Ready to Rock!

We're all packed up and ready to roll! I always forget how much work it is to organize, pack and figure out the logistics of planning an extend trip into the mountains. There's so much to think about to make sure you have all the appropriate gear, clothes and food. We've put together gear and clothes lists to make sure nothing is forgotten and made a daily menu for our food, complete with calories per meal, to make sure we have everything we need to get us through some long days and to prevent over packing. We are aiming to consume 3500 -4000 calories per day for climbing days, but at the same time we do not want to pack too much food. The last thing I want to do is haul in any extra weight on our uphill slog to base camp!

We have 3 sets of gear, food, etc. set out:

- One for our Fast and light overnight (maybe two night) trip up Uto Peak, which fits in a 35 L pack and weighs around 35lbs. (It's a big accomplishment for me to camp over night, with all my climbing gear, crampons and ice axe and keep my pack around 30lbs!) There are no extras coming with us, not even a book or toothbrush. Lets hope for no rain days as being tent-bound with no book or entertainment will be horrifying!

Uto Peak; Summer 2008

-A second bag for our 6 day stay in Hermit Meadows, which is in a 65L pack which weighs about 55lbs since we have significantly more food as well as some "luxury" items like a book, cards, change of clothes, soap and a toothbrush!

Hermit Meadows

-and a 3rd set of gear for our second week of the trip where we plan on doing car-camping based climbs (mountains and cragging). This is pure luxury; we even get to have pillows and a BBQ! Sweet! It'll be a nice treat to eat fresh food too instead of KD and boil-in-a-bag meals.

The hardest part of the organization was the food by far. Trying to plan every meal for every day for two weeks was not easy. especially when weight and calorie intake were both issues. It involved several evenings of calorie counting and weight comparisons to find light weight foods with the highest calories.

Now its time to pack everything in the truck and keep our fingers crossed for good climbing weather!