Weight: 6.4oz – 7.4oz
Size Tested: 76″ chest, 48″ foot,
87″ total length.
Construction: 30d waterproof
nylon (bottom), Impetus 1.1 (Top)
Store: Titanium Goat
Mileage before Review: 702 miles
Longest Test: 702 miles
***Cottage Shop***
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Titanium Goat Ptarmigan Bivy”
Weight: 2.82
Size Tested: XL
Construction: 7-Denier ‘Balistic Airlight’ Nylon
coated in Polkatex DWR
Store: Montbell
Mileage before Review: 2500+ miles
Longest Test: 2155 miles
***Thru Hike Tested***
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Montbell Tachyon Anorak”
Weight: 13.85oz
Size Tested: XXL
Construction: 850 fil down, Coreloft
synthetic insulation. Airetica nylon.
Store: Arc’Teryx
Mileage before Review: 2000 miles
Longest Test: 2000 miles
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody”
Weight: 21.15oz
Size Tested: XXL
Construction: ThemalQ Elite insulation.
20D ripstop nylon
Store: Mountain Hardwear
Mileage before Review: 450+ miles
Longest Test: 300 miles
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Mountain Hardwear Compressor Jacket”
Weight: 22.75oz (XL/Xwide)
Material: 750 fil down (now made w/ 800-900fp),
Phantom 10D nylon.
Store: Enlightened Equipment ($250)
Mileage before Review: 2,668+ miles
Longest Test: 2,668+ miles on the Pacific Crest Trail
**Cottage Shop Quality***
**Thru-Hike Approved** Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 Degree Quilt”
Weight: 8.1oz (including guylines)
Material: .52oz/sqyd cuben fiber
Dimensions: 11′ ridge line, 8′ 6” wide
Store: www.hammockgear.com
Mileage before Review: 1000+ miles
Longest Test: 700 miles
**Cottage Shop Quality***
**Thru-Hike Approved** Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber Tarp”
| SYSTEM | GEAR | CARRIED | WORN | |
| BACKPACK SYSTEM | ||||
| Pack | ULA Circuit | 40 | yes | |
| Pack Liner | Trash Compactor Bag | 2.18 | yes | |
| SHELTER SYSTEM | ||||
| Tarp | Outdoor Equipment Supplier Maccat Tarp | 15 | yes | |
| Ground Cloth | Tyvek Ground Cloth | 4.8 | yes | |
| SLEEP SYSTEM | ||||
| Insulation Top | Enlightened Enigma 20 Quilt | 22.85 | yes | |
| Insulation Bottom | Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (long) | 15.92 | yes | |
| CLOTHING SYSTEM | ||||
| Socks #2 | Socks | 1 | yes | |
| Underwear | Patagonia Underwear | 4.7 | yes | |
| Hiking Shorts | NYU Shorts | 11 | yes | |
| Hiking Shirt | Marmot LS Shirt | 7 | yes | |
| Insulation Top | Arc’Teryx Cerium LT Hoody | 13.85 | yes | |
| Wind Shell Bottom | NOLs Wind Pants | 10.63 | yes | |
| Rain Shell Top | Marmot Super Mica Rain Jacket | 9.95 | yes | |
| Insulating Hat | Outdoor Designs Hat | 0.74 | yes | |
| Bandana | Bandana | 1.29 | yes | |
| FOOTWEAR | ||||
| Shoes | New Balance Trail Runners | 23.52 | yes | |
| Socks #1 | Socks | 1 | yes | |
| COOKING SYSTEM | ||||
| Stove | Snow Peak Giga Power Stove | 1.98 | yes | |
| Cook Pot | GSI Outdoors Cook Pot | 7.69 | yes | |
| Utensil | Long Spoon | 0.51 | yes | |
| HYDRATION SYSTEM | ||||
| Water Filter | Sawyer Squeeze | 3.42 | yes | |
| Water Scoop | DIY Scoop/Adapter | 0.59 | yes | |
| Water storage | lL Bladder | 1.41 | yes | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.29 | yes | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.3 | yes | |
| SURVIVAL | ||||
| Light | Petzl Tikka Head Lamp | 3.19 | yes | |
| Fire Starter | Mini Bic Lighter | 0.4 | yes | |
| Toothbrush | Portable Toothbrush w/ toothpaste | 1.05 | yes | |
| Cash/Credit Card | cash/Credit/atm Card/ID | 0.5 | yes | |
| ELECTRONICS | ||||
| Phone/music | Galaxy s4 | 6.27 | yes | |
| Charger | phone charger | 2 | yes | |
| Battery | Anker Battery | 4.78 | yes | |
| ITEMS CARRIED | ||||
| Trek poles | Black Diamond Trek Poles | 20.22 | yes | |
| Base Weight | 173.3 | 68.73 |
North of Crater Lake, it rained almost continuously for four days. Had I not been given a rudimentary tarp, I would have been in big trouble. From that point on, it did not rain until Washington.
