I FINALLY Packed – Stop Judging Me

In 12 days, I will be taking 3 Greyhound buses from Little Rock, AR to Atlanta, GA, where a fellow 2015 AT hiker will be picking me and driving us to the AT Kick Off at Amicalola Falls!  I have reserved my camping space and will begin my thru-hike immediately after.  So I guess it must be about time to update the world of my preparations.

After 12 months of purchasing (and sometimes repurchasing) gear, I have made my final selections.  Receiving packages has to be one of the most fun things I have done so far in preparation for the AT.  (And yes I’m kind of a Moosejaw junkie)

I spent this morning actually packing EVERYTHING in my backpack for the first time.  I won’t lie, I have been putting off this step for weeks, because I was worried that everything wouldn’t fit and I am not sure how that problem could be fixed at this point without spending MORE money on MORE expensive (and smaller) gear.  But luckily…. It all fits (as long as I haven’t forgotten anything important) 😉

So I’m ready to show it off!

HIKING SYSTEM:

Backpack – Osprey Aura 50L – women’s M

Water Bladder – Platypus Hoser 2L

Rain Cover – SeatoSummit UltraSil Pack Cover – L

Trekking Poles – Komperdell Shockmaster Antishock

Boots – Asolo Revert

I am prepared for cold weather, as I am starting so early in the season, however, I am also terrified that I will be too cold.  Hopefully my layering system will be adequate.  I have a wool baselayer (SmartWool bottoms and IceBreaker top), a synthetic fleece (Patagonia R2), and a down jacket (Marmot Sol), and a rain shell for wet weather (Mountain Hardwear Capacitor), plus 2 pairs of wool socks and waterproof gloves.  If I can just get through the first month or two I will be loving those hot summer months when they roll around.

SLEEPING SYSTEM:

Tent – Alps Mountaineering Mystique 1.5

Sleeping Bag – Zissou DriDown 23 Degree

Sleeping Pad – Thermarest Trail Pro

Headlamp – Black Diamond Spot

I am carrying warm clothes for sleeping, sweet yellow crocs for hanging out and some tiny toiletries for my extensive beauty routine.  I will also be lugging my very small luxuries, a kindle and my journal in a waterproof case.

COOKING SYSTEM:

Stove – MSR Reactor 1.7L

Water Filtration – Sawyer Mini + Aquamira

The last few weeks have been spent entirely focused on food prep.  I will be using maildrops almost exclusively as my means of resupply, thanks to my incredibly supportive parents!  I am lactose intolerant and recently became a vegetarian, so my options in towns around the trail may be limited and it is much less stressful to know that my food will be there for me instead of having to hope for the best in each town I come to.  (So pictured is just a sample of the food items I will be carrying)

 

And TADA! I’m ready to hit the trail: