What I would have done differently at Philmont

So I went to Philmont and wasn't as out of shape as I was afraid I'd be. Yes, I was one of the slower ones, but I had no need to go fast. I kept a steady pace as long as I needed to. But I was thinking it might be nice to share some of the things I would do differently if anyone asked or if I had it to do over again in a few years. If anyone reading this is getting ready for the trek, I hope this helps.

Things I would have changed in my pack:

• The first thing I think I would have changed is the amount of clothes I took. It was really close to just what I needed, but a little off. I took a little too many. I'd take two shirts, two pairs of pants/shorts, two pairs of underwear, three pairs of liner socks, and three pairs of wool socks. I wore pants the whole time, but I was the only one in my crew who did. I didn't want my legs to get sunburned. I should have left my swimsuit and the extra pair of shorts I brought just in case I needed them.

• I also would have preferred to take a sleeping bag a little less intense than the one I have. I've got a 0-degree North Face bag, so I was plenty warm and the weight wasn't so much the issue, it was the space it took up. Also, I tended to sleep halfway out of the bag every night. A warm-weather bag would have been a better choice. A bag rated somewhere around 40.

• Another thing I would have taken was a load-rated carabiner. I just had a cheap one to clip my shoes to the outside of my pack, one of those keychain type ones. I would have taken a heftier one to help string up the bear bags.

• I would have left my wool stocking cap behind. It just wasn't that cold.

• I should have pared down my mess kit to a single dish. That's really all you need.

• It would have been nice to have two Nalgene bottles instead of just one.

• The boots I have were not designed for a trip as long and tough as this one and I felt it. I would like to have had a more suited pair of boots, but the ones I have are great for the hiking I do regularly. For this trip, though, I would have preferred a pair with a heftier sole.

Things I'm glad I had:

• I was really pleased with my Marmot soft shell jacket. It was just the right weight and worked great as a pillow.

• Extra tent stakes. A couple of mine got mangled trying to push them into the really hard dirt of some of those campsites.

• A multitool. We used it frequently to sterilize the dishes, among other things.

• This was the first time I'd really used my hydration system. Mine's a Camelbak and I'm certain it kept me from getting dehydrated. Every time I had a thought like "I'm thirsty" or "It's hot out here," I'd take a little sip.

• A little notebook and pen. It was important to me to write down my experience, my thoughts and the things I learned about while I was out in the wilderness. Also, they made it easier for me to send a postcard home in the middle of the first week.

• I'm glad I took a camera. One thing to be aware of, though, is that if you bring a camera that uses film (I didn't want to pulverize my digital camera in my pack), you have to put it up in the bear bag at night. Not really a big deal.

If you've been or want to ask about something, go ahead and comment. Let's share the love.