Displaying all the gifts you’ve accumulated for a big hiking trip always feels a little like Christmas Eve. All the gifts that were bought for you as parting gifts from your loved ones (they are a way to maintain connection with you and tell you good luck while you are away) and the ones that you bought yourself placed comfortably under the tree, or in this case a backpack. For me it has become a ritual: leaving it all day before departure. Pack everything in the backpack. See how it feels on your shoulders. Weigh it. Place it next to the front door so you don’t forget it when you leave (can you imagine?).
For better or worse, here is my list of PCT articles. My hope is that it won’t prove inadequate in a little over 48 hours when I finally set foot on the Southern California trail.
Clothes
- gym shorts
- Kühl hiking pants
- Smartwool baselayer
- JollyGear Sun Hoodie
- Mammut quilted jacket
- Arc’teryx raincoat (gift)
- 2 pairs of bamboo underwear (we’ll see how it goes)
- 3 Pairs of Darn Tough Wool Socks
- Cover
- bennie
- Polish
- long johns
- light gloves
- Camp Sandals
- Altra Experience Wild 3 trail runners
- Lincoln. My dog. Just kidding, but I wish I could come.
Gear
- Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L Backpack (hiking gift/scholarship)
- Gossamer Gear Trekking Poles (Hiking Gift/Scholarship)
- Jetboil stove (loan)
- fork
- Sawyer water filter
- Umbrella (loan)
- REI fanny pack
- Blue Ice ice ax (Sierra section)
- Snow line micropeaks (Sierra section)
- Bear can (Sierra section, not pictured)
- Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass Sleeping Bag
- Nemo Tensor Trail Sleeping Pad
- Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 1p tent
- small hand towel
gadgets
- 2 x 10k battery banks (pack your fears)
- Garmin Mini Scope 2
- Garmin Fénix 7 watch (as a gift!)
- Tripod
- Headlamp
- 30w three-port charging port
- REI Storage Bag
- Wired headphones
- Phone (oh yeah)
Other… things
- Poop kit: paddle, bidet, wet wipes
- Toiletries and first aid kit (same bag)
- Razor
- Muscle recovery ball (gift)
- Sunglasses
- Dry bags to fit everything (not pictured)
It’s hard to believe that one of the only things I’ll hear for a couple of days will be the sound of my footsteps walking down the trail with my 18-pound backpack on my back (and probably the rattles of many pesky rattlesnakes), but I know I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience this adventure with gear that will allow me to enjoy the hike.
Christmas came early. See you there!
PS: Lincoln knows I’m leaving. That’s how he’s been looking at me for weeks.
I’ll be back, friend.
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