Smokies in September list

[Benjamin Jacobs]

Heading to the smokies (Fontana -> Davenport) in early September and could use some feedback on the below list:

Pack
Osprey Atmos 65 – 55
Trash compactor bag – 2
Subtotal – 57

Clothing, carried
Rab Momentum – 12
Montbell UL Down Parka – 10
Arc'teryx beanie – 2
Smartwool sleep socks – 3
Smartwool long sleeve crew – 8
Subtotal – 35

Clothing, worn
Smartwool short sleeve crew
Northface convertible pants
Ex Officio boxers
Smartwool socks
Sunglasses / hat

Shelter / sleep system
Tarptent Rainbow – 34
Thermarest Neo Air (regular) – 16
Western Mountaineering Ultralite – 30
Sea to Summit Event Dry Sack – 5
Subtotal – 85

Cook set
Snow Peak Trek 700 – 5
REI Ti Spoon – 1
2x Bic mini – 1
Snow Peak Litemax – 2
Snow Peak canister – 4
Subtotal – 13

Hydration
Platypus 2L – 4
Aqua Mira drops – 3
Soft drink bottle – 1
Subtotal – 8

Ditty
Petzl Tikka 2 Plus – 3
Swiss Army Classic – 1
Sunscreen – 2
Chapstick – 1
DEET – 1
FAK – 2
Pack towel – 3
Compass – 1
Hand sanitizer – 1
Toothbrush – 1
Toothpaste – 1
iPhone 4S – 5
Sea to summit dry sack – 3
Subtotal – 25

Total – 223oz = 13lb 15oz

Things I'm thinking about:
* I'm bummed that I don't have something lighter than the tarptent to lug along 'just in case' (I've got reservations at the shelters); don't really know what to do about this at this point
* I also have a WM Caribou that I might take in place of the Ultralite (save 8oz) as it doesn't look too chilly right now
* Long sleeve crew seems a bit redundant; I wear it out of camp in mornings when puffy's not needed, but think I could ditch one or the other based on weather reports
* I'm carrying 6 days of food, but if I can squeeze into it I can take an Exos 46 instead

[Brad Rogers]

I like the sleeping shirt as you will get wet in the Smokies and things will not dry out but I would go with something lighter than an 8 oz Smartwool Shirt if possible

I assume you are taking the AT from Fontana to Davenport and not the BMT.
As long as that is the case and you have reservations you should be fine without the 34oz Rainbow. You will want to add ear plugs for the shelter.

I would probably go with the Caribou this time of year over the Ultralite

Drop one of the mini bics

You won't need sunscreen. Think long dark tunnel

That pack towel is pretty heavy

[M B]

Bring a small carabiner to clip your pack on the bear cable. (0.1 oz)
Bring a kitchen garbage bag to put over it while its on the bear cable (0.75 oz)
any mice that climb the cable, will slide off your pack when they get on it, and pack stays dry.

It wont be very cold, even at highest shelters at that time.

the down parka is overkill , a UL down jacket or synth puffy would about right
a fleece is good for sleeping and hiking in in the morning until temp and body warms up.

Forget the sunglasses, not needed.

tent is overkill since wont use. buy a light silnylon tarp. IF dont use it, just return it. And you shouldnt use it.

dont need 2 mini bics. There will be others around if yours fails or gets lost.

I hope your ti spoon doesnt weigh 1 oz, if so you got screwed

2L platy weighs 1.26 oz, not 4

wont need sunscreen
wont need lip balm
wont need deet

ditch the drysak and put ditty stuff in a 0.2 oz quart ziplock and save 3oz.

get a suunto clip compass. 0.17 oz

have fun, great time of year there. At least it is AFTER labor day weekend.

[Ben C]

I would leave at home deer, sunscreen, and compass. You can't really get lost there.
I might see you there. We are going the opposite direction over 3 nights starting the 13th. I'll be carrying the little green cuben backpack.
Beware the mice at the shelters.

[Benjamin Jacobs]

Thanks, all! Making the following adjustments:

* Tent out
* Caribou in; Ultralite out
* Second mini bic out
* Pack towel trimmed down to 1oz
* Compass out
* Deet out

RE: some of the weights – my spreadsheet rounded to whole digits when I copied in; several items (i.e. ti spoon, chapstick, etc.) are sub 1 oz.

Down to 21lb dry weight including 6 days of food.

@Ben — I'll be off by then (unless I hit the end and turn around..); have a great hike and thanks for chiming in!

[Jeff Jeff]

Pack is too large. If you get rid of enough stuff, that Exos will work fine.

You won't need DEET os sunscreen.

You'll probably be required to stay at shelters. I would replace the Rainbow with a light emergency tarp. Even an 8×8 piece of very thin plastic or tyvek and some lightweight cord will work for a survival shelter.

Pack towel won't be needed.

I actually used my compass once because I took a wrong turn out of the shelter, ran into a 3 way junction, and realized I wasn't where I had planned on being. It's a safe bet that you can just follow the white blazes though :)

Good call on the mini-carabiner for the bear (mice) lines.

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