My Gear List - Pick it apart!

[Bigglesworth]

Below is my gear list. Please feel free to give your opinions. I am debating the following, in particular: Should I bring a head net? Can I dump my convertable pants? Maps or guide book pages? Should I switch to a different bear cannister (which I hesitate to do because I own the Garcia and I know how it configures with my pack).

Here it is...

Gear List	JMT 2013
WORN/CARRIED	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Baselayer - top	ss REI top
Baselayer – top 2	REI Sahara ls shirt w/ collar		sun
Baselayer bottom	EMS techwick longjohns		sleepwear
Midlayer top	EMS Ascent down puffy	13
Outer layer bottom	Generic running short
Outer layer bottom 2	Pants - convertable		necessary??
Socks	Darn tough low cut (2)		May switch out 1 long smartwool
Headwear	KAVU (wide brimmed) hat
Eyewear	Adidas sunglasses
Shoes	Asics Gel Fuji Trainer 2	15.8	Crocs too?
OTHER CLOTHING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Gloves	EMS liner
Balaclava	REI
Hat	None for warmth		Balaclava will suffice
Rain Jacket	Patagonia Torrentshell	12.2	Weight ok for cost
Rain Pants	None		Little snow this year
PACKING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Pack	GoLite Jam	27
Stuff sacks	Various
Wallet	Ziplocs
Bear Cannister	Garcia machine	44	Miserable, required
SLEEPING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Bag	Sierra Designs Cal Down 13	28	Replaced old bag L
Pad	Thermarest Neoair	15
SHELTER	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Tent	Zpacks Hexamid solo tent	About 16 total for all shelter items
Ground cloth	Zpacks cuben fiber solo
Stakes	Virgo titanium – 8
Stuff sacks	For tent and stakes – cuben
COOKING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Pot	Snow Peak titanium 700 ml	4.8	Cooking dinner only
Spork	Snow Peak titanium	.6
Stove	Fancy Feast alcohol stove	.3
Windscreen	Aluminum foil
Alcohol fuel container	8 oz bottle		May need bigger
HYDRATION	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Bladder	Camelback 2L
Bottle	Platypus foldable 1 L	.8	Switch to Powerade bottle?
Sterilization	Tba – steripen or aqua mira
TOILETRIES/FIRST AID	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Contact lenses	10 pair at a time, trimmed
Spare glasses	Rx		necessary
Bug spray	Bens		No head net
Hair Brush	Modified travel w/mirror		A must for me
Tooth brush	Trimmed childs
Tooth paste	Mini travel
Wet wipes	5 cut in half at a time		Necessary w/ contacts
Toilet paper	Mini roll
Blister care	Gell pads (6)
Wound cover	Thin post surgery covers (2)
Duct Tape	Duct tape
Tool	Mini-Leatherman squirt	2
Hand sanitizer	Purell		May not bring
Topical Containers	Sunscreen, chapstick		1 each resupply
Other	2 AA batteries		Camera and headlamp
LIGHTING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Headlamp	Mammut S-Flex	1.7 w/ battery
RECORDING	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Camera	Canon digital point and shoot		Older, same as AT
Journal	Mini paper notebook
Pen	Generic mini
Other	GoalZero solar panel		Considering bringing
MISCELLANEOUS	ITEM	WT (OZ)	COMMENTS
Map			May not bring
Guide Materials	Paperback guidebook
Cash, Permit, ID, Card
Fire	Bic mini lighter
Cell Phone	Texting and emergency
Trekking Poles	Black Diamond Trail Ergo		My tent pole

[fredmugs]

My only comment is that I fried pretty bad and even with sun screen I had to wear my rain pants to cover up my legs. I hiked the JMT first week of Sept last year. Make sure you can cover your exposed skin if required. I used Halfmile's maps. Even if you don't use them I would still review them before leaving because he lists lots of water and camping places by mile marker. Very useful info.

[markdek]

Consider this hat:

http://www.tahoemountainsports.com/product/chillba-hat

[Lone_Star]

How well do you think your alcohol stove will work in the High Sierras? I've been led to believe that alcohol stoves perform poorly at altitude and in cold/windy conditions. 8 oz is very small. I would carry a whole bottle of HEET (12 oz) if you're going to go that route. I use an alcohol stove regularly here in Texas, but I'm thinking of taking a pressurized fuel (butane) cooking system to be safe. Thoughts anyone?

[Coffee]

Try the Outdoor Research Sun Runner cap if sun exposure is an issue. I wore this hat along with long sleeve smartwool microweight shirt and convertible pants with the bottoms left on during a recent Grand Canyon trip. Also, fingerless gloves used with trekking poles. I only applied sunscreen to my nose and front of my fact and to my fingers which were exposed to sun due to my use of the trekking poles. I had no sunburn issues at all. I find that covering up in areas with lots of sun exposure is better than putting on a ton of sunscreen multiple times per day.

[staehpj1]

How well do you think your alcohol stove will work in the High Sierras? I've been led to believe that alcohol stoves perform poorly at altitude and in cold/windy conditions. 8 oz is very small. I would carry a whole bottle of HEET (12 oz) if you're going to go that route. I use an alcohol stove regularly here in Texas, but I'm thinking of taking a pressurized fuel (butane) cooking system to be safe. Thoughts anyone?

I have not had any issues with using my alcohol burner at a little over 10,000'. I have not used it higher than that though. Some of those times were colder than the temps I expect to see on the JMT. For windy conditions a wind screen is a must.

As far as how much fuel to carry... My understanding is that you can buy alcohol by the ounce several places along the JMT.

My concern with using an alcohol stove is whether, given the minimal snow pack this year, there will be burning bans that ban alcohol stoves. Does any one have thoughts on how likely that is? Since I am planning to drive there I figured I could take both the canister stove and the pop can stove in the car and decide when I get there which to put in the pack.

[Lone_Star]

I originally thought about taking my Trangia alcohol stove and windscreen and resupplying with HEET along the way. I haven't heard of any burning bans, but I'll let others on or more familiar with the trail comment on that. I've decided, however, to go with my butane stove/burner and 4 oz cans, not just because of the cold and wind, but also the higher altitude. Boil times are slow where I'm at (near sea level), and I've heard they can be twice as long at altitude. That means waiting longer for my meals and using twice the fuel. I'm not sure there will be any weight savings is that is the case, so a pressurized system is what I'll likely use. I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say, especially if they've used alky stove on the JMT.

[garyp]

yes burning bans are in place already.

[Kerosene]

Alcohol stoves banned in 2016 also.

[Collin]

My subjective 2 cents: mosquitoes seem to come and go on the JMT- the weight penalty for a headnet is practically nothing, but the downside of not having one is huge. I don't think you are going to save much weight by going with a cat stove (if it is allowed- I did not come across anyone who had one in July) since you'll need a wind screen and fuel for the trip since you'll prob have to assume you cannot pick it up anywhere along the trail (I don't recall seeing heet at Reds or MTR). I whole heartedly second suntan lotion.

[Collin]

Also, I would be leery of a stove you can't turn off out there even if it is allowed. You can have fires below certain elevations in each park you cross in pre-existing fire pits and it was so dry out there that I started my fires by literally just picking up a small twig and lighting one end of it on fire for 5 seconds. It is crazy dry out there. Not used to that from the east coast.