Month: March 2026

We are here for a funeral.

Regular posting will be delayed.

Introduction

The layout of a Durston Kakwa is perfect for a thru hiker. Not so much for someone doing occasional overnight camping.

For shorter distances pack weight doesn’t matter as much. For longer distances the lighter weight makes a difference.

How I organize my pack

With that preface, this is my pack organization:

I start with a pack liner at the bottom of the pack (a Nylofume sack). Inside the liner is my sleeping bag that fills out the very bottom. Then my sleeping pad & pump sack.

Next my spare clothes bag/pillow. I carry a base layer, spare socks, shorts, alpha direct fleece, spare underwear. The bag they are in is also my pillow.

If I have a puffy it is around here in my bag.

Next the dry sack with my electronics (charger, battery pack, hearing aid charger) and medical (vitamins). Medical includes toothpaste and toothbrush.

Next is my food bag. On top of that is my tent. The tent is folded up around the tent pegs. I use MSR ground hogs though any DAC aluminum pegs would be good.

One hip belt pocket has my headlamp and water treatment pills (Aqua Mira). The other my gloves and mosquito head net.

One side pocket has my kit with trowel and paper. The back pouch has my rain gear/wind shirt and extra water bottles. Sometimes I’ll have a bear canister in the pack and might put my tent here.

Water bottles include one CORE bottle for the cap I use as a scoop some times. One bottle with a push-pull cap for drinking out of.

The other (smaller) pocket has my night bottle and my sit pad.

The pad is just a small square sheet of waterproof craft paper.

Zipper pouch has my inReach and any permits (in a large zip lock). That way they are safe but readily available.

One shoulder has a water bottle. In bear spray country the other has bear spray.

My other gear

I wear my built cool hat (I know, I waffle on hats). Ombraz sunglasses and reading glasses on tethers.

Mesh underwear.

Long pants. Buff in one pocket, phone in the other, wallet in zipper pocket. Belt.

Jolly Gear shirt (though I also like Mountain Hardware Crater Lake).

Socks. Compression calf sleeves. Gaiters. Topos.

Fishing sun gloves. Trekking poles.

New gear

With socks I’m looking at Darn Tough Socks again—they now have a full cushion sock. I’m going to try them and I’ve ordered some.

For reference, I’ve used:

• Classic Darn Toughs. I now prefer more cushion.
• Kirkland hiking socks—I like them. Great cushion.
• Smartwool PhD socks. Ok socks. Nice cushion.
• Merino Tech socks (I was given a pair). They are Ok. Great for casual wear.
• Farm to Feet (given a couple pair). My wife likes them. They are her sock of choice.
• Weatherproof socks from Costco. They are nice but I prefer a more cushioned sock. Worth looking at for casual wear or if you don’t like heavy or full cushion socks.
• Wrightsocks. Great around town. On trail, for me, they trapped too much sand, dirt, dust and ash. Some people love them. Depends on your trail and your shoes.
• REI merino socks. I really like them. They are perfect for Ultraventure shoes, for some reason not as good for Terraventure shoes. I’m wearing a pair of them now.

Socks are very personal because issues of compression, fit, and cushion are not the same for everyone or for every shoe.

I’m hoping the new Darn Toughs will be great with the shoes I’m currently using. I’m looking for just a little less compression but full cushion.

With sun hoodies I’m looking at possible changes. But probably sticking with Jolly Gear —but in a medium, not a large.

https://jollygear.com/products/triple-crown-button-down-long-sleeve-evergreen has my attention—I keep thinking of getting one more Jolly Gear hoodie but this time in a medium.

If they had it in a mild blue I’d be sold.

As much as I liked Crater Lake hoodies I’m probably not going to switch back. They are really neat though. Perfect weight. Perfect fit with a ball cap.

Sun gloves are next. I liked my Glacier gloves, but lost one and got what was available on trail. I’m just not sure about the replacements.

https://www.rei.com/product/203636/rei-co-op-active-pursuits-sun-gloves look very similar to Glacier (I found one on trail. I now have two identical right handed gloves and don’t have a left).

So I’m waiting for the color I like to come back in stock and looking at REI’s gloves as an alternative.

Video of stream

Pole tips. The Cascade Mountain Tech poles seem good enough with new tips. I have some around the house I will install as soon as I find them.

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Current Affairs

Enlightened Equipment

I’m not going to discuss the current EE issues. But those are gone over at length at the link.

Hiking pole tips

First I need to replace my pole tops.

