Grab Some Gear...

Some of you i know have looked at the gear list on this blog and therefore panicked... But DON'T!

One thing you will absolutely need to own if you don't already are hiking boots. It's pretty important to have your own pair of hiking boots. (partly it's just good hygiene to own something you're going to sweat in that much, but also it'll be more comfortable.)

It would also be good to ask around amongst your friends to see if anyone has a backpack you can borrow. You'll need one with a frame (internal or external) and a decent size not like school book size. What they call Day and a Half packs will work for this one to two nighter but it's best to get something with a solid aluminum frame - day and a half packs tend to have like thick plastic board rather than a full on frame. and if you carry a lot of water or the like it'll hurt your back...

Now here are some good cheats:
1) clothes - super easy to find decent backpacking clothes at second hand stores. Yoga pants and bra tops are great for long underwear if you can find close fitting spandex/poly ones (NO COTTON).

2) socks - you can find pretty cheap wool socks all over the place you don't need to buy Smartwool or other top of the line socks... look at any store (walmart, kmart, target) and you should find really cheap ones in the mens department under work socks, but make sure they fit well!!! baggy socks will give you blisters.

3) if you're little like me, go to the kids section of any gear shop, MUCH cheaper! maybe not as fancy or pretty or well made but cheaper and they do the job!

4) tuperware containers make great camp bowls! and it's pretty easy and cheap to find good water bottles (they sell them in my grocery store these days) - nothing fancy like the super expensive nice camelbacks... and again, borrow from your friends (they say that you need a gallon of water for 24 hours when backpacking which is like four nalgenes but really i've never carried that much, we'll have a couple dromedaries and just bring what you have and we'll work it out)

5) things like stoves, group pots, dromedaries, tents, etc - i can find/supply/buy a lot of that so you only need to bring it if you have it or know someone who does who doesn't mind lending it (or invite them along too!!!)

6) i will also make sure to coordinate food considerations for all too as we get closer to October.