Updated Gear List

This is going to be a very straightforward post about the current updates to gear we are using.

Tent — We are still using the Triplex. I have a set of titanium shepherd’s hook tent pegs I got from Amazon and two titanium v-stakes. I also have https://zpacks.com/products/trekking-pole-cup which I use to improve the interior volume. I had looked at a Durston https://durstongear.com/product/x-mid-pro-2p but it is really a tent designed for one person to use.

Rain Gear — I have a https://lightheartgear.com/products/rain-jackets-polyester (it is truly rain proof rather than rain resistant, but does not breath other than the pit zips) and Win has a https://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2328170 — which is highly recommended. Both weigh about six ounces.

For rain pants we are moving from the Eastern Mountain Sports ones we have used to the Montbell Versalite pants that weigh about three ounces. Note that Montbell’s product line goes out of stock in February and comes back in stock in March (I had a conversation with them about availability).

Our rain gear also works for wind gear.

Gear photo.

Backpacks — We both now use Hyperlite packs. https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/products/3400-windrider Mine is white, Win’s is black. You can buy Hyperlite directly from them or through REI.

Sleep System — We have matching Feathered Friends sleeping bags that can zip together. We have Thermarest XLites for pads, I have the older one, Win has the newer version (different valves).

Clothing — We have buffs, sungloves, sun hoodies, convertible pants, base layers and microgrid fleece. For camp we have down jackets. I have a Feathered Friends EOS and I talked Win into something a little better from Montbell. We also have sunglasses, and I have a wool beanie. Darn Tough Socks and we are also trying some Wrightsocks. https://www.wrightsock.com/collections/double-layer-socks.

Shoes — Win is adjusting to Altra’s again, working her way up to avoid tendonitis. I have tried a lot of shoes, but am currently using Moab 2s.

Cook System — We have snow peak stove, a titanium pot, a quessidilla pan/pot lid and two long handled titanium spoons. We use Sawyer Micro filters and I carry purification drops as a back up. We use CNOC bags to gravity filter and I have a Platypus bag for extra water on long dry carries. We otherwise use smart water bottles to carry water and drink from.


Additional gear notes.

Toilet kit — zip lock with toilet paper, deuce of spades or vargo trowel. Zip lock to carry used toilet paper out. All in a blue polyester dry sack (super light weight).

Meds and Electronics Anker 10k power bank, iPhone, ibuprofen, vitamin D, multivitamin, power cords and walk charger, two outlets. Cotton swabs, spare reading glasses in orange dry sack. Water treatment system.

Other — shoulder strap bag. Used https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/hip-belt-pouch-kit or the Hyperlite shoulder strap bag. Dyneema pack liner. Black Diamond ice axes and trekking poles. Nitecore headlamps. We have BV 500 bear canisters but it is cheaper to rent them than to mail them out to the trail and back.

We have mosquito netting headgear treated by InsectShield and other gear treated by InsectShield. I’ve switched to a ball cap to have a visor with my sun hoodie and rain/wind jacket. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07S9RDZPK?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

https://www.amazon.com/Trekology-Ultralight-Inflatable-Camping-Travel/dp/B07MJQD8Y8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=PLBDSLQ93VXA&keywords=backpacking+pillow+inflatable&qid=1645472554&sprefix=backpacking+pillow%2Caps%2C270&sr=8-3 for an inflatable pillow and I use a pump sack for inflating my thermarest.

https://www.crocs.com/p/mens-swiftwater-river-sandal/203965.html for camp shoes and river crossing. Sold out at Croc but available at Walmart and Amazon.

https://www.armysurplusworld.com/ecwcs-gen-iii-level-i-silk-weight-thermal-bottoms and tops (also available from polartek when in stop for twice as much). Capilene and 250 weight wool for baselayers. Gerry shorts from Costco for shorts ($12 from Costco, $40 from Amazon).

https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/767573/white-sierra-convertible-trail-pants-mens-32-inseam for convertible pants.

I did some Facebook Reels

A friend suggested I should do some and it turned out Apple Photos generates them automatically, including music.

So I did some and uploaded them.

Just pictures and some short video from various parts of the Appalachian Trail.

Training to get ready for the PCT

When we were getting ready for the Appalachian Trail one of the useful things I learned to do was train my feet.

By walking 4-5 miles a day with a full backpack for a week or two I would save myself from a week of pain on the trail as my feet adjusted.

Another thing was stretching. When I started stretching a few weeks before hiking I saved myself from knee pain for the first 2-3 days on trail.

With the PCT, given the weather and the distance between resupply locations where we are starting we need to do some training before we start in order to get through Oregon in time.

The current training approach we have is:

  • January walk at least four miles a day.
  • February. Walk at least four miles a day with our packs on and another 3-4 miles a day without them.
  • March. Go for 8-10 miles a day with our packs on, including some foothill trails.
  • Take a class on ice axe/self arrest. Our hope is to miss all the serious stretches but we want to be careful.
  • April-May. Work up to fifteen miles a day.
  • April. Start stretching every day.
  • May. Practice some with our gear. (Note. We’ve used all of it before).
  • June. Be on the Pacific Coast Trail.

That is our current plan. The neighbors are getting used to seeing us out with our backpacks on.