Thanks for the comment. Hope to post some more hikes soon. Will be heading to the Sedona area soon for winter hikes.

Matt, No offense taken. However, I have come to the conclusion that I am a weenie when it comes to doing away with all creature comforts. The key is to keep some of the comforts but make em light as possible. When it comes to sleeping in the dirt with a poncho liner, "been there, done that"...

I guess I'm a little pumpkin port carring a rain jacket most of the time. I grew up in Ohio where it rains or snows every 5 minutes. The jacket I bought is also perfect as a wind breaker or outer layer since it breaths.

Joe, Hoffman and te-wa, Thanks for the welcome. am definitely new at blogging. I think I fall between light and ultra light. I am a wuss when it comes to sleeping pads. Big Agnes makes the lightest air mattress I could find. This old body needs a little more than a thin pad. I also use a 3+lb two ma...

Being a tightwad all my life it was hard to fork out the dough for new ultra light equipment. However, I recently broke the bank and bought the lightest gear I could find. Now I am a fanatic studying all of Backpacker Magazines editors picks. I am a total "gear head". My sleeping bag weigh...