JMT thru hike gear planning 2021

Maria N, Actually, the laws for bear cans in the ADK’s read “hard sided container.” I had my BV450 up through the high peaks and the ranger never said a word when he stopped us. The only bear to ever break into one was old Yellow-Yellow and she was killed many years ago. Bear Vaults ARE allowed. Ursacks are not.

Anyway, I pack about 2000-2700C per day. I usually loose about a third to a half a pound per day. My murmur fits three bags horizontally. 1) Bearikaide Scout, 2) sleeping bag(quilt)/sleeping cloths, 3) In lieu of a third bag, I pack: fuel, sweatter, rain gear, and some assorted small stuff in that area. 10lbs for the can, 10lbs for everything else (luxury mode) and I am good for a week out.

“Pack everything bulk”

Yeah, moving the F-D food from the factory packaging to sandwich-bag ziplocks saves half (or more) the volume and also some weight.  And the ziplocks can then be used to separate trash from other items.  I wouldn’t leave it like that for months but for a week or two, it’s fine.

Liz, my Sierra gear list.  What I carried this summer, and pretty much what I carried when I hiked the JMT.  Only change I’d make is to add a Chrome Dome umbrella and make the hat optional…a bit more weight, but for me would allow much better temperature regulation.  This may be a bit more weight than you want, base is about 17lbs (so food and water would be on top of this).  And to your question in the other thread, bear cannister goes inside my pack, lying on its side.  Steve

gear

• McHale Sarc-chasm Backpack, bayonet mode
• 2 Black Diamond carbon trekking poles
• Western Mountaineering Ultralight Sleeping bag
• 1 sleeping bag stuff sack
• Inflatable pillow
• Thermarest Neo-Air Large
• 2 Silnylon stuff sacks
• Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Pro Poncho/tarp
• 8 aluminum y-stakes with attached guylines in rolled into tarp
• Mountain Laurel Designs bivy (took this due to mosquito reports and needed it)
• Gerber Dime multitool
• 2-1 liter Smartwater Bottles
• Sawyer Squeeze water filter
• Fenix LD02 mini flashlight
• 1 Bearikade weekender
• Arcade token (for opening bearikade)
• Ti Spoon w/long handle
• 1 600ml titanium pot
• Shaker cup
• Caldera Cone Alcohol stove
• 20 oz denatured alcohol in plastic bottle
• BIC Lighter

optional gear

• Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Tarp (if forecast includes several rainy days)
• Polycro Ground Cloth (this instead of bivy if no bugs expected)

clothes to pack

• Patagonia UL Windbreaker
• Patagonia wind pants
• Western Mountaineering Flash Hoody
• 100 wt fleece gloves
• 100 wt fleece beanie
• Patagonia Merino 1 long sleeve t-shirt
• Underwear
• 1 pair Injinji toe socks
• Mini Pack-towel

first aid

• 3’ Leukotape
• 1 0.5oz Tube Hydrocortisone cream
• 1 0.5oz Tube Anti-Fungal cream
• 5 band-aids w/antibiotic ointment
• Meds (Benadryl, Sudafed, Imodium, Bisacodyl, Tylenol, Bonine)
• Script Meds (Elliquis, Allopurinol, Colchicine, Prednisone)
• 1 sheet shop towel, quartered
• 2 sheets 2^nd skin
• 5 2ns Skin blister patches
• 1 large safety pin

emergency/repair

• 1 roll McNett tape
• ~6’ Duct tape
• Needle & thread
• BIC Lighter
• 9 pieces fire starter
• 10 Katadyn Micropur tablets

 cleanup kit

• Fingertip Toothbrush
• SS Wire Toothpick
• Spare contact lenses
• ½ oz Renu cleansing solution
• Small tin for cleaning contacts
• ½oz Insect Repellent
• 1oz Sunblock

toilet kit

• Toilet paper, 45 sheets
• 2 one quart Ziploc (one for new, one for used TP)
• Deuce of spades trowel
• 1oz Hand gel

miscellaneous

• Sony 100V Digital Camera, 3 batteries
• Map(s)
• Route descriptions
• Compass
• Car key
• Small notepad, pencil
• Sea to Summit mosquito head net (take depending mosquito reports, did and used summer 2019)
• Kathoola microspikes (take depending expected conditions, did and used summer 2019)

clothes to wear

• Prana shorts
• Underwear
• Patagonia Merino 1 t-shirt
• 2 pair Injinji toe socks
• Trail Runners
• Orthotics
• Hat
• Scrap of paper with phone #
• A bit of cash
• Debit card
• Medical insurance card
• Drivers license
• 2 Contact lenses (one each eye)
• 1 pair sunglasses
• Suunto Core Compass/Altimeter watch
• Bandanna
• ½ oz eye drops
• Tin of lip balm

Hi Liz! The setup below is what I’ve been using in the Sierras for the past three years (about 350 miles/25-30 nights). The weight of my tent, sleep system, and bear can is 9.2 lbs. My total base weight is around 14 lbs (a bit on the heavy side but I like my luxuries). I paid approximately $1,300 for the gear listed below. I purchased the tent, backpack, and sleeping mat on the Backpacking Light gear swap and saved $$. Cheaper is usually heavier when it comes to tents. I think Dyneema is worth the money. However; there are some really good silnylon tents that cost about half the price but weigh a pound or two more. I can carry 7-9 days worth of food in my Bearicade Weekender. A BV 500 has a bit more volume and costs around $80, much less than a Bearicade. The ULA catalyst is a bit on the heavy side but allows me to fit the bear can upright or sideways making it easier to balance my load. If you are going to resupply often, the BV 450 is smaller than the 500 and can fit about 5 days worth of food. It would allow you to use a smaller pack. My sleep system is a 40 degree synthetic quilt, down beanie, down jacket, and pants. You can have 50-60 degree nights in lower elevations and below freezing temps and snow in the high country. Layers work best for me. I’m a cold sleeper and the x-therm is a must. I’ve been comfortable down to the low 20s with the pad, quilt and all my layers (rain jacket/pants, down jacket/pants, gloves, socks, down booties). Lots of options to try and see what works best for you!

• Tent-Zpacks-Hexamid Solo Plus-16.8 oz
• Tent Stakes-Shepherd Stakes-ultralight titanium-2.0 oz
• Ground sheet-polycryo-1.7 oz
• Backpack-ULA Equipment-Catalyst-46.0 oz
• Sleeping Bag-Enlightened Equipment-40 Degree Quilt-18.0 oz
• Insulation Layer-MontBell UL Down Pants-9.1 oz
• Insulation Layer -MontBell EX Light Down Jacket-5.6 oz
• Hat-Black Rock Down Beanie-0.8 oz
• Sleeping Mat-NeoAir Xtherm-14.7 oz
• Bear Canister-Bearikade Weekender-32.5 oz

Bearcan isn’t a problem…ever

It’s the other stuff that is the problem😊

My biggest issue was going too fast. Terrain is ez, if used to AT.  Carried ~3 lb extra food from every resupply.  That outweighs (literally) a lot of gear choices.

Unbelievable…..other people ran out of food….

I carried Sierra Designs Flex capacitor which is a adjustable 40-60 liter backpack on the JMT. It fit my Bearikade Blazer (vertically inside the backpack)/Zpacks Duplex etc. You can size it down to 40 liters or 50 liters or whatever easily. Best part is you can get the old grey one for $150. And it carries very well.