Packing List for Spring 2016

I'm packed!

Halleleuia!

Finding a pack this year has been

a stressful adventure for me.

First I found a sweet little 28 Liter Jade pack

that someone listed on my Used Camino Gear

Facebook Page.

The fellow said it had never been used,

so I bought it.

The minute I took it out of the box,

I was hit in the face with FEBREZE!

I knew right away

I'd never be able to use this pack.

I've aired it out for weeks in the desert,

and now, when I ask other people to sniff it,

they can't smell anything.

But I still can't use it.

So it's up for sale.

$70 plus shipping.

Sweet fitting pack!

I thought, "Well maybe I can use my old pack!"

I dragged it up from the basement.

I opened it up

and the smell almost bowled me over!

Phew-ee!  

It smelled like dirty feet!

And so, the shopping game began.

I tried REI in Clackamas, buying a 30L Osprey.

But when I got it home and tried packing up my gear,

it wouldn't fit.

I don't know what they're doing different,

but packs aren't what they were 10 years ago.

The belts are flimsy 

and they're smaller.

Sort of like cereal boxes,

where they give you less,

but charge you more!

So... I took back the 30L and couldn't find anything 

that fit me correctly at the Clackamas REI.

I came home, thought about "What if I just took a sleep sack?"

But then realized I will be doing some colder weather walks

next season, and so

off I went to the Portland Downtown REI.

It was backpack hell.
Nothing fit.

Too short.
Too long. 

The frames hit my hips. 

The shoulder straps rubbed my neck.

Finally, I found this Gregory Jade 38 Liter.

Waaaaaaay too big, thought I.

But I brought it home,

packed it up,

and I though  "I'm going to keep it."

But alas... the 38L truly was way too big.
When I had it completely packed, there was so much loose "skin" at the top that when completely buckled down as tight as it would go,
it flopped around.

I went BACK to REI
and picked up a 36L Osprey.

So...

Someone asked me today what I packed for the Camino.

Here is this year's list:

Down quilt

Nysil pack cover - lighter than the one that comes with the pack

Clothes got packed in a Compression Cube

Merino Wool Short Sleeved Tee

Merino Wool Long Sleeved Tee

Macabi Skirt

3 Pair Boy Cut Underwear

2 pair Wool Socks

Wool Beanie, Wool Gloves, Buff

Cuddle Dud Fleece Shirt

Merino Wool Longjohns

Merino Wool Longjohn Shirt

All of that fits in this compression cube

Puff Jacket

Puff Jacket fits in this compression cube

Laundry kit:  soap, pins, clothesline, and that's my towel

Inside the bottle is about 1/4 bar of grated soap.

You fill the bottle with water,

wash body, hair, or clothes,

using all the liquid.

Then next time, just fill the bottle again.

I'm trying it out in the shower here at home

to make sure it will work for me.

NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE!
It did not work for me.
The soap dissolved FAST and in two days was gone.
I got exactly two showers out of about a quarter bar of soap.
Yikes!
So I"m back to a simple bar of soap in a cheap plastic soapbox.

By the way, have you checked out RumAndChupacabras
on Etsy?
She makes a
Camino Soap (click on link)
and I'm trying it next!

"Stuff"

In the last stuff sack are the following items:

Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and deodorant (red disk)

Ibuprofin and benedryl (blue/green containers)

Plug adapter and tiny green flashlight

Packet of mustard (for cramps)

Extra bite valve

The tiny white disk is a washcloth - expands when wet

Compeed

Toe gel tubes

Surgical Tape

Toe spacers

Ibuprofen Cream

Handkerchief

And under it all is my ALTUS Poncho!

I am also taking a pair of flip flops.

So, that's it!

The pack weighs in at 2 lb 13 oz

and when I'm wearing it,

I'm 12 pounds heavier,

which means all I'm carrying

(minus water)

is 10 pounds.

HOORAY!

I'm ready to go!

Here it is, 

all packed up!

Will I keep this pack?
Not quite sure yet.
I'm going to give my old pack a bath and see what I think.

Buen Camino!

Annie