Presi traverse and Pemi loop late September gear list

[Velimir Kemec]

Hi,

by the end of next week I will land in US to meet up with my friend. We are planning to go into White Mountains NH and do two hikes Presidential traverse (over three days) and Pemi loop (over four days). Since I've never been into White Mountains before I've put up a gear list which I think might work to expected conditions. Expected temperatures are from 65F during the day and as low as 27F during the night. Rain is forecast as well. We will camp/stay in the lean-to's or camp in camps.

I am still not 100% certain about the shelter. Debating between MLD Solomid/Cricket/Shangri-la 1 tarps without inners..Feedback welcome. I've left out small items from the list bellow but feel free to advise if anything major is missing from the list.

Please have a look and comment advise whats good/bad. Be nice it's my first time in US and I might never ever return:)) You guys are fantastic.

Thank you all!

Worn/carried:
Ex officio boxer brief underwear
OR ferrosi SS pants
Echo long sleeve shirt
Headsweats visor
Sunglasses
Merino wool buff
Injinji ankle socks
Inov8 terrocs 330
OR ultra gaiters
Trekking poles Mountain king trail blaze or Fizan ultralight

Packing:
GG Murmur hyperlight + trash compactor liner
Locus gear Nanos utility shoulder bag(camera, phone, snacks, map, compass, sunglases, windshirt, arm warmers, fleece beanie etc.)

Clothing packed:
MEC T2 hoody (extra warmth/sleepwear)
RedRam merino leggins (extra warmth/sleepwear)
Merino arm warmers (extra warmth during walk)
Stoic Hadron down anorak (camp wear insulation)
BRG hadron down beanie (camp wear insulation)
Fleece beanie (extra warmth during walk)
Driducks pants cut off at ankle (rain shell pants)
Spare socks (coolmax injinji)
Icebreaker midweight merino socks (sleepwear)
Montbell tachyoon hooded anorak (windshirt)
Thinn fleece glove (extra warmth)
MEC cloudraker (rain mitten shell)
Marmot Mica jacket (rain shell jacket)
GTX socks,
ID eVent shortie gaiters

Sleeping:
GoLite ultra 20 quilt
Nemo Zor short
5mm Eva full lenght pad/pack frame
Klymit pillow x

Shelter:
debating between MLD Cricket/solomid/Shangri la 1 + Polycro groundcloth ???

Cooking:
evernew 400ml cup + caldera cone + DIY esbit stove
ziplock 2cup container + cozy
light my fire spork

Water treatment:
Sawyer mini
1l softwater bottle (dirty water)
0,5l softwater bottle on packs shoulder strap (drinking water)

[Jake D]

Depending on how much you drink I would want at least 2L of water carrying capacity. I usually have 1.5 dirty bottle and 1.5 L of clean capacity. There are a couple big stretches between water on the Presi and Pemi's (i've done them both as day hikes, and the Pemi a few times as multiday) basically don't count on water above treeline except at huts on Presi

Skip the windshirt. you have a hoody, long sleeve shirt, rain shell, puffy, and arm warmers.. too many long sleeve. same with Beanie.. i'd take the fleece one. you can always put your puffy over your head at night or wear your hoody

take the lighter short gaiters. why 2 gaiters? you are going to be mostly on rocks. I use Dirty Girls 100% of the time.

Unless when you start there is a major threat of heavy rain i'd skip the GTX socks.. there are no major stream crossings on either route.

Do you have an idea about how you want to break up the Presi traverse? It has some tricky camping options that aren't in ideal spots. I honestly think doing it in a day is easier than carrying camping gear for multiday.

I would say Solomid or GoLite for a bit more enclosure. Your camping options will be on wooden tent platforms most likely. There is also a shelter at Guyot shelter on Pemi that can save you a night of setting up that is nice. assuming the standard pemi Guyot, Garfield, Liberty springs for camping. (highly suggest the quick side trip to W. Bond, skip Galehead)

Guyot and The Perch are the only cheap shelters on those routes ($8 per person at Guyot and at campsites ($10 at Perch) if the caretaker is there, be prepared with cash) Huts are around $100

I have lots of info about both of those hikes if you have questions. If you don't have it, pick up http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3669092 peak at the trail descriptions if you have the AMC book but don't hike with that brick. the map is all i use now.

[hwc 1954]

Actually, the first piece of clothing I want above treeline in the White Mountains is a windshirt. I wore one all morning on the Franconia ridge earlier this week. Even on a beautiful day, it was windy enough that a long-sleeve running shirt wasn't enough. I find a fleece is too hot even for winter hiking. Essential for camping, but I would sweat to death in a fleece while hiking this time of year. Same problem with a Marmot Essence rain jacket (same basic thing as a Mica). Gotta have it for rain, but a sauna bath while actually hiking. I've worn the windshirt 10 times for every one time I've put on the rain jacket.

I carry 2 liters of water minimum on a hike above treeline.

If you can get a reservation, the AMC huts are $127 inc. tax. That includes a bunk, a very substantial dinner and a very substantial breakfast. A very nice experience as well. Free drinking water, so at least stop in and fill up if you pass by.

There is a an online version of the AMC White Mountain Guide that lets you save and print PDF files of any custom route you plan, including a map of your custom route that prints on the first page of the PDF and the detailed trail descriptions from the AMC book, plus exportable GPS tracks (that I download to a Garmin). It's $15 for a one-year subscription. Awesome resource:

https://www.wmgonline.org

[Jake D]

Yea, it is all preference. I hike quickly so i'm pretty comfortable in my Icebreaker 200 long sleeve if it is cooler. I also ride my bike year round so I acclimate to cooler temps well. i throw on my Sierra designs Microlight rain jacket/wind shirt if i stop.

I do think he has one too many long sleeves. i'd probably hike in the long sleeve, sleep in the fleece to bump the 20*. puffy in camp, rain jacket for rain or windy summits.

for his purposes the 4000 footer map is plenty.. he said he is only here for this trip so having the subscription. 4k map is all i take now, the mileage between landmarks is awesome to judge progress and orient yourself.

pemi loop from the map (i prefer going counter clockwise)

[Ethan Miller]

Velimir, can you speak to how well your inov8s did? I am interested in picking up a pair. Thanks!

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