Gear tests for upcoming blitz

The trip will be the first real test of my sil-nylon frameless pack. I've had the thing for a long time, but never has it been out solo or with such a low base weight. My brother and I did a weekend last year with our sil-nylon packs, but this pushes the pack one step further toward what it originally was designed for. In Beyond Backpacking, Ray Jardine touts his 8.5 lb base weight pack, and Jenny's base weight was a little less (7.5 lbs, if I remember correctly). My pack is designed with this pursuit in mind. I have adjusted my gear to hit this goal. Now all there is to do is go test it.

Also, I'll be taking the 8x5 tarp out for its first weekend in the field. I have about four bag nights underneath it in controlled tests in backyards or at camp, but this is the first weekend for. I'm not too worried about the tarp. I have enough experience rigging tarps and playing around with them to be sure of my ability to rig it in a pinch. However, I am not taking a ultralight bivy because I do not have one. This leaves blowing rain and splatter, but I think I'll be OK.

One potential issue is the insulation under my feet. I will be taking my shortie Ridgerest but not my GG Vapor Trail. The VT had a significant amount of padding for my feet. I can use my puffy jacket, but it will collapse underneath my feet. We'll see - I have had cold feet in the summer before when I did not have adequate insulation beneath them.

I'm also leaving my filter at home and opting for Aqua Mira. Going solo, leaving the filter at home saves me about a pound, or about 11 percent of my base weight (going from 9 to 8 lbs). This, along with my sil nylon pack means I'm leaving my platy bladder at home and opting for two 1L bottles. The idea is simple - I need to have a wide-mouth bottle to gather water in and I don't want to have all my water on the side of my pack pushing it lopsided. I could take my Nalgene bladder, but it weighs about eight or nine ounces. The issue is that I may need to remove my pack and drop my poles to get water. I think it's going to be some serious camelling up or hiking without poles during breakfast or lunch.

I'm also hiking in running shoes for the first time on a serious trip. If it works out, it will be a concession to a good friend of mine that running shoes are superior to dedicated waterproof trail runners. I'm guessing all will go well, even if it pours for every moving hour. My weekend at Afton almost proved it to me. The difference between Afton and the SHT is the presence of mud, rocks and other rough parts of the trail.

I'm also taking a recently-purchased folding titanium spork. I purchased it to further reduce pack volume (because it can be stored inside my pot) and because all my Lexan spoons have disappeared.

Finally, I also have a new camera, a 10-megapixel beauty that came to by as a birthday gift from my parents and girlfriend. Initial tests have been excellent, but what needs to me looked at is whether it handles wide-angle shots well. I have no doubt that it will.

Solo SHT blitz upcoming

I'm heading north this weekend for a solo trip on the SHT. As part of my preparation for my upcoming snowshoe trek, I'm going solo to see if my mind can handle being alone for that many hours under a large amount of physical and mental stress.

The destination is a 60-mile section of the SHT that looks to be one of the toughest sections on the trail. I will be starting from Oberg Mountain/FS 336 and hiking southbound. The plan is to camp Friday night near Britton Peak and Saturday just after Crosby-Manitou State Park. I will end at Highway 1 in Tettegouche State Park.

The only tougher section would include the Lutsen Ski Area sections. I'm bypassing Lutsen because of the length of the drive. I need to get some hiking in on Friday night, and it keeps costs down because I've got to pay double gas for everything north/east of Duluth.

My current plan is more dangerous than a simple out-and-back. By parking my car 60 miles away, I need to hike 60 miles to get home. This puts a definite distance on my weekend, and a visible goal to the weekend. However, the advantages are huge. I get to see more terrain, and I don't have to double back.

Now, all of this is assuming my ride comes through. I anticipate it will, but if it does not, I'll drive myself and do an out-and-back, doubling back on everything I do. The advantage to this is that if I don't feel up to the challenge in Saturday afternoon, I can simply turn around. [EDIT: My ride has come through. I will be doing the 60-mile stretch - 9.18.08 crg]

The weekend will also be a huge test for a a variety of gear. More on that in a separate post, along with a food list.

VB clothes are here

Functional? Yes. Stylish? Not really. My girlfriend said they look like techno-pajamas. They are perfect to match my techno-marshmallow Mont-bell insulating clothes.

Return from Afton State Park

The trails were in good condition, but rarely were they single-track. You could at least drive an ATV down them, and most of them a truck could pass. I was hoping for more of an isolated experience, but the trails left the experience lacking.

The weather was excellent for hiking. It was cool and windy all weekend, but it was not cold enough to require a hat, gloves, or anything more than a t-shirt when moving. I brought minimal warmth layers - fleece gloves, fleece hat and a 200 wgt fleece vest. The vest was fine, and I wore the hat briefly on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I also brought my pants bottoms and base layer bottoms, but used neither. I also did not sue the gloves. I anticipated a low temp of mid 40s on Sunday morning, but I don't think it ever got there.

One problem presented itself though: it rained Friday overnight and it spritzed most of Saturday afternoon. Come Saturday evening, there was little dry wood, and we pulled from dry pine from the park's woodpile to start a fire.

I hiked in running shoes throughout the weekend. They got wet from the rain, but my feet were more-or-less comfortable. My feet were cool to the touch when I took off my damp socks on Saturday evening, but they did not cool the rest of my body.

Next up is a solo trip next weekend. I'll be going as UL as possible, so I'm aiming for high mileage. More on that later in the week.

Vapor Barrier clothing purchased

A few purchases made today, three of which require serious testing: VBL Pants and shirt from Stephenson's (warmlite.com), VBL socks by Integral Designs and a windpro balaclava that had an integrated nose and mouthguard.

First, on the vapor barrier clothing. I accept the fact that I need some form of vapor barrier liner, either clothes or a sleeping bag liner for sleeping. Last year in the BWCA I did not use a VB liner. When I got home and set out down bag to dry, it was soaked. The moisture came from sweat, it could not have from spilled liquid or from snow. That kind of moisture cannot be tolerated.

I went with VB clothes because I will be carrying puffy, non-fleece insulation pieces as my primary insulation - Montbell UL Thermawrap parka and pants. I will also be bringing probably one piece of fleece insulation for my top, either a softshell jacket, a windpro fleece vest or some other form of basic fleece (either a 200 wgt vest or 300 wgt jacket). This is a question that needs testing. Also, the VBL clothing will serve as a wind layer for my top and reduce my base weight. I'm hoping I can wear just the shirt for my top for the majority of my movement, putting on a puffy when I stop.

I went with the VBL socks because of my frustration with using Sorel boots without VBL socks. Frost coats the liners and the inside of the calf's pack cloth. I trust ID products, and this is my third product from them.

I also picked up a balaclava to replace and/or supplement my current windpro fleece balaclava. The key is the nose, cheek and mouth protection. Combined with goggles, my entire body can be covered. Last year, I ran into two weekends at North Wind where the temperatures were below zero all day and bottomed out at -19 and -17 F. Wind blew all day, with one day gusting up to 35 mph. The official windchill low was in the -50 or -60 F. These weekends were brutal on my mouth, cheeks and nose and I need some protection. It will also prevent me from having to put duct tape on my nose a la Skurka when wind blows.

They'll be here in about a week or so.