A week from today, I leave for Yosemite. A trip literally years in the making will finally be underway (assuming American Airlines doesn’t cancel my flight).

I’ve spent most of today gathering my gear, testing it, weighing it (natch), sorting it, and making decisions as to what stays and what goes. As of now, my pack will weigh between 18 and 20 pounds before food and water. Over 2 pounds of that is my bear cannister. At least it doubles as a stool. My goal is 18 pounds.

In the morning, I’ll finalize a meal plan and see if there are any other gear substitutions which will bring the weight down. Then it’s shopping and packing time. See, I don’t leave for California until Saturday, but most of my gear leaves tomorrow. I’m shipping it to my first-night hotel in Merced via FedEx. Since I will be in Minnesota and Wisconsin from Monday to Wednesday, I have to provide the fully packed box to my neighbor Tom, who conveniently works for FedEx, tomorrow. Anything that doesn’t make the box has to be carried on the plane, and I’m trying to be as light as possible for that.

Whatever ends up in either the box or on the plane will travel on my back for 10 days, so the choices have been critical and, not surprisingly, subject to much thought, rethought, and re-rethought.
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