The Gear

UPDATED 5/23/06 - CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES

About The Gear

The objectives are simple: Walk. Eat. Rest. With an emphasis on the first two.

Ultralight gear is not a chosen style because "it's cool". It's absolutely mandatory. Without ultralight gear, how can one carry the amount of calories required to travel nearly 1,000 km over some of the most difficult trekking terrain in North America?

Shoes, Footwear, and Foot Care

Shoes. We're all wearing trail running shoes. As of 5/22, we haven't decided whether we are taking one or two pair. Roman plans on using Salomon XA Pro's, Ryan is fairly well set on Montrail Vitesses (but is taking the Inov-8 O'330's to the gate in training, just to see...), and Jason's undecided.

Socks. We'll use a combination of Smartwool (Roman and Jason) and Darn Tough (Ryan) socks, all in a trail running cushion/light hiking style. We'll carry spare dry socks (Smartwool) for sleeping - with Ryan using PossumDown socks at night.

Footcare. The bulk of Roman's kit will be "pills, tape, and a needle". Ryan's adding Hydropel.

Packs

Expedition packs are being custom made by ULA Equipment and Brian Frankle of Logan, UT. The packs are "harness-style" packs with internal frames that mate with dry bags (from Pacific Outdoor Equipment) which are required to keep gear dry in prolonged rain and river swims/crossings. The packs are being designed to carry 50 pound loads in comfort, but weigh less than 24 ounces.

Active Clothing for Trekking, Wind, and Rain

We won't be moving slow on this trek. Active clothing will focus on a lightweight, breathable base layer setup (with capilene or wool hoody shirts and spandex shorts, combined with mosquito-proof pants). Rain gear will include a 6-ounce rain jacket (Patagonia Specter or GoLite Virga) and 3-ounce Pertex pant (Montane Featherlite). Hat and gloves will be that which is sewn into the base layer shirt.

Sleep System & Insulating Clothing

All synthetic: Polarguard Delta and Pertex Quantum. Custom clothing and quilts from Bozeman Mountain Works, including a hooded Cocoon Pullover (10 oz), Cocoon Pants (7 oz). Sleep system is as yet undecided but will be either a shared 3-person quilt, or if we split into two shelters (e.g., for increased bear safety), a 2-person quilt (25 oz) and a solo quilt (18 oz). Sleeping pads will include Pacific Outdoor Equipment Uberlite Pads (3 oz, Roman and Jason) and the Gossamer Gear Nightlight Torso (3 oz, Ryan).

Shelter

• Tarps made by Dave Olsen at Oware USA (www.owareusa.com) using Cuben Fiber racing sailcloth that use carbon fiber trekking pole shafts for support.
• At this point, we are as yet undecided on whether we'll be sharing a single 8' pyramid tarp or one pyramid tarp and one "half-pyramid" tarp (two shelters offer some advantages in terms of bear protection).

Cooking & Hydration

• Cooking: bush fires and a titanium pot.
• Hydration: soft-sided bladders, one per person, Platypus & Nalgene Cantenes

Navigation

• Maps, compass, pencil, and one GPS to find and mark America's remotest spot

Minor Essentials

• Toothbrush, dermatone, headnets, tape, bug dope, pills, sunglasses, titanium spoons.

Journalism / Publishing Gear

• Nikon DSLR camera kit
• Iridium / Hewlett-Packard Satellite PDA publishing system
• Brunton Solaris solar panel

Food

• A lot. About 45 pounds per person. Includes a bunch of mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, almond butter, Cadbury bars, Kellogg's Fruity Snacks, and Pringles. Details to be revealed later. Suffice to say that each person will be packing about 100,000 calories of food and another 50,000 calories of excess body fat (~15 lbs).

Gear Lists

Stay tuned for a PDF file containing the expedition's detailed gear list.

Comments

[Ryan Jordan]

Solar Power:

Richard295: great question. Unfortunately, impossible to test here in Montana.

I'm heading to Kotzebue for a few days prior and will do final testing there. If worst case conditions can't provide trickle power to the phone and/or PDA, we'll ditch the solar setup and go with spare batteries.

[Kim Skaarup]

To gain weight.!:
Start eating at McDonalds every day.!
Remember the movie "Supersize me".!!

[Pierre Ferrand]

Having used a pair of Salomon XA Pro during a 28 day field survival course in southern Utah last year (at B.O.S.S.)I would have personal reservations about taking them on a 1.000 klick journey. They may well blow-out around mile 350.
While I have no first hand experience with the Salomon Tech Amphib, their overall construction and choice of material may be better suited for you odissey.
Farewell / Pierre

[Eric]

RE: your bear spray.

Bear spray containing over 1.5% Capsicum is able to burn a bear's retinas and blind it permanently. Bear spray this strong is illegal here in Canada for this reason. Most brands sold here are .875%.

We have 1000+ lb bears here and .875% Capsicum is effective on these animals.

The brand you have chosen is 2% capsicum. This brand was created by a hunter who was mauled almost to death by a bear, and it is unnecessarily strong. If you use it in the only way in which it is effective --a strong shot to the face of the animal-- there is a good chance you will permanently blind the bear you use it on.

As an outdoorsman, a "no trace" practitioner, and an environmental steward, I urge you to carry a different brand.

I understand the desire to safeguard your team and your expedition, but I would remind you that your trip is entirely voluntary. You don't have to put yourself into harm's way: you want to.

If you have to blind and starve to death an artic bear just to make your 1000 km mark, will it have been worth it?

Especially when there are so many highly effective but non-blinding options available.

Sincerely,
Eric

[David Olsen]

The UDAP pepper spray is sold in Canada too.

[Eric]

Not at 2% Capsicum though! The EPA version would be illegal to sell or keep here for reasons detailed above.

http://www.udap.com/faq.htm#Q12

[Kevin Sawchuk]

There is a big mis-conception on what is high and what is low glycemic food. Mashed potatos aren't that different from Gu. Even cooked carrots give a high sugar spike. It's primarily a matter of how much fiber is in the thing you're eating. Protein and fat slow absorption and lower the effective glycemic index. High glycemic foods contain the same energy as other food--you just need to eat a bit more often to avoid bonking.
Check out the database section and search for a few foods:
http://www.glycemicindex.com/

[James]

With regard to bear spray. I don't know what % capsicum will cause permanent damage to a human or bear, but none will "burn a bear's retinas" as they are located ate the back of the eye behind the vitreous. Perhaps you meant to say corneas.

[James]

Also, I went to the UDAP web site, and their law enforcement pepper spray is listed at 2% CRC (or 10% OC or 2 million SHU depending on what scale you want to use) which is the same as their bear spray. Are you saying that something that is used on humans by law enforcement will permanently blind a bear?

[David B.]

Congratulations on a very tough trek! I hope and trust that the significance of one of humanity's really tough adventures does not get diluted by armchair quarterbacks and over-the-shoulder environmentalists. You planned, made tough decisions and then followed through with gutsy physical action. I look forward to seeing more of your post-trip download to see what worked and what needed tweaking. So in your opinion what was the hardest part - mental or physical? What is the best thing you personally have received from doing this trek? It seems like it is never what you expect. Thanks, and I look forward to reading of further adventures!

[John Cantor]

Hey guys,

Great work with your expedition. It's been quite an inspiration for me and this year I'll be attempting to traverse the Brooks Range solo, although I plan on moving a fair bit slower and I will have some resupplies.
I will be in Fairbanks on the 12th May (I'm an Australian by the way). Will any of you be around then? It would be great if I could catch up with one or all of you and pick your brains for some info on the trek.

thanks,
John Cantor