Through Oregon, temperatures stayed hot, but all the trees provided enough shade to not hike in a hat. Some people never ditched their sun hats. I hiked in a bandana from mid Oregon to the border.
Mosquitos were still a problem through most of Oregon and the southern half of Washington.
It rained three times in Washington, and temperatures reached a low of 17 degrees on the third to last night on the trail. For the most part, the weather was perfect for hiking. North of Trout Lake, days fluctuated between 60 to 75 degrees. Continue reading “Pacific Crest Trail Gear List: Crater Lake to Canadian Border”
| SYSTEM | GEAR | CARRIED | WORN |
| BACKPACK SYSTEM | |||
| Pack | ULA Circuit | 40 | |
| Pack Liner | Trash Compactor Bag | 2.18 | |
| SHELTER SYSTEM | |||
| Ground Cloth | Gossamer Gear Polycryo | 1.3 | |
| SLEEP SYSTEM | |||
| Insulation Top | Enlightened Enigma 20 Quilt | 22.85 | |
| Insulation Bottom | Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (long) | 15.92 | |
| CLOTHING SYSTEM | |||
| Socks #2 | Socks | 1.5 | |
| Underwear | Patagonia Underwear | 4.7 | |
| Hiking Shorts | NYU Shorts | 11 | |
| Hiking Shirt | Marmot LS Shirt | 7 | |
| Insulation Top | Arc’Teryx Cerium LT Hoody | 13.85 | |
| Wind Shell Bottom | Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants | 3.26 | |
| Wind Shell Top | Montbell Tachyon Anorak | 2.82 | |
| Rain Shell Top | Marmot Super Mica Rain Jacket | 9.95 | |
| Insulating Hat | Outdoor Designs Hat | 0.74 | |
| Bandana | Bandana | 1.29 | |
| Sun Hat | NOLs Hat | 2.82 | |
| FOOTWEAR | |||
| Shoes | New Balance Trail Runners | 23.52 | |
| Socks #1 | Socks | 1.5 | |
| Gaiters | Dirty Girl gaiters | 1.74 | |
| COOKING SYSTEM | |||
| Stove | Snow Peak Giga Power Stove | 1.98 | |
| Cook Pot | GSI Outdoors Cook Pot | 7.69 | |
| Utensil | Long Spoon | 0.51 | |
| HYDRATION SYSTEM | |||
| Water Filter | Sawyer Squeeze | 3.42 | |
| Water Scoop | DIY Scoop/Adapter | 0.59 | |
| Water storage | 2l Bladder | 1.3 | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.29 | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.3 | |
| SURVIVAL | |||
| Light | Petzl Tikka Head Lamp | 3.19 | |
| Fire Starter | Mini Bic Lighter | 0.4 | |
| Toothbrush | Portable Toothbrush w/ toothpaste | 1.05 | |
| Cash/Credit Card | cash/Credit/atm Card/ID | 0.5 | |
| ELECTRONICS | |||
| Phone/music | Galaxy s4 | 6.27 | |
| Charger | phone charger | 1.5 | |
| ITEMS CARRIED | |||
| Trek poles | Black Diamond Trek Poles | 20.22 | |
| Base Weight(oz) | 145.36 | 73.79 |
I skipped the section Between Tuolumne and Sonora Pass to do some day hikes in Yosemite National Park and Big Sur. I also went to the Bay Area for some time off the trail. North of Sonora Pass was very hot. Temperatures were often in the 90s and rain was a complete non factor. Around Lake Tahoe, temperatures weren’t too bad, and you could still hike during midday. Around Sierra City, the heat became oppressive. From that point onward, days were dry, and brutally hot. Rain was non existent. Through Old Station, Burney, Shasta, Etna, and Seiad Valley, temperatures were between 85 to 100+ degrees. Continue reading “Pacific Crest Trail Gear List: Tuolumne Meadows to Crater Lake”
