After several minutes of careful planning, I've assembled the following equipment for my training hikes:
 | ||
Item
|
Weight (oz)
| |
1
|
10-lb Cat litter bag wrapped in Gorilla tape
|
172.5
|
2
|
Terry towel wrap for Cat litter
|
17.0
|
3
|
Ripstop cord
|
0.25
|
4
|
2 liter Platypus
|
7.0
|
5
|
Terry cloth bath rug #1
|
32.0
|
6
|
2 1-pound ankle weight
|
32.0
|
7
|
2 2.5-pound ankle weight
|
60.0
|
8
|
Terry cloth bath rug #2
|
37.5
|
9
|
Bearvault 450
|
33.2
|
10
|
Osprey Aether (not pictured)
|
74
|
11
|
1.5 liter water (not pictured)
|
3.3
|
12
|
Driver’s license
|
0.5
|
The terry-cloth towel (2) is tied around around the Jonny Cat litter bag (1) with the ripstop cord (3) to provide added volume and shock absorption. The terry-cloth bath rug #1 (5) is rolled up and stuffed firmly into the Aether 70's sleeping bag compartment. This provides lift for the overall load. Terry-cloth bath rug #2 (8) is folded in a square pattern and placed at the bottom of the pack's main compartment. This will elevate the wrapped litter bag and place the weight in a more comfortable carrying position. The Bearvault (9) is then placed on top of the cat litter. This is roughly the position the cannister it would have on an actual hike. The ankle weights (5 & 6) can added to Bearvault to simulate a food load or to simply increase the overall pack weight and general discomfort. Lastly the Platypus bladder (4) is be filled with water (11) and placed in the Aether 70's bladder sleeve. This provides a waterbed like cushion so that the hard shell of the Bearvault does not dislocate any of the discs that cushion the thoracic vertebra. Lastly, a few essentials like a first aid kit or lunch can be added for survival or simply extra weight.
Starting tomorrow I'll begin stomping around the neighborhood raising suspicion among the neighbors. Nothing says burglar like a old, bald-headed, white guy carrying an oversize pack with cat litter. It is only prudent to plan on a visit from a squad car, which is why the Driver's license (12) is essential.
If all goes according to plan, I'll be marching a 27-pound pack up to Idlehour camp by then end of September and a 34-pound pack up to the Mount Wilson pavilion by mid October. Then it's off to my trip across the San Gabriels.