I visited my eye doctor yesterday and told him what I was up to. He gave me some extended wear contact lenses so I wouldn't have to stick my dirty finger in my eye a couple times a day while on the trail. They also relieve me of having to carry saline and supplies. I put them in and leave them for two weeks. Then I throw them out and put in another pair. They sound ideal for trail use. I'll be testing them out over the next three weeks.

I'm trying to be as light as I can be. From my training hikes, I am learning how much difference a few pounds makes in my speed and comfort. My tent is one of the lightest on the market in my size. At 6'2", I have to make a weight compromise in order to have a tent long enough for me. I have the Big Agnes Seedhouse one man tent. The hardcore fastpackers only bring the frame and rain fly, but I think it is worth the few ounces to have the bug netting around me. My bag is also Big Agnes, the Lost Ranger, and my sleeping pad is cut to fit that bag, keeping me from having to waste ounces by carrying a bulky rectangular pad. Big Agnes is a small Steamboat Springs, CO company that specializes in light outdoor gear. They give a portion of their sales to the Conservation Alliance and I feel good buying from them.

My pack is an Osprey Aether 70. It is light, but not the lightest on the market. The pack comes with a heavier hip belt that dealers can heat and mold around the buyer's hip bones. It makes for a comfortable pack. I was willing to exchange a few ounces for that comfort.

Time for work (for two more weeks). More on equipment later.

I made my plane reservations today. I arrive in Atlanta on April 15th and start hiking April 17th. I will spend the 16th picking up a few things, like stove fuel, that I can't take on the airplane.

Sorry for the lack of posts but a lot of the planning makes boring reading.