[at-l] My Gear List (seriously)

[goinggoinggone@webtv.net (goinggoinggone@webtv.net)]

Hi Kel,
Whatcha going to put between your sleeping bag and the tent ( or shelter
) floor? 
    Didn't see the post about when you plan to start: early enough to
throw in a down jacket? What kinda hat? 
     Gotta backup pack ready to mail to yourself when 4900cc. and almost
5 lbs is more than you want or need to carry?
      Can the Shasta be rigged up with a water-bladder and drinking
tube?
       Got a tick protection plan? Small mirror or really close friend
to check the hard to see places? Gaitors? Headnet ready to be mailed
when the bugs start to get to you? Deet? Buy a dozen (at least) bottles
now and you'll save $$ in the long run. make -sure- the caps are on
tight before you throw these in a mail-drop box...might wanto check
www.usps.com for shipping regs for deet, also. 
     Might be a good idea to get your doc to write you an extra Rx or
note re: any Schedule 4, 3 or 2 drugs: and put a piece of clear plastic
tape over the label of any Rx drugs you carry to protect/secure the
label: I'm sure someone will think this is paranoid overkill, but with
any kind of Rx of schedules 2-4, if a label is illegible and no backup
documentation is carried, a police officer may decide to put you under
"investigative detention" if he/she doesn't believe you and can't get a
call back from your doc; the upside is you might get to converse with
people you might not have met otherwise. Any medical conditions and or
medications that you take that you would like make known to a rescuer
should you be found unconcious or incoherent should be noted on a
"medic-alert" type bracelet, necklace, tattoo, etc.
    Does your scrubby dish cleaner thing have foam? If so lose the foam
unless you like randomly accessed bacteria. 
     What kinda bacteriostatic hand-sanitizer are you taking to kill the
germs after shaking someones' hand so you don't get what dey got?
     Bandanas? Hunting season/think blaze-orange. Stealth camping? Don't
forget the ghillie suit :O)
      If you can access the list archives there are many pro/con
opinions on the hard-use reliability of PUR filters...
     Just read your post re:thermarest. Which one? They vary wildly in
weight. 
     What will surgical tape do that duct-tape won't?
    Take the insert out of the d-tape roll.
Don't forget the pepto-bismol ( or discuss with your doc something
stronger ) Taking T.P.? Some folks just bidet ala' water bottle but...I
can't imagine...
     Got some waterproof matches ( that "strike anywhere" ) 
      Got some emergency firestart-stuff like cotton and petroleum jelly
or magnesium and something to make a spark with?
       Howze about sumthin' to sharpen your knife with? The really small
diamond encrusted pen-type thingies are cool.
     Don't forget your musical instrument and/or waterproof
am/fm/shortwave radio...
     What's a thru-hiker handbook? That sounds heavy....

Alejandro

" When I was a boy, I was told that anyone could become President; I'm
beginning to believe it." - Clarence Darrow