General Update

I haven't kept this up very well, but here's a basic update:

Point One, Uno, the Key:

I leave in 6 weeks. Tomorrow. Scary.

Woo!

But seriously, mega-prep still to be done. I've bought most of my stuff... a few small things still hanging out. I'm working out regularly. I still want to get more in shape, and little lighter. I need to do a few more hikes, although I'm reasonably confident in my boots, and like my pack.

Also a major point: The trip is now paid for. Yay!

So, all in all, not bad, just lots of double checking, and continued focus on fitness and final prep. But still mainly daunting that it's ONLY 6 weeks away!

New Daypack

During my recent return to home (Calgary, woot!) went with the fam to MEC to pick up some gear... always tough shopping for this stuff in Memphis, which is not exactly an outdoor pursuits hotspot.

Anyways, long story short, my new daypack (the MEC Gladerunner) is apparently a "freeride daypack" so now I can hike my snowboard up mountains in the winter. All I know is that it does what I want, is the right size, and fit really well.

New Hiking Boots

Vasque - Zephyr GTX

Finally got around to buying new hiking boots last weekend... much more serious than the current cross-trainer-ish type hikers than I've been wearing the past couple years.

These also replace my way-old non-waterproof heavier-than-heck all-leather boots that I basically never wore.

And yes, I need to break them in - although I did go for a light 3.5 hour hike the day after I bought them and had no problems, hotspots, blisters or anything, so the time spent in the shop trying them on and entertaining/scaring the other customers apparently paid off.

One of those "why I'm going" pictures

This is from a blog by some Brits from Yorkshire of their climb back in January.



Appropriately labeled "The view from our tent".

Heck yes! And that's at Karanga Velly camp, around 12,000 feet in altitude, day 4 of the same route (at the beginning at least) I'm taking.

Drat.

It's important to note that opportunities for really cool experiences like this don't come without sacrifices. In this case, there's lots of supposed sacrifices (training, planning time, etc.) that are actually worthwhile things in themselves. And obviously there's the cost (major coin).

However, there are actual sacrifices involved... the sort of thing that Warren Buffett crossed with any economist could call "the opportunity cost for psychic satisfaction".

In this case, my trip dates eliminate the possibility of doing two really great things: First, some of my favourite people here are spending the Labour Day weekend in a beach house. Without me. Major suckage, as my high school self would have put it. Secondly, the Austin City Limits Music Fest is the final weekend of the trip... meaning of course, that I will not be seeing Bob Dylan, Joss Stone, the White Stripes, Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Block Party, Bjork, etc, etc, bloody etcetera at this time.

Bleh.

Ah well, it'll be worth it, surely.

Poles

And no I'm not talking about our friends from Poland...

REI Product Page

Alright... so I'm not a small guy. I'm not getting any younger. I insist on running despite these things. So I don't have great knees.

However, I try not to be outright stupid about things... and in addition to adopting a 'knee friendly' running stride, I'm also perfectly OK with poling my way up - and especially down - hills.

However, this grand dream has been put off - until now. I always held off on buying a set of trekking poles, even though I know they're for my own good. Two main reasons:

1) They look goofy
2) They're for old people
3) They're expensive

OK, three main reasons, but points 1) and 2) can be bucketed under "vanity" together pretty easily. Besides, the ones I'm getting are sort of tech-y looking. Sort of. And Paul Klein's Mom was a wicked fast hiker and SHE used them... she'd just go poling by everyone half her age, with that smooth pole flicking noise they'd generate. So that takes care of #2.

As for #3, they're on clearance, man! And better last a lifetime or I'm holding REI responsible.

Headlamp

REI Product Page



Alright - as I've been laid up the past couple days, I figure this is a perfect opportunity to delve into the mysterious world of backpacking gear for the first time in a few years. After all, I now NEED some things, cool gadget-ish things that I always want but don't buy because I don't really NEED them.

Except now... I do.

So, first out of the gate: a decent headlamp.

Man these things are WAY cheaper and better than they used to be! Funny what years of technological progress will eventually get you in consumer value!

So, why this one? After a bunch of reading, I seemed pretty settled on a hybrid incandescent/LED lamp. In terms of functionality, LEDs of course give you really long battery life (which is why they'll eventually take over industrial and home lighting in the future) but lag on throwing off volumes of light any kind of distance (why you aren't seeing LEDs in car headlights yet). So, a hybrid seemed the way to go.

However, reading enough reviews of the newer "super bright" LEDs pushed me in that direction... I figure how much light do I really need? I'll be packing a flashlight as well anyways, and the lighter weight / longer life seemed appealing.

So, I ended up with the headlamp pictured here. And of course, I had an REI coupon.