It's coming together

Here we've got some dehydrated/organic, bananas, strawberries and kiwis.  Some of this dried fruit is being incorporated into these amazing trail bars that Sally has been blending up and smashing together lately!  Think dates, almonds, cashews, raisins, cranberries, granola, chocolate and coconut.  The sticky dates and the vaccum seal helps them hold their shape. 

Sally and I were back in the Prolite Gear shop the other day where Nick assisted us in aquiring some trick items!  I bought my pack.  It is called the Windrider and is made by Hyperlite Mountain Gear out of Maine.  It weighs 24 oz. That is all that it weighs! And it's waterproof; and it is super durable, made in the USA, functionally equipped and feels like it is made to do what I want it to do.  Sally wanted the same pack but needed it to be about an inch shorter in the torso than the sz. small pack that they make.   At the urging of the guys in the shop, the next day I called HMG and spoke with Mike there, who assured me that he could indeed make such a pack and could have it to us before we need to hit the trail.  Sally is super-psyched!!! 

She didn't walk out empty handed as she procured a jacket made by Rab.  It is called the Xenon. It weighs in at about 8.5 oz, has a full hood, 60 gr. Primaloft and stuffs down to the size of a mango. Warm and light!  ...and she picked up a couple merino wool thermal layers, cuz it ain't no fun if Sally's cold.

It's looking like we will be going for some Western Mountaineering  32 degree Summerlite down bags. They tip the scales at barely over a pound!

We are still looking at different shoes, probably need a titanium cook pot, and though Sally owns a super nice one, I am in need of a nice, new spork.

...did you see our bud light alcohol stove? 2 pieces of aluminum bottle, nice rolled connection, 1 oz.  $12.  Supposed to boil water pretty effectively.

It's late now.  It took me a while tonight to figure out how to get this blogging capability functioning on my phone. This is hopefully how we can continue to post stuff.   It's starting to feel like it's really coming down to the wire now. Some other projects need to be completed prior to departure, it would be nice to get another day or two, or more of snowboarding in yet, though it seems like summer is almost upon us.   I'm beginning to anticipate the freedom of having only to walk.