One Month Out- some of the gear we are bringing!

As of yesterday, March 12, Craig and I are one month away from taking our first steps on the Pacific Crest Trail-ahh! I can't believe how close it is to actually being here! The dream of hiking the PCT has been in our minds for almost two years now, and we a just a few short weeks from it actually coming true, so crazy to think.

We feel mostly like we are prepared for this epic adventure, we have been getting ready for a few months now, but there is obviously more things to do to plan for an adventure of this magnitude!

Luckily we have gone on a few backpacking trips so we own a lot of the gear needed to take on a thru hike. Craig and I upgraded our backpacks to HyperLite's earlier last year, and have really enjoyed them the times that we used them. They are super light and hold weight surprisingly well. Comfort of the backpack is for sure key when you are carrying it every single day for months! The hyperlites had an adjustment period and you want to make sure the straps are tightened just enough since there is minimal padding on the shoulders and hip belt pockets.

The tent that we are planning to use is the Z-Pack Duplex tent. It is a single wall tent with just enough room for two people to snuggle up. This tent is a single wall tent, so condensation is a concern. Setting up the tent is crucial in order to create proper airflow and not be woken up to water dripping on you! It seems like Craig has gotten it mostly figured out, so cozying up in the duplex will be so comfy after a long day of hiking.

The inside of the tent is pretty snug but it is so nice on colder nights. Craig and I fit comfortably in there with our packs.

A gear upgrade that we both did for the PCT was for our sleeping bags. I am generally a colder sleeper so I decided to go with a 10 degree mummy bag. I was hesitant at first since it is such an expensive piece of gear, but I figured I would be sleeping in it for up to 6 months so it is worth it. I would rather sleep comfortably on the trail and allow my body to recover than be cold and not able to get a good nights rest-also the sleeping bag is so puffy and cozy :). Craig went with a 20 degree sleeping bag since he is a warmer sleeper, but is for sure an upgrade from his previous one (that he used on the AT as well). Sleep will be crucial on the trail so a really nice sleeping bag will be luxurious.

Those three pieces of gear are crucial for backpacking! Obviously clothes, misc. items and a first aid kit are also necessary and we are working on getting those items dialed in but we have a pretty good grasp on those. Picking the right gear and getting it dialed in is so important since it is what will be in your possession for a long time-and you are carrying it all so choosing the best essentials is a game changer!