Am I forgetting anything for a Sierra trip?

First of all, I guess I don't understand your sleep system…cot, tent, lots of pads…I feel like I don't have a good understanding what you're doing so I don't want to be critical. Yet.

Are you going some place where the ursack is ok? I'm not well-versed in which areas require what, but if you are going with the aluminum liner are you in a place where you need a full-on bear can?

You seem to have a lot of bandana/balaclava/nose rag pieces. How many do you really need?

At that altitude, with no tree cover, you absolutely need sunglasses. You might feel fine with just the visor, but the UV at that altitude is quite damaging to your eyes, especially if you are looking at any snow, reflective granite, etc.

As far as you requested comments about foot/blister care…Johnson and Johnson makes a hydrocolloid bandage called "tough pads." The hydrocolloid dressings are amazing for foot/blister stuff because they are padded, they keep the moisture from the blister contained (which you want, by the way…), and it is wholly waterproof. You put it on and can wear it for days without having to change (which is also better – allows for healing inside the bandage). I have a preference for the tough pads because they are rather large and can be cut into pieces if you need to.

Just nit picking of course, but that's what you asked for!

If you hit snow it could cause serious eye damage. Even the rock is uber bright.

New Balance makes 12,000 models of trail runners.

Which model are you planning to use?
how many miles have you logged in this model … while carrying a pack?

Where in the sierras are you planning on going?

Sun glasses IMHO are not optional.

I dont really get your sleep system? You have a cot with two foam pads? that you use in a bivy? with a tent.

For all the stuff you out lined it seems light(11pounds). But I have no clue what your gear actually weighs.

Josh, I thought I read that the way you did.

I usually only bring a spare shirt, socks, undies.
Duane

You need a map. If your electronic gismo breaks then what. It is wrong to rely on others for your navigational needs.

Lol someone actually bought the thermarest cot for backpacking.

No map and sunglasses = just dumb. If you ask for directions you will probably run into someone else with the same dumb idea. That would be a hoot. The cut down map is miniscule weight and space, so what is the deal? And you are likely to get headaches without the glasses, if you are lucky enough to be without snow (white sierra granite is almost as bad), that is. If you go through a snow field it might be worse. They are one of the 10 essentials after all :-)

Can you write a short paragraph explaining your sleep system. I think we should start there before we worry about anything else. Its not just that it is non-conventional, which is fine in my book – sleep is important, and everyone feels they need something different. It just seems…well, not to compute. There seems to be duplications and/or possibly mutually exclusive things. I'm a big dummy, but why both a cot and a hammock. I'm sure if you explain in more detail it will make sense.

Edit: Thanks Eric, Ok I see, no hammock. Whew!

Also, are you sure of you insulation. 1/4 " does not seem enough in the sierras. In hammock or cot (those are great in warm overnight temps I would presume) you are going to compress your bag, so you need insulation under you, touching ground of not. Does the cot have built in insulation?

Edit: Quick stab at specifics-

-Ditch both SS shirts.
-Ditch ponchos and bring Driducks chepo top for warmth at night and to get through showers if that happen. (assumes you bring hexamid).
– I would ditch cot. For the weight of the cot you could get a pad that would make the sultan of Brunei blush. Im thinking warmth here – assume you might have a night in the 20's F.
– You already have the perfect backup shelter, even if you prefer to cowboy camp. hexamid is huge, light, and obviates the need for ponchos and bivy.

'Lighting:
-2 mini Petzls… I find two work best for night hiking '

These are good. I hear if you get the dual strobes synced just right you can make an attacking bear have a seizure!

-Ditch the day pack, you have a frekin' Whisper! LOL

While I agree with others that the combination of a cot and bivy are strange, I'd like to see how it even fits, I think his sleep system does not include a hammock. He is using a wide 1/8" closed cell foam mattress which he refers to as a hammock mattress, probably because it would work well in a hammock because of its extra width.

You have 4 shirts which could easily be reduced to two or even one if you're wanting to drop the weight. I'd pick a long sleeve and push up the sleeves during the heat of the day. If you insist on a clean shirt for sleeping bring the lightest one you have for that.

Since you have the solar charger, I would drop the iPod and just use the iPhone. I would only use a GPS device and/or digital map as a backup to my paper map.

What are the "plastic baggies for stream crossings"? Feet will get wet, let them.

Don't forget your JMT pencil! LOL

I agree w/ others:

No sunglasses- wha?

Thermarest cot- Wha? Just stack two neoairs. As comfy with less weight/ volume. I jest

Told you would get answers here. Good advice.

That is a ton of stuff.

You would think that shorts would be good to sleep in. Keeps your dirty pants from hitting your bag. Well, not exactly. Your legs will be far dirtier than your pants. Dirt doesn't stick to your pants nearly as easy as it does your legs. If your planning on hiking in pants then ditch your shorts.

I just took a look at the cot on amazon out of curiosity, and it does look lovely – makes me want to take a sleepy time nap right now. And wow, expensive. I thought it was insanely heavy, but right next to it was a "mountaineering" one that weighed 11 lbs! I guess those things always get carried by sherpas, so net weight 0 oz. Now that is light weight backpacking! According to Yvon Chouinard they even nowadays leave a little mint on your pillow at Everest basecamp.

