Packing List in Flux

Two months to go and I finally settled on a Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack. I like it for the lightness and the removable back pad that can be used as a sit-upon. My bony butt needs padding, from my pack and from the rocky ground. It was also the only pack that fit me, making the decision easy in the end.

All of my supplies are laid out on the queen bed in the guest room. Every weekend I shove everything into the pack and take it for an 8.8-mile hike around Barr Lake. So far this exercise has meant two new pairs of shoes, and the realization that I should probably reduce my pack weight by at least two more pounds. I am at 25 pounds without snacks. Do I get rid of the bear canister? I know most hikers don’t use one, but I think the idea of throwing up a bear bag every night is exhausting. I am a lazy camper and want to do the least amount of work possible. Somehow I am able to disregard schlepping 1.75 extra pounds for 2,200 miles as work! Go figure. Maybe I can take out something else?

I contemplate the bed strewn with my cook stuff, water filtration stuff, sleeping stuff, clothing stuff, food stuff, first aid stuff, electronics stuff, ID/money stuff, and miscellaneous stuff. Most is stuffed into stuff sacks ready to be stuffed into my pack. I am sick of stuffing stuff. And every day I think of new stuff I REALLY need.

Oh, stuff it!