Changes I’m making to my gear for this season…

"This should enable me to cook on my wood stove without burning my eyes out with smoke."

Or just sit upwind from the wood stove.

"Not sure why I didn't do this before."

Nobody wears goggles in camp, anyway.

Don't focus on that, because wood stoves will be banned in lots of areas this year due to the drought and fire conditions.

–B.G.–

" Down pants. This should enable me to wake up at 5AM easily and hit the road and put in 2-3 hours while it's nice and cold. "

Correct me if i'm wrong, but you're planning on hiking in down pants? Do your legs run unusually cold? Down pants are nice for camp/rest and all, but i wouldn't ever wear them hiking unless in some seriously, seriously cold temps. After 15 minutes of even going slightly up hill, i would roast in them in all but the most arctic temps. I've been out at 0-10 and grid fleece baselayer pants with a thin nylon shell over same, and long wool socks, were more than enough especially after 5 mins of any kind of exertion.

I don't think the goggles are a bad idea at all, just ignore all the haters.

Some steampunk goggles would be cool!

i agree with the down pants thing. i snowshoe in shell snow pants with only shorts underneath in pretty low temps. hiking in down pants would be like 8000m stuff.

switch to a nice canister stove and enjoy the convenience :) click on, 3 mins boil, click off. no smokey eyes, pot, etc.

come to the white mountains and do a few peaks. will make those graded trails out west seem like a piece of cake.

Increased fitness is always a good thing, so good for you.

Agree with the others about the down pants – not for hiking in.

I don't really have an opinion about the goggles, but you say all that smoke can't be good for your health. Goggles won't change that at all.

+3 on the down pants. I can barely hike in a midweight base layer on my legs in winter once I get moving. As for the rest of your kit. I think we all scrutinize our load often. I have been lighter, but the older I get the more comfort items seem to creep back into my pack.

no way.. not going to switch stoves. Wood stoves have so many more advantages:

– infinite fuel… all the tea and how water bottles and warm showers I want

– I can use it as a REAL fire when there are no fire pits.

– helps keep insects away

MYOG mask.

Ur locale says norcal…where do u hike that does not prohibit wood burning? Seems like parks I go to always prohibit this, seems like it will be even more strict in this dry season.

I'd like a pair of down pants, especially for trips out West, but think they'd mostly be wasted on me here in the South, as little use as they'd see. Last winter was colder than usual, though, and right now we're running about 25 degrees below normal, but I think next week will be the end of that. 'Course at this rate, if all this global warming continues, they'll go on the list of necessities…

btw, instead of full-fledged goggles for such limited use, a much lighter option would be the wraparound safety glasses with a foam surround and an elastic band instead of arms.