[at-l] Too much gear?

[pmags at yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

Skeeter asks the questions how much is too much gear?

I will copy and paste something I wrote on PCT-L two
weeks ago.  I am sure many of you on this list will be
looking into a reflection of sorts. :-)
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Someone mentioned that they should watch out..once you
buy some winter gear, it adds up!

Yep..I am afraid it is the truth.

It started innocently enough. Bought some snowshoes
for winter day hikes in New Englnad. All was good.
I could walk on snow in New Hampshire during the
winter.

But I wanted to do Mt. Washington one year. Well,
lookee here. Sierra Trading post has double boots on
sale! Wait, I have a coupon at EMS ..I always wanted
to go winter camping and I need an ice axe, too. I
then had a -20F bag and an ice axe.

Then I moved to Colorado. Well, you gotta ski if you
live in Colorado. Right? Bought some backcountry
touring skis and boots (Karhu sp?) that were rentals
on sale from the previous winter. So I did start some
backcountry skiing (not very well!)

After that, was introduced into the temple of snow a
bit more and started tele skiing. Bought a pair of
Scarpa T2s that were rentals on sale... ($100!!!!)
I borrowed some loaner skis and skins all last season
and part of this season.

Guess what? There is a used sporting goods store below
where I work...and this time of the year they get in
used tele skis. Great for mediocre skiiers like me. :)

I promise no more winter gear next year.. :O

(Won't even mention the shovel, shells, heavier
mittens, crampons  etc. that I also bought over the
years, )


Mags

ps. There is one lesson from this post, though. In all
seriousness, if you really want to buy some gear,
start looking at stores that rent equipment.. Between
now and say mid-April, the stores will sometimes sell
older snowshoes, skis, boots, etc that they want to
get rid of. The gear is usually in good-excellent
condition. The "flaws" are usually cosmetic. Esp for
skis and boots, this is a great way to go.  
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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau