I wonder what I will miss the most while hiking.  Guess what I think I’ll miss the most:

• Toilets🚽
• Warm baths🛀
• Television📺
• Fast food🍟
• Computers💻
• Carbonated beverages 🍹

Scroll down for my answer…

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It’s carbonated beverages! 🍹

Back home now.  The exciting thing is that my latest supplies have arrived in the mail.  Titanium tent stakes from Trail Designs, some sewing supplies from Sail Rite, and Ultra-Sil Nylon from Rocky Woods.  An ultrasil cover for my Z-lite pad and a rain kilt are now in my possession after an day of sewing.  Each one weighs in at less than 3 oz.

One of my friends sent be an awesome video of a guy who took a selfie every mile of over 2,600 on the PCT.  It’s quite the transformation:  http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/04/05/orig-hiker-2660-miles-selfies.cnn

Here’s him on his first day and about 2,300 miles into his hike.

This is not me, at least not yet. 😉

I am currently on a plane flying to NC race the MC.  Thinking about hiking, so thought I would  try a post off-line.  There should be lots of chances for that on the trail.

Hazards on the trail:

• Bears
• Snakes
• Tics and Lyme disease
• Heat (cold too, but heat will be the first issue)
• Lack of water
• Lack of food
• Injury (both acute and chronic)
• Crime
• Navigation
• Emotional

That should be a start to the list.  I think I am prepared for them all but less than half of those who start an AT thru hike actually finish.  I like the term “slack-packing” because it implies a more relaxed slower pace.  Pushing hard probably will lead to injury, etc.  So, it’s Puffin the Slack-Packing LASHer…

BTW, couldn’t load an image off-line so there is none.  😉

Although I did try pasting this in later:

Why not?

Have I made it into the insane ultralight backpacking club?  Here’s what I did to my trowel to save weight.  The original (first image) weighs 3.1 ounces.  The cut down version feels like it weighs less than half that.  A digital scale is next on my shopping list;  it will be easier to count grams then…

And here is some camp food.  The potato pancakes should be awesome.  Let’s hear it for good Polish food!