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! 

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