The Gear List

Gear is a loaded word these days. Hikers invoke Gear like ordinary mortals once referred to God--with reverence, and resentment, and maybe a little fear. They stage heated debates, divide into sects, publish pamphlets, raise temples, and make staggering monetary offerings in the name of this impassive divinity. Every thru-hike is another fervid exegesis of Gear.

I feel like a fraud, putting up a gear list before I've actually started hiking, but it's customary to set a baseline--something to laugh at later. I tried to choose my gear with the same philosophy that I use to outfit my kitchen. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet, some sharp knives, an array of bowls and spatulas--these are good tools. Good tools are worth good money. I'll even acknowledge the usefulness of a few single-use gadgets, like citrus zesters, and candy thermometers. But I don't like a lot of clutter. Ultimately a baker is her own greatest asset, and experience is the best teacher. My five senses, two hands, and brain serve me better than all the pretty, expensive toys in the world. Sometimes I surprise myself with the things I'm able to pull off with "substandard" or "nontraditional" or, ahem, "broken" equipment and a little ingenuity. I imagine that this will be true in the hiking world, too. I can't wait to see what I'm obliged to invent with rocks and shoelaces.

There are two weight columns because ounces are traditional and grams are my preferred [baking] unit of measurement. The manufacturer's specs were consistently a little optimistic. I used the kitchen scale to weigh everything but the pack, which wouldn't fit.

For those who haven't already seen through the ruse, base weight is bull-malarkey. My pack will not ever weigh eleven and a half pounds. Food and water, at some points, may add ten pounds each. But because food and water fluctuate so greatly from day to day, and because consumption varies from person to person (Paul will have to pack at least 30% more food than me), base weight is considered the best working index of pack weight. Eleven and a half pounds isn't bad for a rookie.

I've included the "source" column because a lot of gear lists I read back in January gave me to believe that the author bought everything brand new, and bought it for himself. This can't possibly be the case. If it is, everyone is spending waaay too much money. GearTrade is a magnificent resource, like Goodwill for hikers. Plus, I got a lot of stuff from family trying to help me with this crazy ambitious project, and it seems right to acknowledge that. And don't forget the Hiker Boxes! I'm hoping they help to keep me in books, and who knows what other goodies I might find.

One exciting note: Paul has a Twitter account, and last week he saw an advertisement from the PCTA announcing that KEEN had developed a new line of über-durable socks and sought a dozen aspiring thru-hikers to try them out. He threw our names into the hat, and a few days later, hey presto!, I AM A SOCK TESTER. Gadzooks. I could never have foreseen the day that I would become a sock-tester. Paul has visions of puppet theatre on Mt Whitney. (I almost feel sorry for KEEN.)

Lastly, without question, this list will see many revisions. I might learn to keep myself hydrated without a Camelbak. I might find I need a solar charger, or some low gaiters to keep the debris out of my shoes. I might ditch my underwear and bounce my wool sleeping clothes in the first week. It's part of the journey!