The Ancient Team Discussion (TRAILS Series, Part 3)

Welcome back to the TRAILS series, where I am documenting my preparation for the 2026 Continental Divide Trail step by step:

• training
• Rexterior planning
• Appropriate equipment
• Yotake me
• llogistics
• Yessecurity

The Continental Divide Trail (or most longer hikes) presents a logistical paradox. It requires gear light enough to carry 3,000 miles without breaking your back, but tough enough to survive both the sands of the Chihuahuan Desert and the subzero hail of San Juan. Gear failure on long-distance trails isn’t just a minor inconvenience. In remote areas like Bob or Colorado, this can become a real safety hazard. Exposure is one of the most critical risks of being outdoors for long periods, even in summer, and must be addressed appropriately.
My personal strategy is not to be the lightest hiker on the trail (sorry, dear UL purists), but to be as efficient as possible.

A matter of perspective: the team as a means to an end

Personally, I don’t care much about the equipment, but it seems to be trendy, so I’ll talk about it a little. The reason I don’t care too much is mainly because to me the team is a means to an end and in itself is not fundamentally interesting. I also find that 90% of hikers carry 90% of the same things anyway (or small variants), so if you’ve seen it once, you’ve pretty much seen it all. Don’t believe me – check any hiker survey or the gear section on Traildays.
My system, like everyone’s, is anchored in the «Big Three.»

The big three (tent, backpack and sleeping system)

For shelter, I chose the Zpacks Duplex. This choice is mainly pragmatic: it is the store that I already have and with which I have had good experiences. I brought it on Via Alpina and it worked great! Never change a running system… It’s a 2 person tent, so it’s too much for solo trips, but the space… If you’ve ever been in a real solo tent, you know what I mean. There will also be the occasional visitor who walks with me so I can help in those situations as well. While expensive, Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) is waterproof and offers the best space-to-weight ratio on the market, although single-wall tents also have drawbacks (condensation, anyone?). From what I have heard, this is not a big problem in the American Midwest.

Katabatic Flex 15F + 20 jumping jacks before bed to get the juices flowing and you’re golden qaz2.

For sleeping, I use a Revelation Equipment quilt (30F) combined with Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. This is where the pragmatic need for CDT forced me to modify my plan. Since I hate being cold, especially at night and was told by many that the 30F quilt I have would be too cold for some sections of the CDT, I now have two quilts (Katabatic Flex 15F). I will change them in late spring and early fall for 30F (summer) and 15F (spring and fall and high altitude) respectively.

The pad has the R-value needed for freezing nights and is significantly quieter than previous models, which I always found a bit annoying. Apparently you can also make it even better by adding silicone dots to the bottom to keep it from moving around on the tent floor.
And yes, I also carry an inflatable pillow. Unfortunately only one… at home I use 3! Sure, you can sleep on a stinky, wrinkled gear bag, but sleep is the most important recovery tool on the trail; Sacrificing adequate sleep to save an ounce is a trade-off that, in my opinion, makes no sense.

The transportation system: with frame or without frame

Zpacks Arc Haul – fits my back wonderfully

To transport this load, I trust Zpacks Arc Haul. Again, it’s the package I already have and have had very good experiences with. I just pray I have another trail! The carbon fiber external frame is what makes the difference for me. It creates an air gap against my back, which is really helpful for moisture management and preventing chafing in hot environments. In the meantime, I’ve tried frameless packages and they just aren’t for me, even when loaded correctly. Especially for longer transports of food and water, the frame makes a difference and allows comfortable transport even with higher loads.
For added stability, I use Durston Iceline trekking poles. The CDT is tough on carbon fiber, but we’ll see how long they last. Canes are not only used for walking and distributing the load; They are also crucial for my tent, which requires installing hiking poles, it is not freestanding. As such, poles are a critical point of failure and must hold.

Morality is a consumable resource

There is a trend in ultralight hiking called “cold soaking,” where hikers rehydrate food in a jar with cold water to save the weight of a stove and fuel. I will No be doing that. I bring a stove because I value camping time. The psychological boost of a hot meal and coffee in the morning far outweighs the weight penalty of fuel. On a five-month trip, morale is a consumable resource. Maintaining a sense of comfort could be what keeps you on track when physical suffering reaches its peak. Living on smoke is fine for a while, but at least for me, it’s not a long-term strategy.

My philosophy is simple: wear as light as possible on the essentials so I can afford to wear the things I enjoy. I’m not an ultralight purist at all. I mean, I even bring a drone… I really enjoy capturing my experiences so they last a lifetime. Therefore, carrying the tools to do it as I wish is less of a luxury and more of an essential element to completing my own hike.
My gear list is a living document and the cohort experience before me shows that it will likely change along the way. My list balances my tolerance for risk and safety with the ability to truly enjoy the miles I walk. If you’re REALLY interested in the gear, there’s a link to a more detailed gear list in my profile.

Are you cold soak team or stovetop team? Any other questions about the team? Let me know!

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