9 March 2022
I already have a dedicated gear page, but I’m very excited about my upcoming Arizona Trail thru-hike attempt, so I thought I would lay everything out that I am taking. Here it is!
I have not made a lot of changes since my PCT thru-hike attempt last year. During that hike, I ditched my umbrella due to wind and added my baselayer pants in SoCal (where I was not expecting to be so cold!). Both of those changes remain in my gear list.
I am also going to bring a stove for the AZT instead of going cookless. My friend Flower Power gifted me a Jetboil Stash, and this will be my maiden voyage with what seems to be a very efficient system!
Although the only component of a cookless system is an empty jar ( just 2 ounces!), I have also found that I need to carry an extra pint of water for cold soaking for an hour or two before lunch and dinner. That adds an extra 16 ounces! In that context, the 7 extra ounces that the stove weighs don’t seem like much. Of course, I will also need to carry a fuel canister, which is another 4 to 8 ounces depending on how full it is, and that is weight that I carry all of the time instead of for just a few hours.
But all in, we are talking about a difference of roughly 8 ounces on average to have warm food, a means to melt snow for water, a backup water treatment system, and all the entertainment value one gets from cooking, hot drinks, and sharing meals with others. It seems to make sense to me now, but ask me again in a few weeks!
I am also carrying a bigger power bank this time (20,000 mah vs. 10,000) and a new phone (Pixel 6 Pro). My goal on this trip is to spend more time blogging on breaks during the day so I don’t have to do everything at night in my tent when all I want to do is sleep! Maybe I will even watch some Netflix at night? And maybe this will help me reduce the number of zero days I take (days where I hike no miles at all).
I am hopeful that spending more time blogging and cooking during the day will also slow me down a bit, reducing my risk of injury (a physical challenge) and boredom (a mental challenge!).
Finally, I am really thankful that I do not need to carry microspikes or a bear canister on this trip! The snow in Arizona sounds like it will be manageable, and bears will be rare and not accustomed to humans as a source of food.
So exciting! This time next week I will be on trail. Yay!
The JimmyJam Hiking Club 
I’m looking forward adding your posts back to part of my morning routine! Last year, I followed Scout while he journeyed north (ha!) on the AZT around the same time you were on the PCT. This summer, I’m looking at trying my own hand at thru hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail. As the locals say, “hike that SHT,” I guess. I have to say, I’ve never seen a “pee bottle” before. Dare I ask, what is the plan for that?
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Ha! It’s just so I can pee inside my tent. If I do it right, I can even stay under my quilt. I can pour it out in the morning. I still get up to look at the stars sometimes, but this gives me the option to stay warm or to pee when I am camped near others (sshhhh! don’t tell them!).
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haha, I was going to ask the same question, why a pee bottle in nature?
sounds like an awesome trip! very tempting! You will be able to escape all the craziness of our world right now. Enjoy …. I look forward to reading your blogs.
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So excited for you. Looking forward to reading about your new adventures. Happy trails!
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Sounds logical. The secret to the Jetboil Stash seems to be the heat exchanger on the bottom of the pot. The stove looks very similar to the Soto Windmaster. I am looking forward to your trip.
On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 2:15 PM The JimmyJam Hiking Club wrote:
> JimmyJam posted: ” 9 March 2022 I already have a dedicated gear page, but > I’m very excited about my upcoming Arizona Trail thru-hike attempt, so I > thought I would lay everything out that I am taking. Here it is! I have not > made a lot of changes since my PCT ” >
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I think you are totally right about that!
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James, I am really looking forward to your AZ trip. If you have time before you leave, would you send me your favorite sourdough recipe. I have an active starter but have not been really happy with the bread that I have made from it. Thanks, Jay
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I emailed it to you! Hope it comes out great!
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