[at-l] Re: Seriously planning to HIKE essentials

[krk@speakeasy.org (Kenneth Knight)]

For a little belly bag I'd carry the following things. Actually I'd carry these things always on my
person they don't have to be in the belly bag.

Tiny first aid kit, survival blanket or bag, fire starter (this'd be watrproof matches (probably REI
storm matches), some kindling like vasilene coated cotton balls), map, compass, whistle, ID, some
dried fruuits and nuts, small collpasible water container and water treatment, paper and pencil (pen
could freeze), and Photon light (red and white or turquoise).

To be fair I don't always carry that exhaustive list on my person at all times. It rather depends on
the season and if I'm alone or not. For a winter hike I'd have that whole list. I also might keep
gloves and hat in the belly bag. The point is to keep things that can be very important close at
hand.

By the way, I have mixed feeling about canister stoves in the winter. They can be a real pain
sometimes. If you do go that route consider the Gigapower stoves and also read the article at
<http://www.backpackinglight.com/index/8/8.htm> and consider making a similar style wind screen. Do
your best to keep the canister warm. Sleep with it and carry it near your body. You might want to
consider an MSR white gas stove instead. They're more complex but things like the XGK never fail.
Alcohol burners will also still work when it's cold as long as the fuel is reasonably warm. If you
have to melt snow for water white gas is the best option, then canister, and finally alcohol. 

I don't know how cold the weather gets down there for that time of year so I'm not going to comment
on clothing.

Can you tolerate closed cell pads instead of the Therm-a-rest? If so, go that route and take a
couple. Say a Ridge Rest and a Mt. Washington pad (or two Mt. Washington pads if you want to save
some weight and only need 60" of pad). My experiences with inflatable pads in the winter is not
good. The air cools off and they become less insulating and if you get a leak you end up laying on
the ground which is, of course, no good at all. 

  ** Ken **

**  Kenneth Knight    Web Design, IT Consultant, Software Engineer  **
**       krk@speakeasy.org        http://www.speakeasy.org/~krk     **