I broke out new poles for this trip.

They were even less durable than previous. One problem that hasn’t been solved. https://andrewskurka.com/long-term-review-cascade-mountain-tech-quick-lock-poles/

The comparison pole (Foxelli, on the bottom) had a lot more miles. Luckily I have replacement pole tips I can use.

Tent memories

This picture came up today.

The 3p on the left was front entry and I’m not sure it had as much useable space as the 2p on the right. It was lighter and I was able to sell it via GearTrade.

Training

I’ve started my weight training up again. We are also going to do a 20 miler at least once a week.

I’m also working on more stretching at least three times a week

For perspective about elevation/distance:

“Time Calculation: A common rule is that 1 hour of time for every 1,000 feet of ascent. Some hikers use a formula of adding 1.5 miles of effort per 1,000 feet of elevation gain.”

So, 5,500 feet of elevation gain is like hiking an extra 8.5 miles. So a twenty mile day on rough trails with that much elevation is like a 28 or so mile day.

The problem is not that I can’t hike hard miles. The problem is I am not ready for 90+ degree weather and multiple 20+ mile days with 4 liter water carries before getting trail legs.

The AZT with the heat wave and water sources drying up months early is moving from magical to miserable.

With that in mind we hiked to mile 427 and a junction and then took the City Creek Connector to get off trail at Doll Baby.

It was really warm. We carried three liters each down hill because there were not current water reports.

We had four-five days of food left.

We also had a shuttle scheduled to pick us up and hotel reservations. Happy6 made the call from the peak where there was cell service.

Yes. It was hot. We dropped down over 2,500 feet over about eight and a half miles (with a little elevation gain too) and we had some shade.

But now we’ve had showers and laundry and Mexican food. And a nap.

We fly home tomorrow.

I had a great time. We weren’t out long enough to get trail legs. We did great for no trail legs.

But I learned too.

We will see what comes next.

https://apnews.com/article/extreme-heat-arizona-southwest-nebraska-23f776d71f1b46f20cdbe251a61456cb

(Win Marsh as quoted is Happy6).

The AZT rates this as strenuous.

Less ascent than yesterday but the trail was a mess.

It was pointed out to me that I’m too old for this.

Brutal day.

We had a wonderful morning.

Picked up a rental car. Headed to Roosevelt Marina and picked up our box.

Then we headed to Pine and dropped off the box so we could have a resupply.

Then we headed to Payson for our shuttle (and to drop off the car). We will hit the trail and head north.

This helps us around the heat wave’s worst weather (over 100 degrees) and keeps us hiking.

Some hikers we know are renting an AirB&B and waiting the weather out. But the heat wave is a week.

Hotels are really expensive right now. So would a flight home for a week be very expensive.

This keeps us hiking safely. Happy6 really thought this through well.

So we have loaded up water. Eaten a solid lunch and are returning to the trail after a wonderful sojourn with Mike and Ellen.

Such great people.

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The shuttle dropped us off at a trailhead access a mile from 386.5 about 3:10 and we hiked until 6:00 and mile 391.9.

We hiked about 6.6 miles total for the day and set up camp.

Ate a very light dinner.

Most of the country has cold waves going on. Arizona has a heat wave.

Current AZT plans

Since yesterday was a Nero (only about three miles so a very lazy Nero.

Other than great company with Mark and Ellen, we mostly worked out how to deal with the heat wave passing through.

Temperatures up to over 100 degrees to greet us where we expected to be.

So we are flipping up to Payson. It will be warm but not as disruptively hot.

We have a full resupply and are looking forward to the coming trail.

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Other trails

So our plan to go from the AZT to the CDT and flip to the Sierra Section in July or so is still looking ok.

Of course late season weather can change everything but we are hopeful.

From yesterday

Happy6 tells the backstory of the angels who we are having a zero with.

Now we just need to decide how to deal with this heat wave.

Our hike so far (pictures and music).

Very hot weather. So we started before 5:00.

A couple stops and we were at 113.4 before noon to rest in some shade in the river bottom.

We took both sets of iconic tunnels.

Leap frogged Lady Bug. Met Asher/Wildflower.

Caught up with Pop Tart and Chris at the snack bar.

We threw rocks near the snake until it finally moved.

Met Chuck, Eric and Gary.

We looked out over the Saguaro Cactus.

A long, hot day with some great breaks. Then more hiking. And more hiking. And a little bit more. 6:00 pm and the tent is pitched.