My AT Prep: Backpacking Through New Zealand!

Guess what friends? Just 28 days until this traveling tarheels starts her 11-week journey in New Zealand! I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a year and it’s a great opportunity for me to go on some kick-ass shake down hikes to test of my gear and build my backpacking stamina.

For the first 6 weeks I will be taking a class on social entrepreneurship two days a week at the University of Otago in Dunedin. My partner in crime (aka travel partner), Maria, will be taking a class on wine and business (yes, her final includes a wine tasting). I am so grateful that my MBA program encourages us to study abroad during our two-year program. When else am I going to have the opportunity to spend nearly 3 months exploring a country on the other side of the world?

Maria and I make great travel companions. I like to work out the itinerary while she is awesome at finding us great accommodations. Here is an overview of our itinerary:

Weekend trips while taking classes in Dunedin:

• Rakiura Track Great Walk: 4 days/3 nights of backpacking through Stewart Island
• Lake Tekapo/Lake Pulaki area: (Hot spring spas!)
• Catlins Forest Park
• Mount Aspiring National Park (this looks amazing and there is no way to work it in unless we go as a weekend trip)

Once school is out we start really travel!

South Island plan 

• Kepler Track Great Walk
• Mildford sound cruise and kayak tour
• Routeburn Track Great Walk
• Queenstown
• Mt. Cook area star gazing tour and day hike
• Christchurch

North Island Plan

• Wellington
• Egmont Naitional Park: Summit hike
• Tongariro Crossing day hike
• Waitomo Caves to see glow worms!
• Taupo lake day
• LOTR Tour
• Auckland to drop Maria off at the airport

Swinging back to the South Island solo:

• Redwoods
• Te Mata Peak hike
• Aorangi Forest Park
• Abel Tasman Great Walk
• Victoria Forest Park/Nelson lakes
• Arthur’s Pass National Park Drive

New Zealand is really just an awesome, 11 week AT shake down hike
Since I start my thru-hike just two weeks after I get back from NZ, I’m using the trip to try out all my AT gear. I’ll be lucky to get a good two weeks of backpacking time under my belt before heading out on the trail for good, which is just enough time to help me make my first set of gear adjustments. Right now my base weight (without food and water is sitting at 16 pounds, 9 oz.). Once I get out of the Smokies I can shed some weight with my heavier clothing, but overall the pack is still a little too heavy for my taste. My hope is to shave off a pound or so while figuring out what I need in NZ.

So without further adieu, here is my gear list!

Pack and Shelter	Brand	Weight in Oz
zpack 20 degree bag, wide and long	Zpack	19.8
Sea to Summit Silk Liner	Sea to Summit	4.6
Goose Hood – Ultralight Goose Down Hood	Zpack	1.3
Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag	Zpack	2
Klymit Static V2 Full Size Sleeping Pad	Klymit	16.55
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent	Big Agnes	37
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 Footprint	Big Agnes	5
Seat to summit pack cover	sea summit	4
Osprey Aurora 50	Osprey	49
ZPacks™ Cuben Fiber Belt Pouches	Zpack	0.75
Hefty trashcompactor bag (pack of 5)	Hefty	0.2
Zpack Wallet Bag	Zpack	0.23
Zpack Iphone Bag	Zpack	0.28

 

Eating	Brand	Weight in Oz
Snow Peak GigaPower Stove with Piezo	Snow Peak	3.75
Gigapower fuel 250	Snow Peak	7
Optimus Titanimum Long Sporon	Optimus	0.7
Evernew Titanium Non-Stick 900ml Pot Set (ECA417)	Evernew	6.2
Evernew Titanium Mug 400ml	Evernew	2.4
Zpack Bear Bagging Kit	Zpack	3
small sharpie (for keeping track of fuel use)	Sharpie	0.8
gotoob filled with olive oil	already own

 

