She’s So Preppy

Hi everyone! I’m starting my hike at Springer Mountain next week. I’m definitely nervous; hiking around melty & muddy Bear Mountain has affirmed that while I feel like I will be able to do this, I have to make sure not to push myself too hard in the beginning.

I have my gear dialed in, and besides a few key items — gas (can’t take on a plane) and my favorite trail lunch, a tortilla-hummus-chips wrap (the THC, if you will*) — I’m fully packed!

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Here’s what I’m bringing:

Backpack

• Gregory Deva 70
  • Until 2 hours ago, this is not the pack I was using. I had this post all written up and ready to publish until I googled my old pack, the Gregory Wander 70, wondering why it wasn’t on any of the recommended lists. Turns out, it’s a kid’s backpack, which I probably should’ve known considering I got it in 8th grade. Because I wasn’t having any issues with it during training I tried to push away the “I fucked up” feeling and stick with it. But the panic didn’t go away so I schlepped over to the REI in New Jersey (road trip!) to buy a new one.
  • I bought essentially the same backpack in Women’s medium. Really the only difference is that it fits my hips better, but at least now I have peace of mind. Shout out to the REI employee who applied my Member’s discount even though I had already used it on something!
  • I also have a shoulder strap pouch for easy phone access.

Shelter

• Gossamer Gear The One
  • Since it’s a trekking pole tent, I also bought their LT5 telescoping poles.
• Big Agnes sleeping bag
  • This sleeping bag is too popular for its own good. I loaned it to my sister and someone stole it from her! Luckily we were able to track it down.
• Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme liner
  • My sleeping bag is rated for comfort at 26 degrees. I run cold, so I got a 25-degree liner.
• Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite sleeping pad
  • I infinitely prefer closed-cell foam to inflatable sleeping pads. I don’t like the air mattress feel or having to deflate them in the morning when you really just want to get going.

Footwear

• Altra Lone Peaks
  • I liked them on training hikes, but I’ve never backpacked in trail runners before and I’m interested to see how I feel in them 100 miles in.
• Crocs!
  • This is actually my first pair of real Crocs because when I was little, my parents got Costco knock-offs. Us Kirkland kids will rule the world one day. I didn’t buy any jibbitz because I have the fashion sense of a nun.

Clothing

• Patagonia Torrentshell rain jacket
• REI Co-Op rainpants
  • I am a big proponent of rainpants.
• Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody
• Patagonia R1
• Smartwool Merino 250 top and bottoms
• Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily shirt
• Aerie shorts
• ExOfficio underwear
• Puma sports bra
• Smartwool socks (2 pairs for hiking, 1 pair for camp)
• Smartwool Merino Beanie
• REI Co-Op gloves
• Buff
• Michigan baseball cap

Cooking

• MSR Pocket Rocket stove
• Bic lighter
• Toaks mug
• Toaks spoon

Food

• Sawyer Squeeze
• BearVault BV450 bear canister
  • Every time I look at it I inwardly cringe because it’s so bulky. I know they’re not strictly required, but I figured I’d at least start off doing all the recommended things and if it gets to be too much I’ll switch to hanging my food.
• Beef jerky
  • I only tried it for the first time this past year and I love it! Who knew dried cow would be such a fun snack? I hope I never get tired of it.

I decided to try 4 different brands of dehydrated meals and pick the one I like best. I’m bringing along hydration mixes and am planning to have one regular water bottle for regular water and one for electrolytes.

Toiletries

• Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes
• Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap
• Sunscreen
• Vaseline
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Q-tips
• Hair ties
• Microfiber towel
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet Paper
• Kula Cloth
• Pads and tampons
• Trowel

Writing this made me remember that I need to pack a comb!

First Aid

• Band-aids
• Antiseptic Wipes
• Sterile Pads
• Leukotape
• Advil
• Dayquil/Nyquil
• Benadryl
• Imodium
• Dulcolax
• Ciplox (general antibiotics)
• Peptobismol
• Tums
• Picardin Insect Repellent (which already leaked. Bug spray always leaks) and mosquito net
  • I’m also going to spray all my clothes with Permethrin before I leave.

Electronics

• Garmin InReach Mini
• 2000 mAh solar portable charger
• AirPods plus wired headphones just in case
• Headlamp
• SoLight Lantern
  • This was recommended to me by a coworker. It’ll be nice to not always use a headlamp, plus it’s cute.
• Charging cables
• Extra AAA batteries

I wish I was bringing my Kindle but I think that would get to be too much.

Miscellaneous

• Deck of cards
  • My sister got me a pack from the Guinness store (best Christmas ever!).
• Swiss Army Knife
• Lock
• Extra lighter
• Extra Ziplocs and 2 odor-proof LOKSAKs
• Duct tape
• Wallet
• Instruction manuals for my stove and InReach

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My next post will be from the trail! See you then!

*I really crack myself up