GET: Gear, Food & Caches

I will shove off this coming Monday from the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. I’ve been very busy with last minute preparations.

First of all, I’ve been reviewing my gear condition and have had to make some changes:

1. Really like the comfort and light weight of my Zpacks Arc Blast. But, despite major patching, it did not survive well on the CDT. It is now a bit of a fibrous, holey mess. I understand they are now using a Dyneema Composite Fabric that will hopefully improve durability. In the meantime, I will revert to my trusty but heavier ULA Catalyst which I still really like.
2. For the CDT, I used the Sawyer Mini in the desert and bleach drops from Colorado north. I hate to say the mini was a pain in the ……. hands. I got hand cramps trying to squeeze the bag to push water through that filter and so slow. For the GET, I will use the slightly heavier but easier to use Sawyer Squeeze with a coupler that will support gravity flow. I also got a 2L Evernew water bag from Japan that works well with the Squeeze.
3. I have used LaSportiva Raptors on all my hikes thus far. Good grip and tough shoes but looking for more room in the toe box. My little toes just get crunched with my supination and walking on the outsides of my feet. So early this winter, I bought a pair of Altra Lone Peaks 3.5 and took some test hikes. This is a very popular shoe for thru-hikers but shoes are such an individual thing. I really liked the extra room in the toe box but felt a real lack of support and cushion and the zero drop didn’t seem to support my underpronation at all. I am now trying the Brooks Cascadia which for me, has a larger toe box than the LaSportiva but more cushion and support than the Altras. Time will tell.
4. I replaced worn and frayed Smartwool microweight thermals and Darn Tough socks.

Going with the ULA backpack raises my base weight to just over 13 lbs so still looking for ways to reduce.

All meals are made and resupply boxes mostly filled, pretty much the same menu as previous hikes. Granola or oatmeal or Pop Tarts and Via coffee for breakfast and peanut butter/cheese crackers and almonds/peanuts and dried fruit for lunch. A variety of Knorr sides or rice & beans for a dinner base supplemented with dehydrated vegetables and either tuna or salmon packets, bacon bits or freeze-dried chicken or beef. I’ve thrown in a few Mountain House /Backcountry Pantry meals to spice things up. Usually a daily energy bar for those lower energy afternoons. And for a special evening treat, instant pudding – chocolate, butterscotch, coconut cream or lemon. Despite all this and trail town pigfests, I will still manage to shed several pounds.

This week, I took a drive in a big loop from Tucson around Safford, up to Globe, then down to Dudleyville, cut west on the Freeman Road then back through Catalina and Tucson. Along the way, I cached water near Solomon Pass east of Safford, along the Klondyke Road west of Safford, and put a few gallons at the Freeman Road TH water cache, which was already well-stocked by an AZT trail angel. Not completely necessary, but this will cut down on long water hauls and maybe a few scummy stock ponds.

Let the fun, and no doubt a little pain, begin!