I removed those “unnecessary” items along with the 20 degree down bag.  Pack weight is now down to 13.8 pounds.  That was way too easy.

To be honest, I have been a little concerned that I wouldn’t get credit for my AT thru hike if I end up doing it over two summers. Today I found Laughing Dog’s blog and was introduced to the term “Lasher: Long-Ass-Section-Hiker.”  Now at least I’ll have a name…

He also has this awesome map on his side bar.

And my pack came yesterday.  It’s packed with my preliminary equipment and it weighs in at 17.5 lbs (base wt w/o food or water).  I figured it would be between 15 and 18 lbs.  I’d like to see it down to 15 before I set off in June.  I’ve already started removing small unnecessary items.  When my new quilt arrives that should drop a half pound immediately too!

Three months until I hit the trail today!   Still have a lot of work to go to get ready.  My new pack should arrive any day now and then it’s time to load it up and start putting some miles under me to get into hiking shape.  I did go to West Tyson Park in St Louis County and hiked some there this week.

View from West Tyson Park

 Mountain Hardware Thruway 50 Review

Well, I finally bought a backpack for the thru-hike.  I had decided on the Osprey Exos 48 but instead found this on close-out at REI for less than half price.  Including the larger Alpine hip belt, which was also on sale, and my member dividend, paid less than $90 for the pack.  Yowzer!  The added benefit is that I will likely not need a rain cover for the pack nor carry a sleeping pad.  (The pack uses an integral back pad that doubles as a sleeping pad.)  My 3/4 length Z-Lite Sol should fit right in.  So, I’ll not take a rain cover or a sleeping pad!  The pack weighs in at about 2 lbs.  More weight savings…

By the way, I got the last one in stock.  😉

I also found this cool little nail clipper at the Alpine Shop in Kirkwood, MO.

My newest addition.  ACR PLB satellite and GPS rescue beacon.  Don’t think I’ll be far enough away from civilization on the A.T. to need this but it makes the family worry a whole lot less…