• GoLite yellow ditty bag: .6
• jack knife, one blade and small: .5
• lexan spoon (may dump): .4
• cash (all currency plus two quarters): .3
• matches: .2
• lip balm: .2
• AMEX: .1
• Mastercard: .1

• Windstopper fleece: 18
• Raven Pro Black Diamond ice axe: 15
• gripper gloves: 3.5

I plan to carry a little more of each than I expect to need. Fully loaded with water, I expect to carry about 16 lbs. A maximum food load might approach 20 lbs. I don't ever expect to carry both maximum water and food loads simultnaeously.

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