Sample Gear List, Light

2010-07-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

I've cleaned up my own private key spreadsheet. This is my gear, some general explanations about what it's used for. It totals to 30 lbs

Example Gear Spreadsheet

This does not include food or water. Note that I listed all the shared gear in this list. The weight of the shared items will be spread within the group. So you can see that going with at least one other person is very advantageous!

In future posts, I'll explain why I chose some of my other personal gear. There are specific women's backpacking gear and it's not just for marketing reasons.

Gear to Join Backpacking Group

2010-07-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

This particular post is for those who are joining a group that has gone backpacking before, or joining a group with shared group gear taken care of.

"Group gear" includes tents, stove(s), water filter(s). I also classify things like a bottle of campsuds (biodegradable soap), bug spray, sunscreen as group gear. There's no point for everyone to buy little bottles or little packets. Each group has their own system and not all groups have group leaders that finds planning fun (me!)

The gear I listed is most likely stuff a beginner does not have. I'm not going to list "duct tape" here even though you should bring it because who does not have this wonderful product at home?! I will cover what you should bring in a different post... also there are many good lists on-line. I am not just going to list, I'm going to explain to you why I came to the conclusion I am recommending something.

Group Minimum Requirements
1) 10 Essentials (search for it) or see here
2) Everyone should have at least read some introduction to backpacking / hiking guides
3) Entrance pass to where you are going if required

I'll cover more on group gear later, since I meticulously analyzed my own group gear.

Minimum Requirements
1) Backpack, 70 liters
2) Sleep bag (3 season, 15 degree) + pad
3) Trekking poles
4) Bandanna (trust me, buy the original buff)
5) Waterproof outwear (or plastic bag works if you really don't want to)
6) Waterproof boots

REI member rental fees, as of 2010
Based on x days, pick up and drop off day is free.
1) Sleeping bag = 21 + 6 * (x-1) //4 days = $39
2) Sleeping Pad = 7 + 3 * (x-1) //4 days = $16. I have 2 that the first two people can borrow
3) Pack = 12 + 6 * (x-1) //4 days = $30
4) Bear canister = 10 + 4 * (x-1) // 4 days = $26

Permit Fees
1) Backcountry permit - talk this over with your group leader

Prices for gear that you can't rent at REI
1) Original buff bandanna - $15. I cannot tell you how useful this has been to me. I've used it to cover my head from the hot sun, cover my face to sleep in the cold, cover my head or face when doing remodelling at home, using it as a scarf, using it to block bugs from getting into my ears. Get this and thank me later.

2) Boots - I scored waterproof men's ones for $90 dollars. Women's boots not on sale is about $200. If you really can't afford it, bring more change of socks. If you are just thinking "pfff I don't need that", again I've hiked in a perfect July summer in Big Bear only to get soaked and hiked down the mountain I was freezing, then had to drive an hour back to camp in underwear, no socks and squishy shoes. It's funny as a story but it's not really not good for you.

3) Wool socks - It's expensive and I once thought it was unnecessary until I used 2 borrowed pairs for 10 days in europe in March. I was SO thankful, it kept my feet warm when cold and kept my feet cool when I sweat. If you really can't afford it, prepare to bring more change of socks.

3) Trekking poles - $70. I saw on craigslist someone is selling their old ones for 10 dollars just today. My uncle was using trekking poles and I always made fun of him for being an old man. Until I was taking 2 steps forward and sliding back down during an early spring hike in Yosemite. The trail was steep and icy and it took all my effort with my measly 10 lb day pack to get up and down. I admit I fell a few times. In the snow it was hilarious, but when I fell on some slippery rocks... I had a giant bruise on my arm for show and tell ;). Now, with a 30 lb pack (this is the weight of our packs), you need the trekking poles to stabilize yourself. I convinced my best buddy who was also cynical about trekking poles that they are life saves during our trip.

4) Raincoat - Go to rei, outlet, outerwear, women's outerwear, waterproof rainware. There's a decent jacket starting at 40 dollars. If you really can't afford it, a plastic bag will do. But you must have something! Again, getting soak makes a great story but not great for your health.

Other recommended stuff
1) Beanie - best way to keep warm. You can search for it online. My beanie and I are inseparable during any type of trip.

2) Waterproof gloves or fast dry liner gloves - it gets cold at night, even when it's hot in the day.

My gear acquiring method
The stuff I recommend that you buy or rent, I recommend you wait for an REI sale, but before hand look through reviews and think about how much it WEIGHS. You WILL be carrying it on your back. Some of my strategies

1) REI, REI outlet. I save a list of stuff I want, then I wait for coupons for 20% off 1 item, I also get notified of used gear sales and their cleranance sales.

2) Craigslist - Setup an RSS feed. I cannot stress how that saved me money. I got a brand new MSR water filter for 40 dollars when it retails for over 90. (I also got to meet a pretty cool hiker that did the entire JMT and is doing the PCT this year. I wish him the best of luck!) The key is to setup the RSS after you read the reviews online and/or check it out at REI to make sure it's good!

3) Other sites: backcountry, steepandcheap, campmor.

Ok, next I'll post what I carry and how I organize a group trip in google docs!

Dusty Blog!

2010-07-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this in awhile. Now that I'm somewhat of a group leader for my backpacking group, I think I'll post all the very long emails I write to new people who join each time.

Time to dig up those emails!

Android on the nokia n800

2008-05-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a group on a class project... our particular group's assignment is to get android running on the n800. We found a pretty good wiki, but it's lacking some info that newbies (like us!) didn't know. So I made a extra document with some more explanations.

How to get Android on the nokia n800, the newbie addition
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddc7bbhf_125fvbc56gc

If there are any questions, please post them at:
http://groups.google.com/group/android-internals?hl=en

Research Page

2008-02-26T15:06:00.001-08:00

Ok, finally got around to doing a web page for the research :) It's on the Mondego Wiki... direct link : http://mondego.calit2.uci.edu/xwiki/bin/view/SL/WebHome

Autonomous Robots Presentation

2008-02-13T23:51:00.000-08:00

For my UbiComp class, I am presenting on Autonomous Robots! :)

It's a very general overview based on 3 papers.

Paper 1:
Coaxial Range Measurement—Current Trends for Mobile Robotic Applications
Martin D. Adams, Member, IEEE

Paper 2:
APlayer/StageSystemforContext-AwareIntelligent Environments
http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/

Paper 3:
The Interactive Museum Tour-GuideRobot
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&cluster=11730976508149754909

Paper Accepted!

2007-12-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

Our paper titled "PRT Simulation in an Immersive Virtual World" has been accepted to SIMUTools' 08! :D