But yes, I assume it is comfortable. How do you get it in your bag? If properly modded (some on this site no doubt know how to do this) you should be able to rearrange it, rubrics-cube style, to form an old school external frame pack. Then packing would not be an issue and you would save the 11 oz of your UL pack.

Anyway, I kid! The folks on this site more than you.

Seems like your net comfort might be greater, however, with a pad of some sort. For one thing you might still need a pad for warmth (though not comfort clearly) on the cot. I think you might find an equal comfort for sleeping with a pad, and a superior walking comfort during the rest of the trip. If you don't need a CCF pad to give your pack some structure, then many of the folks here will probably suggest you get an xlite. Thinking this might already weigh less than your current foam pad, but with up to 2 1/4 inches more insulation, not to mention comfort. Just one, if you use 2 like Jeffs suggested you might fall in and need to be rescued.

Thanks for the kind replies… Thought I'd get fawning admiration for this clever setup!!

Ken, you certainly were right…

Let's see here… Sleep system is cot, hammock-sized wide shouldered 1/4 inch foam on that, then bivy. Foam is torso length and so I use sitpad for foot pad inside bivy. Quilt bag. Warm skull cap and neck handkerchief worn during sleep. Bivy is about 4oz and zpacks is light so not a big deal to me to bring this.

No poncho for small weight savings is something I've determined.

Sunglasses is a must I'll agree with. Wanted to push that button to hear feedback bc didn't use on last three day section in the desert.

Tested this setup… It works well. Tested in Kennedy Meadows at ~37 degrees and was warm enough on the bottom that I thought is be ok down to 20 – 25 degrees.

Full Whisper is still 12 or so lbs… so worth it to use Zimmerpacks 1.1oz daypack as a stuff sack. I will happily slack pack a day and carry water, food, and sleeping bag in this pack for a supa-fast distance-making slackpack day. What else do people bring for a 24-30 mile slack pack stretch I guess I'll ask to turn this to positive advice?

Not totally sold on utility of this cot idea but I can haul it and it is wicked comfortable. Energy earned through good sleep can be worth it. I'm not 100% positive but I'm sticking with it for now.

Right now there are tons of people on PCT Sierra section. Paper map may not be necessary… Do I really think I'll lose my iPhone w saved map pictures of higher resolution than any crappy paper map? There is a scolding tone to some of this… Are we not resourceful people?

Plastic bag foot cover through small streams is a good thing to bring. Why soak feet every time you cross a decent stream?

"Right now there are tons of people on PCT Sierra section. Paper map may not be necessary… Do I really think I'll lose my iPhone w saved map pictures of higher resolution than any crappy paper map? "

On the other hand do you really want to risk being the guy who famously doped his iphone on a rock, and then had to be rescued carrying a cot, but no map. LOL

Dale…wake up Dale! That's you cue!

"Right now there are tons of people on PCT Sierra section. Paper map may not be necessary… Do I really think I'll lose my iPhone w saved map pictures of higher resolution than any crappy paper map?"

I would much rather use a paper map than a tiny iphone screen. Plus it can't run out of batteries. But I guess you don't NEED one.

The weight of a map compared to its utility isn't worth the time to discuss it. Take it.

In the hiking world there is a buzz about UL hikers being so focused on weight that they don't even take a map and irresponsibly mooch off of other hikers. Don't be that hiker! So yeah, there is a bit of scolding because you should be self sufficient. As far as technology, accidentally leave your phone on overnight with your GPS on and your battery is drained. Cloudy day and your charger wouldn't work. Now what. Take a dunk on a simple stream crossing, phone gone. (This one just happened to me). Finally I don't think you mentioned where exactly in the Sierra you are going. I have done 30-50 mile hikes on trail at peak season and not seen a single person after the first couple miles from the trailhead. So not all the trails have hoards of people.

It's always puzzled me how people carrying only map (sheets) that can blow away in the wind get all hot and bothered about "what if you lose your phone".

Never have made sense of it.

Is it entirely certain this isn't simply a gag thread with the OP pulling everyones chain for amusement ?

Well, I find it amusing

I see he has posted another thread that he is looking to park his car for a Sierra PCT section hike from Kennedy Meadows to Mammoth.

If that is true, and this is actually a gear list for that section, I think food storage becomes a stand-out concern. I've personally had encounters with aggresive bears along that stretch.

I tried on one trip over 10 years ago to the Graveyard Lakes, making only a copy of the large map I had, so I only needed where I was going. A little disappointed as I could not tell peaks beyond my partial map. So now I bring more map than I'm going to. Cell phone? I have a long cord from one of my rotary dial phones, they always work. It does get caught up in brush all the time.
Duane

Really appreciate the good comments. The ones that are positive that is. There is a little bit of snark to some but oh well. I forgive you for being a jerk! I've brought paper maps for most of the other PCT sections. You're hiking in a straight line for 160 miles so its hard to carry a map with any decent resolution. Maybe I'll bring something. PCT is well marked is another thing that I'll mention. There are over 200 people hiking this section now as well. We stick together nearly all the time. Groups of 2-6. Not very dangerous but there is a tad bit of risk with anything in the High Sierras. Good luck on all your endeavors and any more last minute pieces of advice are welcome.