Making an attempt to go too gentle with my backpack, beginning with footwear that match quite than these with room to develop into, and bringing a range in blazing warmth are simply among the traditional gear errors I made in the course of the New Mexico portion of the CDT. After experiencing it for myself, right here’s what I might convey if I have been to do it once more and why.
What I’d Now Pack for New Mexico (versus what I packed)
Shelter: Wouldn’t change a factor. Liked that the Gatewood Cape may seal off from bugs on two of the three sides (with rocks) and saved me dry in monsoon rains. The tent pegs held even in very excessive winds.
- Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
- Polycryo Tarp
- Sea to Summit Floor Management Tent Pegs (5)
weight: 13.75 oz
Sleep System: Although I extremely worth sleeping heat and there have been some colder nights, I in all probability may’ve introduced a lighter sleeping bag since I additionally had my sleeping bag liner. I actually like how cozy my Sea to Summit 30 diploma bag is, and it could’ve helped preserve the biting flies off of me in south New Mexico. It weights 17.4 ouncesas a substitute of the 21 ouncesmy quilt does. The desert is sort of prickly and I might’ve quite carried my extra resilient Sea to Summit sleeping pad quite than the paper-thin Thermarest I’ve been utilizing. It’s 9.8 ouncesmore but additionally blows up extraordinarily simply with simply your mouth and lungs, no further bag or battery-powered tools required (not that I exploit these with the Thermarest pad, I simply select to battle).
- Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag 30 F – (Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt 10 Diploma F Brief 950 w/Draft Collar)
- COCOON Silk Mummy Liner
- Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad, Ladies’s – (Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad)
weight: 37.9 oz
Pack: Oh boy. I assumed these hips may deal with the Gossamer Gear Murmur 36 however my IT bands had different concepts. Right here I went too gentle, as I undoubtedly want hip padding and the Murmur has none. So I ended up with an affordable frameless backpack from Walmart that I minimize the highest pouch off of and used all the best way to Chama once I may get my deliberate second pack (yikes). I’ve had nice success with the Gossamer Gear Kumo that I personal prior to now, and will’ve simply caught with that.
- Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 – (NOT the Murmur or Walmart pack!)
weight: 20 oz
Kitchen: It was laborious sufficient for me to eat whereas within the scorching, dry desert and when adjusting to the bodily calls for of thruhiking. I undoubtedly didn’t want a scorching meal, or a gross rehydrated meal (I attempted the flamboyant backpacking meals as soon as extra and so they ended up being my emergency meals). I might ditch my pot lid, spork, range, and the pot cowl I used for my bear cling (I remembered I knew the way to simply wrap the guyline immediately across the tossing rock).
- TOAKS Titanium Tenting Cup 450ml (no lid)
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
- Platypus Platy Water Bottle – 70 fl. oz.
- Bear Bag System w/UL Meals Bag, Ultraglide Bear Line (40′ Hank)
weight: 15 oz
Hygiene / First Assist / Survival: I used to be very glad to have an ample quantity of sunscreen and Natural Armor bug spray, in addition to my MIO electrolyte bottle in order that I by no means ran out. They’re all absolute staples within the New Mexico desert.
- BIC Mini Lighter
- 2 ouncessunscreen, 3 ouncesinsect repellant bottle
- MIO Electrolytes
- GUM Journey Toothbrush + Toothpaste Tabs + Floss
- ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 Private Locator Beacon
- Mini Pepper Spray Key Chain
- CVS Mini Foam Curler
- Restore & First Assist Equipment: Sawyer O-Rings, Tenacious Tape. Inhaler, Epi-Pen, Tweezers, Security Pin, Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Aspirin, Dramamine, Loperamide, Needle and Thread, Duct Tape (on pole)
weight: 24 oz
Misc: I do advocate having a BUFF readily available for the dusty street walks and potential sandstorms. It turns into an each evening factor to cough up and blow out mud. Having some comfortable insoles for these foot-pounding street walks can be important.
- Gel shoe inserts (I typically get what’s low-cost so long as it’s not the skinny foam ones that collapse immediately)
- CDTC Buff
- Nitecore NU25 UL 400 Headlamp (good and vivid for these nighttime desert walks)
- Nitecore NB10000 Gen 2 Battery (simply sufficient)
- Cell Cellphone + Amazon Waterproof Case + Charger
- ID + Playing cards + Money (sure distant locations I did actually need money)
- Pee cup (I just like the novelty of not having to completely get out at evening, and have simply been utilizing these disposable plastic lodge cups once I can)
weight: 25.5 oz
Clothes: The one very, crucial factor I might change is bringing thigh-high socks to completely cowl my legs. With my higher calf to mid thigh uncovered, I used to be not simply topic to some fairly wild tan traces. At one level my uncovered leg pores and skin peeled off in sheets (fortunately it didn’t harm, solely my warmth rash did), and the horse flies had a area day with that particular a part of the physique. Additionally, the street walks and warmth will trigger your ft to swell shortly– convey a shoe that could be a half dimension greater than what you have been carrying earlier than path, with loads of room for these gel inserts. My worn clothes is listed first.
- Thigh-high wool socks (sadly Darn Powerful, which I usually use, solely makes calf-high and that’s not sufficient)
- Brooks Ladies’s Cascadia Path-Operating Sneakers (the older variations are way more resilient than the most recent and I purchase them calmly used)
- Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Solar Gown (hood is totally obligatory within the desert warmth)
- Continental Divide Path Affiliation Ultralight Packable Hat (wonderful air flow and cinching for the winds)
- Revo FORGE Sun shades
- Black Diamond Non-collapsible Carbon Poles
- Mountain Hardwear AirMesh Hooded Prime
- Mountain Hardwear Males’s Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody (I’ve broad shoulders and that is higher for layering than the ladies’s)
- Patagonia Capilene Thermal Base Layer Set (Midweight)
- Smartwool Energetic Fleece Beanie
weight 23.7 oz
Complete Weight: 159.85 oz, 10 lbs
What I Would possibly Take into account Including: A Correct Sunbrella
I did have a Snow Peak umbrella that fell off my pack throughout an on-and-off thunderstorm, and a few Out of doors Analysis solar gloves that I left close to a cow trough, however these ended up not being obligatory for me. Between my mountain climbing costume with thumb slots that covers most of my arms, in addition to a hood, and my BUFF, I used to be high quality with out it. I do assume a correct, reflective sunbrella could be actually useful for the extraordinarily scorching street walks.
I hope this lets you keep away from among the errors I made, and to maintain your pack as gentle as potential whereas blazing by means of New Mexico!
When you loved studying this, please try my creator web page!
This web site accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, which implies The Trek could obtain a share of any services or products you buy utilizing the hyperlinks within the articles or commercials. The customer pays the identical value as they’d in any other case, and your buy helps to help The Trek’s ongoing purpose to serve you high quality backpacking recommendation and data. Thanks to your help!
To study extra, please go to the About This Website web page.
No responses yet