Catskills, 24 miles, 5 Peaks above 3,500 Snow wind and Ice

Finally made the time to watch this; looks like it was a fun hike.  You guys were cracking me up with the bear print commentary…

“That’s…uh, that’s big.”
“Yeah, that’s a f***ing healthy one…”

Been there, for sure. ;)

Quick question: I think I saw most of what you were carrying at one point or another, but do you mind writing down a quick list of exactly what you were carrying on that trip?  14-pound base loads in winter intrigue me.

Ohhh hmmmm. I pretty much carry same gear.. well main items.. depends on weather conditions if heavier quilt, bigger pack… heavier sleeping pad.. I can try to remember exactly what i packed for that trip.. let me get my thoughts together and i will see what i can come up with..

My pack was a Zpacks Nero 38L Robic. I used my MLD eVent Soul bivy and Borah gear silpoly 5.8×9 tarp with 6 small dac stakes. I think I also used my EE 950 Down 30 degree quilt, possibly 20 degree.. I honestly dont remember which I used. A small cut piece of polycro for under the bivy. I also carried 2 one liter smartwater bottles and my steripen. A very miniscule first aid kit ( bare essential minimums).  I basically sleep in my clothes that I hike in but I did have my Patagonia nano-puff hoody with me. I also packed my Arc’teryx FL shells ( top and bottoms).  My headlamp is the NU25 core ( whatever its called) without the strap band..just use the cord. I carried my MSR Windburner stove and titanium long spoon (4oz gas cannister). Small ferro rod with mini swiss army minimal knife and a bic liter.. regular size, not a mini!! Kahtoola micro spikes. A pair of Smartwool liner gloves and Zpacks overmitts. A Neoair Xlite large size sleeping pad and a sea to Summit Aeros Premium pillow. I do not carry any stuff sacks for any of these items.. I do keep my tarp and  bivy with stakes in 1 dedicated dcf stuff sack.. for this trip I believe I kept my quilt and pad inside the bivy and just rolled and stuffed it inside my pack altogether. I also do use a nylafoam plastic bag as a pack liner. SOoooo.. that may be all i carried off hand… oh yeah a Zpacks fleece beanie also.  I am sure I am forgetting something, but other then my food and water.. ahhh.. i used a Ursack also to carry and protect food. The hat and gloves and overmitts were probably in my pants pocket or wearing them.

Awesome list, man!  Thank you!!

I’m not sure how I missed this TR, but I’m grateful to Bonzo for commenting on it.  Oh – the number of times I’ve heard Bob come out with “That’s a bitch”…It cracked me up!

@Dirtbag – Silly question for you…Why the tarp and not your Gatewood?  I can’t imagine that you saved more than 2-3 ounces and on a trip with wind, snow, and rain the Gatewood would have offered you all-around protection.

@Kevin, lol funny about Bob. So I took the tarp mainly because I enjoy not being enclosed and being able to see in all directions around me all the time. The bivy would handle wind anyway.. so not a concern. Also but not why, the tarp packs sooooo much smaller and less space in my backpack and yes its a few ounces lighter.. but honestly that is a non factor for me at this point.

@Bonzo.. thankyou and no problem. Its pretty basic and i really try to take nothing at all!! I dont want to have to keep track of crap in camp and while packing up in morning.

I’m with you on that, man; I try to take less and less as time goes on, but when it turns cold the weight starts piling up.