Camp Clothing/Gear	Brand	Weight in Oz
Smart Wool Lineer Gloves	Smart Wool	1.4
Pocket Hat	Icebreaker	1.9
Patagonia Women’s Down Sweater (2013)	Patagonia	11.3
Camp Pants: Smart Wool Midweight Baselayers	Smatwool	6.7
Camp Shirt: Oasis Long Sleeve Half Zip	Icebreaker	10.4
Camp Underwear	Exoffico	1
Camp bra
Camp Shoe: Crocs	Crocs	7
Petzel zipka plus 2 headlamp	Petzel	2.9
Darn Tough Socks (1 pair)	Darn Tough	2

 

Hking Clothing/Gear	Brand	Weight in Oz
Buff	Buff	5.3
Hiking Long Sleeve: Tech Top Long Sleeve Half Zip	Icebreaker	14.9
Hking Short Sleeve Shirt: Tech T Lite Short Sleeve	Icebreaker	4
Hiking Pant: Patagonia Cap 1	Patagonia	5.2
Hiking Skirt	Mountainhardwear
Hiking Shorts: Rush Shorts	Icebreaker
Hiking Underwear: Exofficino	Exoffico	0.3
Hiking Bra
Brooks cascade 9 (mens size 9.5)	Brooks
Darn Tough Socks (3 pairs)	Darn Tough	6
Leki Carbinote poles	Lexi	14.7
sunglasses	maui jim

 

Rain Gear	Brand	Weight in Oz
Cuban Fiber Rain Mittens	Zpack	0.95
marmot precip rain jacket (2014)	Marmot	11.4
Cuben Fiber Rain Kilt	Zpack	1.9

 

Survival	Brand	Weight in Oz
Sawyer Squeeze	Sawyer	3
Sawyer 64oz reserve “dirty water”	Sawyer	1
playtpus 3 L hydration pack with gravity feed attachment	Platypus	6
3-4 large paper clips/Ul caribenrs on outside of pack	zpack
Kershaw 1550ST Blackout Partially Serrated Folding Knife	Kershaw	3.5
first aid bag	3.355
32 oz playtypus waterbottle

 

Luxury	Brand	Weight in Oz
pig game	already own	0.1
journal and pen	Mole Skin	3
lacrose ball (for knots, stretching)		5
backup ipone charger		5
cannon elph camera	Cannon	5
total weight	20.0846875
Hiking clothes and poles	3.15
carrying weight	16.9346875

 

First Aid Kit
Items	Weight in Oz.
travel tweezers	0.3
small scissor	0.3
packets of Neosporin	0.155
antibiotics
ibprohien	0.2
mole skin
band aids
badger lip balm	0.6
Joshua Tree Climbing Salve	1.8
razor
needle
glasses
lighter
duck tape (wrapped around trekking polls)
batteries
matches
Total Weight	3.355

 

Toiletries
Item	Weight in Oz.
Lightload Pack Towel	0.5
Ultralight Travel Toothbrush	0.14
Dr. Bronners Almond liquid soap	2
travel toothpaste	0.85
ear plugs (4)	0
toliet paper
travel conditioner	1.3
hair pick	2
nail clipper	3
wipes	2
contacts
contact solution	3
diva cup	0.8
travel size purrell	3
Total Weight	11.79

 

A few quick notes: Yes, I’m carrying more socks than most. Dry/dirt free socks will go a long way to prevent blisters. I’ll carry a few more onces to help keep blisters at bay. Yes, I have shorts and a skirt. While I will probably end up just hiking in the short, I like the skirt/shorts combo for keep more skin covered up. Shorts keep chaffing at bay, skirt gives more coverage. It’s also way easier to pee in the woods while wearing a skirt. The lacrose ball is heavy, but it does wonders for getting out knots after carrying a heavy bag all day. I tend to get a lot of neck and shoulder pain, I’m hoping this will help.

Okay, open to suggestions! Places to stay in New Zealand? Things I have to check out? Any gear swaps you’d make? Anything to leave at home?