JMT Gearlist Mid Aug- Update

Start with changing your big 3:

Osprey Atmos 65 Pack
Tadpole 23 Bx Tent 2-Person 3-Season
REI Polar Pod

Yeah, without too many specifics on your list it's hard to comment on much except for your seriously heavy big 3:

55oz for a sleeping bag is a ton
At least you are sharing the tent weight
Your filter can be swapped with aqua Mira or a sawyer squeeze (good way to lose a pound)

Not sure what your mean by "bringing tent poles." I'm assuming your tadpole needs tent poles, you are both bringing trekking poles…what is your question?

A down sweater will always be lighter than a fleece.

No need to fuss with fire starters…no fires allowed.

Have a blast!

I think # 3 should be tent stakes, not poles. Reference to packs inside tent if windy was the clue.

Edit: Yes take stakes.

Thanks everybody.

I can't really afford to swap out my big three.

I will nix my fire striker and fleece.

Replace toothpaste with powdered (avail at whole foods)

I'm not sure where you came up with just 20.5oz for your BC500; my BV500 weighs 39oz.

Ditch the moleskin. It won't stay on. Use Leukotape on hotspots, and bring a couple corn pads to raise up around a painful blister (and secure with Leukotape).

Ditch the hand sanitizer (!?)

If you're not going till Aug there will be few mosquitoes (esp. this year). I'd take either about .5oz of DEET or better yet, just a head net.

What are the cotton ball fire tinders for? You are not allowed to have a fire and they won't work with your JetBoil. Leave them behind and take 2 mini bics.

Take 1/2 the JMT map set and send the other 1/2 ahead to MTR.

Exfoliating wipes (!?) – exfoliate with a multi-use snot-rag/sponge/bandana.

Take 1/2 the TP and dab dry with an ultra micro weight towel (cut down to size) to be used only for this purpose.

4 liter capacity (3l platypus and 1liter bottle) is overkill. 4 liters between two people (5 if you are worried) should be plenty.

Replace filter with AuqaMira drops. MUCH lighter. You're hiking fast, so a set (1oz each A & B) should be just right for 2 people until MTR. Send another pack in your MTR resupply. Do the math, if it seems tight, bring a few AquaMira tabs (takes 4 hours) to purify a couple liters overnight. I did the JMT (15 days) on one pack of AquaMira (2.95oz) and I drink 7-9 liters/day.

1 pr. socks w/liners + sleeping socks will suffice.

Thanks elieen I've made a lot of your changes.

BV is half of the weight because we're sharing the weight :)

I'm guessing you mean tent stakes. Not a convenient weight saver

I finished my JMT thru hike on 8/7. There were very few mosquitoes along the trail. After Red's I didn't see one other than by Deer Creek and during my evening in LeConte. Still, I didn't use a single squirt of DEET (would rather tolerate a bit of annoyance and a bite here and there than put DEET into the environment!) and used my head net once while getting water by one of the Trinity Lakes north of Red's. So… I think you can leave the repellent/head net behind.

Lots of H20 on trail. Large creeks and most streams (nearly all originally fed by a lake) were running. I was glad to have 2L capacity and never felt the need for more.