Colorado Trail 2022 Prep-N Brown

 

2/27/22. As a total neurotic, I have to plan for everything on the almost 600-mile Colorado Trail starting in June, 2022.  Having  generated a spreadsheet for everything, I will hike west to east going from Durango, Colorado, to Watertown Canyon in Littleton. I want to carry as light as possible, so I made pals with REI, ordered stuff, used my fine Sharpie to label. Plan early, stay well, train, and budget more time. I love hiking, biking and anything outdoors. Being “retired”, structured time not important.

I grew up in Colorado. Used to altitude, we kids would scoff at family from sea level. Their headaches, ailments, and breathlessness amused my brother and me. Of course, these folks were obese and had a host of other ailments.  Rather than feel sorry for them, we could not figure why none of them returned. Now, I understand.

Cycling Ride the Rockies for years, hiking Arizona’s Trail, Texas Big Bend, and section hiking  the CT,  I knew training, the right clothes, aerobic fitness, patience, having cash, credit, and planning necessary.

Weather changes fast above 10,000 feet. I know any weather possible, including snow.  Most items, especially food, were the more pricey, prepackaged variety. I knew I would be tired and wanted to minimize cooking chores. A quick trash toss when available.

I also planned for clean water. Girardia took me by surprise and off the trail a few years ago. It was horrible! Never again! FYI: I probably got it in a town. But once enough!

I got with my pharmacist in Houston, we discussed needed inoculations and emergency provisions.

Here is my tentative list:

Inoculations: rabies, tetanus, Japanese encephalitis, COVID-19, flu, shingles.

Stove: MSR PocketRocket, case, and fuel. One spork, box matches, Snow Peak  800  titanium cup and lid.

Hiking poles: Black Diamond 120 cm Distance Carbon FLZ.

First aid: In baggie: band-aids, Red Cross certification, antibiotic ointment, blister bandages and regular bandages, diamox for altitude, cold sore meds, anti-diarrhea agents, antibiotics, tweezers, ibuprofen, aspirin.

Tent: Nemo 1 person Hornet with footprint from REI. Poles and extra parts.

Pack: Osprey 60L  burgundy Ariel XS.  Extra parts. Glow in dark zipper pulls.

Sunscreen: lip and face; small umbrella.

Seeing: Sun, regular, and reading glasses. Extra screws and pieces. Special screwdriver for those pesky tiny screws.

Water: Sawyer brand small purification system, one 2L internal Gregory water bladder, two filtering bags, one water “scoop”; emergency  water sanitation pills.  I planned on at least ten miles per day, so I had to carry at least 2  water per trip. Two Nalgene water bottles, one  water tube, two mouthpieces with magnets.

Sleeping: REI magma W down zippered bag with stuff sack, Thermo-light pad.

Stuff sacks: Four. One large, one medium, two small. Different colors.

Clothes: One Smartwool balaclava, one  alpaca beanie, one brimmed hat, one pair silk underwear and gloves; wool and silk socks, one t-shirt; one pair long, deep-pocketed zippered pants; one alpaca hoodie, one neck pipe, rubber sandals, matches, compass, anti-bug ointment, bear bag, zippered Smartwool shirt; fleece vest, rain pants.hoodie, Dirty Girl gaiters, bandana. # Exofifcios underwear. Everything grey or black.

Fanny Pack:  worn on front. Use the Hyperlite Versa, as it’s water-resistant and offers extra pockets.
With diaper pins as zipper pulls externally and internally.

Jacket(s) one  Gore Tex snap up, high collared hooded rain coat with zippered “pit zips”, one pair thick gloves; one down jacket with hood.

Light: One Black Diamond headlamp

Potty: Deuce of Spades Trowel, T.P. hand sanitizer, a few Wet Wipes, doggie poop bags, rubber bands, surgical gloves.

Stuff: toothpaste, brush, floss, detergent leaves,  small scissors; thread, needle, maps, technology re-charging, items, two different credit cards, various size baggies, small tube glue, plastic trash bag, small interchangeable flat head and Phillips screwdriver, tenacious tape, two carabiners, safety pins, laminated proof of inoculations; two face masks, small pad post-it notes, flip notebook, hiker’s pen, multi-tool pocket knife, nail clippers, surgical gloves.

I plan to wear my socks, shoes, silk underwear, hat, pants, jacket, vest, Smartwool zippered long sleeve shirt alpaca hoodie. Carry small-denomination cash, credit cards, glasses, i-phone, neck pipe, pocket knife.

I also will charge all electronics, carry a small Olympus camera, extra media, charged batteries, and charging devices. Maybe my Kindle.

Money: small-denotation bills; two different credit cards, color-copied driver’s license, blood type, SSN, emergency contact data;  insurance cards. All placed in sealed plastic baggie.

Food: Everything cooked, dehydrated, portioned out in sealed bags: pastas, fruit, noodles, rice, dried cheese, tofu, dried creamer; plain tuna, nuts, chocolate nut butters, dried cranberries, raisins, bone broth packets, instant coffee salt, pepper. Lots of coffee.

Total weight: 40 lbs. Still too heavy. Need new plan.