This trip will be the first time I have ever hiked with a backpack, but let me hasten to add, the load will be light because we do not have to carry sleeping bags or food. Nevertheless, finding the right pack is of paramount importance. It took about 5 hours total and two trips to REI working with the staff there, and trying on about 20 different packs loaded with small sacks to approximate weight. The first purchase was a non-starter and I returned it the next day. A very helpful woman staffer worked with my husband, John, and me on our next REI visit, and I finally chose a very light-weight pack by Osprey, the Atmos 35 (35 liter capacity).
The forecast says we will have mostly overcast skies, some rain, but the temperatures will be in the 60's and low 70's most of the time.
My pack will weigh a total of about 12-15 pounds. I have standard gear including hiking pants, light fleece jacket, rain pants, rain jacket, poncho, sun hat, minimal changes of clothes, a small Spanish-English dictionary, one Magadalen Nabb murder mystery (R.I.P - a great mystery writer who died within the last year or so), a copy of Temple of the Mind - about 17th education, and toiletries, medicines, sun hat, a water bottle, 6 Power Bars, and my small camera. I have also thrown in a couple of scarves so I can approximate some kind of "trail chic."
I am not sure I will be able to upload pictures to my blog from the various internet cafes we hope to find along the way, so photos will come later. Plus I don't have to carry the extra cord for the camera.
John will be taking the guide books and actually carrying my toiletries and a few other things for me. He volunteered to be a kind of Sherpa for me on this trip.
And today my blog got its first "follower" -- my colleague from the Justice Center, Mel Green. Gracias, Mel!
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