| SYSTEM | GEAR | CARRIED | WORN |
| BACKPACK SYSTEM | |||
| Pack | ULA Circuit | 40 | |
| Pack Liner | Trash Compactor Bag | 2.18 | |
| SHELTER SYSTEM | |||
| Shelter | BA Fly Creek 2 (Shared Weight) | 18 | |
| Ground Cloth | Gossamer Gear Polycryo | 1.3 | |
| SLEEP SYSTEM | |||
| Insulation Top | Enlightened Enigma 20 Quilt | 22.85 | |
| Insulation Bottom | Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (long) | 15.92 | |
| CLOTHING SYSTEM | |||
| Socks #2 | REI Lite Hiker Socks | 2.07 | |
| Underwear | Patagonia Underwear | 4.7 | |
| Hiking Shorts | NYU Shorts | 11 | |
| Hiking Shirt | Marmot LS Shirt | 7 | |
| Insulation Top | Arc’Teryx Cerium LT Hoody | 13.85 | |
| Wind Shell Bottom | Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants | 3.26 | |
| Wind Shell Top | Montbell Tachyon Anorak | 2.82 | |
| Rain Shell Top | Marmot Super Mica Rain Jacket | 9.95 | |
| Insulating Hat | Outdoor Designs Hat | 0.74 | |
| Gloves | Mountain Hardware Orko Gloves | 1.82 | |
| Bandana | Bandana | 1.29 | |
| Buff | Buff | 1.5 | |
| Sun Hat | NOLs Hat | 2.82 | |
| FOOTWEAR | |||
| Shoes | New Balance Trail Runners | 23.52 | |
| Socks 1 | Darn Tough Socks | 2.09 | |
| COOKING SYSTEM | |||
| Stove | Snow Peak Giga Power Stove | 3.71 | |
| Cook Pot | Imusa Pot with DIY Lid | 4.07 | |
| Utensil | Sea to Summit Long Spoon | 0.51 | |
| Towel | Glamoflauge | 0.55 | |
| HYDRATION SYSTEM | |||
| Water Filter | Sawyer Mini | 1.62 | |
| Water Scoop | DIY Scoop/Adapter | 0.59 | |
| Water storage | 2L bladder | 1.29 | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.29 | |
| Water Bottle | smart water bottle | 1.3 | |
| SURVIVAL | |||
| Light | Petzl Tikka Head Lamp | 3.19 | |
| Fire Starter | Mini Bic Lighter | 0.4 | |
| First Aid | First aid kit (trimmed down | 1.04 | |
| Toothbrush | Portable Toothbrush w/ toothpaste | 1.05 | |
| Toilet Paper | Small Roll of TP | 2.23 | |
| Repair Kit | repair kit | 1.28 | |
| Cash/Credit Card | cash/Credit/atm Card/ID | 0.4 | |
| Bear Can | Bear Vault 500 | 40.16 | |
| ELECTRONICS | |||
| Phone/music | Galaxy s4 | 6.27 | |
| Charger | Charger | 1.5 | |
| ITEMS CARRIED | |||
| Trek poles | Black Diamond Trek Poles | 20.22 | |
| Base Weight (Oz) | 207.24 | 74.14 |
2014 was a low snow year. It barely rained, and was mostly sunny everyday. Although temperatures reached the 30’s, I was never cold sharing a tent with my girlfriend, Legs. It rained once. Temperatures were generally lower than what was faced in the desert. Sitting in the shade could be chilly. Snow was never really a factor, except for some post holing on the northern sides of a few passes. The biggest change was the possibility for dangerous conditions. We faced none. Continue reading “Pacific Crest Trail Gear List: Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows”
travelandtrail.com 