Back on the Trail: Colorado Trail 2024

Time passes, 50 is NOT the new 40. Nevertheless, the time has come to hit the trail. The Colorado Trail (CT), a 486 mile trek from Denver to Durango, calls. We’ll give it a try and see what happens. If you’re interested, very occasional updates will be posted here, as will as live trail progress. I’ll start with a shakedown of my pack. Happy Trails.

Gear List

House
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Backpack –
Gossamer Gear DCF The Two

Gear
Mini flashlight
Gossamer Gear Umbrella Sunbrella & clamp
Sunglasses
Reading glasses & band
Multi-Tool (Swiss Knife)
Trekking Poles
First Aid Kit
ProTec Spiky Massage Ball (70g)

Kitchen
2 Smart Water bottles
Platypus Filter
3 L CNOC Vecto H20 container for gravity filter system
Pocket Rocket Stove & Fuel (purchased in Denver)
Lighter
Ursack Major XL Food bag
Long handled, titanium Spork
Cup
Pot & lid
Talenti jar for cold soaking
Coffee filter
+Food

Outerwear
Waterproof/breathable jacket Mountain Hardwear
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket
Hiking pants, removable legs
Shorts
Short sleeved T-shirt
Safari shirt (10 oz)
Hat
Synthetic briefs (3)
Sleepwear: fleece top, fleece bottoms
Beanie
Rain pants

Footwear
Camp shoes
Darn Tuff Socks (3)
liner socks (3)
Dirty Girl gaiters
Brooks Cascadia 16 Size 11.5 (replace after ~400 miles)

Bedroom
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 950DT 20° Sleeping Quilt
Thermarest Neoair X-light Sleeping Pad
Pillow (TREKOLOGY Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow – ALUFT 2.0)

Electronics & Other
Duct tape on poles
Pack Towel
Headnet for insects
Thrupak Wallet: ID, CC, Permit. Map.
Notebook & pencil
Pixel 7 Pro cell phone
Anker battery, charger & cables
Garmin InReach Mini GPS
Earbuds & adapter

Bathroom
Meds
Sunscreen
First Aid Kit
Chapstick
Toothbrush/paste
Jungle Juice Insect repellent
Soak soap
Advil & Naproxen
Toilet paper and trowel (“The Deuce”)
Purell
Wipes
ProTec Spiky Massage Ball (70g)