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August 13th to 17th 2011: North Lake to South Lake via Lamarck Col

Gear (see Food section for cooking gear)

Base Weight = 13.3 pounds (note that this includes a 2.5 lb empty bear can and full 0.75 lb fuel canister)

This includes everything except clothing worn, trekking poles, water, and food.   The itemized list is below.

Pack: ULA Ohm with trash compactor bag for waterproofing.
Tent: Tarptent Rainbow with diluted silicone painted on floor instead of groundsheet.
Bag: Western Mountaineering Megalite with 2 ounces overfill.
Pad: 1.5" thick Montbell shortened to 35" by Bender of KookaBay.com (13.8 oz) and 1/8" x 24" x 72" foam pad from Suluk46.com (1.9 oz).  In the future I will probably swap my Montbell pad for an uninsulated Kooka Bay air mattress, which will provide more comfort for less weight (72" x 20" x 2.5" mummy shape, 12.5 ounces, $89.99 at KookaBay.com).
Pillow: Montbell (2.5 oz)
Bear Can: BearVault 500
Clothing: See photos below.
Cookset for 3: See food / cooking section.
Water: Two 1-liter soda bottles plus Aqua Mira drops.
Bugs: BPL Mosquito Headnet and tiny dropper bottle of 100% DEET
Ditty Bags: See photos below.
Camera: Pentax Optio W30 with mini-tripod.

I think my clothing system is about as simple as you can get for the Sierra's, without sacrificing comfort or safety.  Clothing worn consists of: cotton dishtowel to protect ears and neck, visor (to be replaced with a cap, white long sleeve synthetic shirt, synthetic stretch work-out pants*, synthetic boxer briefs*, synthetic under the ankle socks*, Dirty Girl gaiters and running shoes.  Also shown are Iniji toe socks, which I bring as backup socks in case I start to develop toe-to-toe blisters;  for this trip, they stayed in my pack.  If I get hot while hiking, I simply roll up the pants. * from Target

Warm clothing carried consists of: fleece hat, Montbell UL Down Sweater and wool sleep socks.  I used to bring fleece mittens but now simply pull my hands into my jacket.

Rain gear carried consists of a 3M Porepro jacket and Tyvek pants.  All clothing carried (warm and rain) weighs 1 lb 7 oz and lives in a supermarket plastic bag, except for the down jacket, which gets stuffed around the bear can.  There is no dedicated sleep gear.  At night I always strip and clean my entire body then put my clothes back on.  My clothes don't get too dirty since I usually jump in a lake with them on once a day.

Bag 1 from top left: sleeping pad repair kit, 100% DEET in tiny bottle (not used), light, earplugs, Imodium.  From middle left: nasal spray (oxymetazoline HCL 0.05%), Ibuprofin in film canister jar of Boudreaux's Butt Paste (16% zinc oxide, used as sunblock and for chaffing), Chapstick with sunscreen, tinctures of benzoin, safety matches.  From bottom left: toothbrush, knife with tweezers, extra light, extra battery, signal mirror.  This bag and all of its contents weighs 9 ounces.  First aid is lacking!  The other ditty bag I bring a tiny containter of Dr. Bronners soap, a mini Bic lighter, and toilet paper.  I'm going to swap the mini Bic for a full size one.  TP consists of paper towels cut into approximate 4" x 4" squares.  I use one square per wipe, and about 3 wipes per movement, then burn the paper in the hole.

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