Well I am furiously working on my gear list, for my departure next week, currently the weights are made up of:
Equipment weight: 7 610 gms
Food and Fuel weight: 9 200 gms
Clothing Worn weight: 3 421 gms
Complete Pack weight 16 810 gms
The big three are
Pack Aarn Natural Balance (or in english) this is an 83litre pack yes a huge pack and I know I will not fill it, but the benefits include coming with 2 separate dry bag sections and thereby having sufficient space for all my gear whilst also keeping the wet gear away from the dry stuff. Weight of the pack is 2200 gms, if I can I will use a Aarn Mountain Magic 55 which weighs in at 1550 gms that will be nice, a work in progress.
Shelter, I am taking a Stephensons Warmlite 2 C a light tent but heavy by tarp standards, however, it is likely that there will be damp moist days and if its bug season then the ability to escape the hordes will be appreciated. Also the tent can be erected quickly with its 2 hoops and 3 pegs thus shelter can be erected in exposed conditions in under 5 minutes. Furthermore I intend to camp as high as possible as often as possible and this tent will cope with strong winds. Weight 1300 gms with seam sealing.
Sleeping, I never leave home without an Nunatak Arc quilt, for this trip it is the Arc Specialist weighing in at 550 gms.
So big three weight is 4050 grams, a little heavy but with it comes piece of mind. However I do not meet the 343 criteria, so this will be an aim for the next trip to the area.
Other equipment:
For cooking I am taking a MSR 850 kettle, a Primus Micron Ti stove with an Aluminium windshield and a mini lightmyfire the weight for the cook kit with spoon and cozy is 306 gms.
Sleeping, aside from the quilt I will be using a short Neoair and a multimat adventurer Quilt, neoair and multimat total weight is 918 gms.
Aside from sleeping clothing (silk pants and merino top) I will be carrying my Rab Demand PullOn which will be combined with Montane Featherlite pants and MLD eVent mittens, BPL Cocoon Hoody, Possum fur hat and gloves should the conditions be very wet and cold. Total weight of clothing carried in the pack will be 1230 gms.
I expect that for most of the time I will be wearing a Montane Featherlite Windshirt combined with a BPL Merino Hoody and possibly an Icebreaker short sleeve shirt, for bottoms it will be Montane Terra Converts, Icebreaker legless (if needed) and Underarmour shorts along with my Tilley Hat and normal socks.
There are of course other odds and ends such as camera, phone, first aid, personal hygiene which all add up in weight, but are very important.
A final gear list will be available in the coming days.
I think the tent is a good choice. I understand the warmlite is bullet proof and palatial for one. I think it fits the bill.
ReplyDeleteOne question; why the Neo air in combination with a full-length foam mat? You feel the need for a backup in case the neo air fails?
I will be hiking somewhere around the Finnish part of the Nordkalotleden starting from next Wednesday so this is an interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm correct you have no warm layer of clothing? T-shirt, merino hoody (quite thin, right?), windjacket and shell? In my experience the temperatures in the North at this time of year can occasionally be around -0C with remarkable wind chill. This was the case for example in the beginning of July last year. I was wearing merino shirt, T-shirt, powerstretch fleece and shell (didn't have a wind shirt) - while I was walking! So I'd recommend somekind of light puffy layer.
Have a great trip! (And lets hope for great weather and no bugs!)
I do like the Warmlite. Bomber design. Seen how good a tent it is with Alan Sloman using one. Like the choice and thinking. Pick the kit that suits the trip not just the lightest. Nice choice Roger.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore I intend to camp as high as possible as often as possible and this tent will cope with strong winds.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this idea, Roger. Though I'll camp low when necessary, there's nothing like the exhilaration of the early morning and late evening views from a high camp. 1300 gms for your Warmlite sounds very reasonable.
Dave, when I went to Vålådalen one thing I missed was a sit pad, so I thought I woudl take a short multimat on this trip which will double as sit pad, feet insulation and whatever else I can use if for. I could shorten it but ...
ReplyDeleteDave, Martin and Dondo, yes the tent fits the bill and I personally feel comfortable in taking it and having a reasonable space to escape the elements if needed is always important in my view.
Thanks lightening up, yes there should be a BPL Cocoon Hoody in the gear list (have added it to the text). I have been considering taking a vest, but in the end decided that a short sleeve merino top and a longsleeve top coupled with the hoody should be enough. A vest could still end up in my pack. I will be interested to hear of your trip and yes lets hope for good weather and only a few bugs.
I'm not sure you'll need the vest as well Roger. I took one to Vålådalen but only put it on once. My Rab smock is 60gsm insulation which I think is the same as the Cocoon. And your quilt is a lot warmer than mine.
ReplyDeleteI think the Cocoon hoody will be more than enough in connection with the rest of the clothing you are bringing. No need for a vest.
ReplyDeleteSince I started using the BPL Merino Hoody and the BPL Cocoon Hoody I have skipped the warm cap. So I think you will be fine without the Possum fur hat.
As you are well aware the pack is the major obstacle on your path to 343, but the neat thing about being a lightweight backpacker is that once you have a really light pack you have room for things you really like to bring. Like a heavier pack or a bottle of whisky, or heavy camera gear, or fishing equipment, or climbing gear or...
You'll be fine :-)
You are going to love your Warmlite (Nice colour choice, btw).
ReplyDeleteIf it really blows a hooley use the rear guys too and snap in those incredible internal stays.
It's useful to use four skinny little titanium pegs to position the pole ends to ensure the central roof section is as tight as a badger's bottom - this increases stability massively. All for the cost of just a few grams.
Make *absolutely sure* your rear peg is meaty and well secured - the whole tent is secured by it. You can do this by using your trekking pole stuck in the soft ground (removing the basket first!). Alternatively an MSR Blizzard stake can be used (doubling up as your toilet trowel after you have packed up in the morning...)
My Wanda Warmilte is my constant companion and we are in love!
Thanks Jörgen and Joe, yeah the vest is a will I or wont I and when I finally get everything into the pack, it will most likely be a wont. Jörgen my possum fur hat also serves as a Real Turmat Cozy. But I agree the hoody and cocoon minimalise the need for a warm hat, especially at this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your comments Alan, my peg plans had pretty much matched yours, but I may change the rear peg from a 9' Easton Alloy to a 9" Sand and snow peg, which will double as a toilet trowel. As for colour, I was told if I wanted a 2C before the trip then I could have any colour as long as it was blue, so I got a blue one. Hopefully the wind stabilisers will not be needed, except as trip wires for rampant mosquitos.