#thruhiking

The hours are dissapearing, my start date feels like its been inching towards me as i'm moving through time towards it. Matter of fact it is, my start has moved from the 8th to the 6th to the 1st of August.

Because I'm hiking alone, I have the freedom to make these kinds of changes at my own discretion and though I'm not out there yet, I can already basque in the glory and solitariness of that freedom, however lonely or empowering.

I've set aside my set of clothes, one shirt, one pair of lined shorts, two pairs of socks and a hat. So that they're clean and easy to find the night before my departure, they won't be clean for very long.

My cotton button down hiking shirt, which I found as a thrift store last month already has the outline of my backpack straps bleached into the fabric from my first time hiking in it. I've fallen sentimental to that navy blue striped shirt, when you go through really vivid experiences with only one shirt that tends to happen.

I added some seam grip to my shoes yesterday to protect the exposed threads from abrasion at the recommendation of Dan Durston, the famous prolific pack and tent maker. As I go through my pack I see only the shadow of my inspirations. Each piece of gear, I've come aware of by studying the practices of my favorite hikers. John Z, Glen Van Peski, Scott Williamson, Ray Jardine, Kerouac.

Its funny, I'm so thrilled to get out there and hike, and to document the journey, but sometimes it feels like the goal isn't grand enough, like anyone could go out and hike the JMT, somehow making it less grandesque and alluring.

Chase standing with some alpine snowmelt around 12,000'. The water is so clear that the enlightened hiker can see ideas on how to reduce packweight in their own reflection.

Standing atop Reds Peak Pass. Somewhere I'd been dreaming about for more than a year.

My abode, pitched on a night with immaculate weather neaer 11,000'. Huge thanks to John Z for making such an ideal shelter.

Chasre having some dinner at altitude, looking sheik and cracking jokes before accidentally inhaling a large bug and couging it back up crushed. These are the moments that cement the memories.

For the last three years, I've been working on refining my electronics kit for backpacking. I've now got this category of gear down to 29.6 oz. That may sound like a lot (and it is more than my 20 degree sleeping bag). Until you consider that It includes 4k video capability, 24,800 Mah of external battery storage, 2 way satellite communication and SOS from virtually anywhere on the globe.

Whats included... Total Weight: 29.6oz

Camera - 10.5 oz. - Sony ZV-1 with (1) battery and wrist band

Tripod - 1.6 oz. - Pedco Ultrapod 1

Camera Batteries - 1.7 oz. - (2) np-BX1 with rubber band

Lens cloth - 0.1 oz. - lens cloth and dime baggie

Battery bank - 10.8 oz. - (2) Nite Core NB 10,000

Wall Port - 1.4 oz. - Anker block (usbc)

Light - 1.7 oz. - Nite Core NU 25 UL

Satellite communicator - 5.5 oz. - Zoleo (SOS and 2-way message)

Cords - 2 oz. - usbc, usb, lighting.

With my new found joy of documenting my hikes on video, having a high quality camera and the ability to keep it charged for 5 days comes with a pretty sizable weight penalty (13.9 oz to be exact). But I don't feel that it unencumbers my minimalism out there.

Carrying more battery capacity keeps the experience subversive by making the neccesary charging stops less frequent.