Thanks,

I feel a bit better emotionally about the pack size.

I am not in the physical shape I want to be (hell, who is?) and can use some conditioning.

I've started taking the stairs more frequently at work (5 floors), and am planning to start a consistent morning routine (not trying to regain the 18year old level, just improve the 43 year old level).

The pack weight didn't feel uncomfortable. I got a new Northface Borealis and the pack rode comfortably on my hips.

Whenever I head into the woods even for a day, I prepare to stay the night because Murphy-stuff-happens.

I feel better that the pack weight doesn't sound unreasonable to many of you.

For the record (and for critique purposes) my pack list included:

ON OUTSIDE OF PACK
[*] Storm Whistle
[*] RINO GPS
[*] Toilet Kit (1/4 roll tp, trowel, handiwipes, small garbage bag)
[*]Camp Towel (eliminated for futre trips)
[*]Aqua socks (eliminated for future trips)
[*] compass


SMALL ZIPPER POCKET
[*] car keys
[*] 4 AA Batteries (for the camera)
[*] Headnet
[*] Mora Knife
[*] small bottle of OFF

MEDIUM COMPARTMENT
[*] Map
[*]Backpack Journal (eliminated from future trips)
[*] "Murphy Bag " (small zippered bag that lives in my Fatboy with zipties, duct tape, safety pins, extra paracord, matches, lighter, LED headlamp)
[*] 4 Cliff Bars (only ate 1/2 a bar so will decrease the par level to one)
[*] 4 servings of gatorade powder (will decrease the number of servings to 2 especially since I had gatorade already mixed in my hydration bladder)
[*] Repair kit (ziplock bag with duct tape, sewing kit, eyeglass repair kit and small knife sharpener)

MAIN COMPARTMENT
[*] Magellan "stores in its own pocket" rain jacket
[*] FAK
[*] 50' rope
[*] 100' paracord
[*] water filter and micropur tabs
[*] 1 pair extra socks
[*] 1 extra t-shirt (eliminated for future trips)
[*] 1 liter h2o in platypus (eliminated from future Tunica trips as there is plenty of water available -- just have to treat)
[*] 2 liters h2o in hydration bladder (mixed with powdered gatorade, drank about 1.5 liters during the 4 hours I was in the woods)
[*] Bag of Bags (ziplock with smaller ziplock bags for garbage, etc .

This isn't counting what I had on my person
[*] PSK
[*] pocket knife on lanyard with INOVA light/fire steel
[*] Leatherman
[*] fire pouch (lighter/matches/vaseline-cottonball tinder.
[*] Bandana (in pocket)
[*] Hat
[*] Shemagh (was wonderful for keeping the sweat out of my eyes/bugs out of my ears/sun off my neck, and felt really good once it got saturated with sweat)
[*] Sunglasses.
[*] notepad and pen, sharpie.


Only things I would want to add for future trips would be:
[*]Hammock (little camp one)
[*]Gaiters
[*]Rite-in-Rain pad
[*]More Stamina

As always I'm always open to suggestions.