Rachel's Gear List:

It seems like I have been working on my gear list for MONTHS and I think I finally have it together enough to put it on the blog. I am still waiting for a few last minute pieces of gear to arrive, most importantly our twin quilt that we will be using in lieu of sleeping bags. I am also attempting to become savvy with new pieces of equipment that my parents generously gave me for my birthday, a Casio Pathfinder watch from Dad/Karen and a SPOT Connect from Mom. I had a mini-meltdown trying to set the magnetic declination on the compass function of the watch this morning, and I still need to familiarize myself with the functions of the SPOT. The SPOT is a rescue device that has several additional features: you are able to send and receive text messages, send an "Okay" message that notifies friends and family where you are, and even post updates to Facebook. I don't plan to be posting an abundance of "status updates" from the trail, but I can see a situation where the ability to send/receive messages would be useful, especially on future trips that may be more remote that the PCT.

According to my gear list, my current "base weight" is about 13 pounds. Base weight is the weight of your pack and everything in it not including food, water, and fuel. Thirteen pounds is not great, and not terrible. There are some thru-hikers that are able to get their base weight below 10 and even 5 pounds! I think the thing that stands out most from looking at my list is how much technology I am bringing and how much it weighs! My Kindle alone weighs nearly a pound, and this is absolutely a luxury item. I still have a few weeks to decide what is coming with me and what can stay at home.

I haven't yet included our camera gear on this list, as this is more Ben's area of expertise. I hope to get his gear list up on the blog shortly.

PCT Gear List:
	Item:	Weight (ounces):
Shared Gear:	Sleeping Bag: ZPacks 10 degree Twin Quilt	33
	Tent: Tarptent Double Rainbow	41
	Snowpeak Titatium Stove	2.5
	Stoic cookpot 1.6 L	5.8
	Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter	2.5
Individual Sleeping system:	Prolite Gear EvoPad 3/8 inch (half pad)	5
	Neoair Xlite Pad Small	8
Essentials:	Pack: ULA Ohm 2.0	27
	Pack liner Ziplock XXLarge	3.4
	Pack cover (garbage bag)	1
Gear/Clothing Worn:	Black Diamond Trekking Poles	20
	Casio Pathfinder PAW1300-1V Watch	2.2
	Brooks Cascadia shoes with Road Runner insoles	20
	Simblissity Leva Gaiter	1.8
	Darn Tough Light Crew socks	1.6
	Ibex Balance Sports Bra	2.5
	Brooks 5" Woven Shorts	3.9
	Smartwool Merino T-shirt	4
	Brooks Baseball Cap	2
Clothing (not all items carried for duration of trail):	Baselayer top: Ibex Hooded Indie	6
	Baselayer bottom: Patagonia Cap 2	3.7
	Baselayer bottom: Patagonia Cap 1	4.9
	Underwear: Ibex Balance Brief	1
	Leg warmers	2.4
	Possumdown Sleep Socks	2
	NRS Hydroskin Socks	2.7
	Darn Tough Ultra Light Mesh Socks	1.6
	Darn Tough Light Crew socks	1.6
	Darn Tough Midweight Crew socks	2.5
	Patagonia UL Down Hoody	7
	Montbell UL Thermawrap Vest	4
	Montane Featherlite Wind Pants	3.9
	Patagonia Houdini Wind Jacket	3.2
	Marmot Precip Rain pants	11
	Rab Momentum Rain Jacket	10
	Black Diamond Polartech Midweight Gloves	1.5
	Mountain Laurel Design Rain mitts	1.2
	Ibex Meru Beanie	1.5
	Merino Wool Buff	1.7
	Mosquito Net	< 1
Additional Gear:	Simblissity UnSlack Pack shoulder pouch	1
	Roll Top Blast Dry Bag	1.4
	Pillow Dry Bag	1.65
	Sea to Summit Spork	0.3
	Bleach (for purifying water)	1
	Lighter	0.8
	Water bottles	1.5 ounces each
	2 L Platypus for additional water storage	1.3
	Freshette (for the art of peeing while standing)	1
	First Aid Kit	to be determined
	Toiletries (contacts/case/solution, toilet paper, sunscreen, chapstick, toothbrush/paste, hand sanitizer, Dr. Bronner's Soap)	to be determined
	Bandanas (2)	1.1 ounces each
	GoLite Chrome Dome Trekking Umbrella	8
	Headlamp Black Diamond Tikka XP II	3.1
	Half Mile Maps/Yogi's Guidebook pages	variable
	Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass	2.5
	SPOT Connect	4.9
	iPhone with Mophie extended battery case	8
	Headphones	0.4
	iPod (with case)	1.4
	Dynex Portable Speaker for iPod	4.6
	Kindle	13.9
	iPhone/Kindle/iPod charging cords	2.7
	Sunglasses with Croakie	1.1
	Multitool	1
	Batteries (AA and AAA)	variable
Gear specific to the Sierra (and parts of Washington):	Pack: ULA Circuit	35
	Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons	28.9
	Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe (55 cm)	16
	Bear Vault BV 500	41
	Feathered Friends Down Booties	7