Today I decided that, given it was 15 outside with 15" of snow, it'd be a good time to do a practice run of what I plan to take to Alaska for my "airplane kit." Off to the local state park for an invigorating 2 mile hike!

In my daypack:
20-degree down sleeping bag
1 Liter titanium pot
MSR Whisperlite stove, with 350ml can of isopropane
GI poncho
NorthFace jacket... forget the name, but about the warmth of a
fleece jacket
"odds and ends" - knife, whistle, etc. The basic 10 Essentials

On me:
my PSK
my new Leatherman (thank you, girlfriend!)
my Benchmade Griptilian

I'm wearing:
Smartwool cap, under my Bailey "cowboy" hat
Nike winter-weight workout shirt
NF Hyvent shell
Running tights
BDU Pants
BDU ECWCS gore-tex pants
wool socks
Eddie Baur winter boots.
EMS glove liners, wool gloves, OP glove shells

Observations:
- it's actually easier to trudge through the snow than walk on the path made by XC skiiers. Not as much slipping.
- 15 is cold! Until you move, then somehow you sweat (I don't get it!)
-15 degrees gets cold real quick when you stop for lunch.
-A "dump bag" on your hip is a good idea. It would have been nice to take my hat or gloves off for a few minutes and not have to carry the items.
- 2 miles takes a while in snow. And works muscles not normally used in hiking. Lots more calf muscle than I would have expected.
- Civilian "MREs" aren't as user-friendly as the real kind. Amazing, huh?
-Snow boils fairly quickly.
- I could have used something to insulate my butt, besides my sleeping bag, during lunch.
-I was suprised how well the ECWCS pants did on keeping snow out of my boots and socks - the boots are only about as tall as a pair of hi-top basketball shoes

One thing I'd like to throw open for opinions. I was debating shelter options in this kit. I was initially hoping to take my 1-man tent and my 20 degree bag. While they both fit in this daypack, there isn't much room for anything else. I was also hoping to throw in a poncho-liner with my poncho, as both a sleeping layer, something to wear while hiking if it gets real cold, a ground pad when I stop, or a last ditch shelter. But, with this bag, I can't fit all 4 of those items. So do you you think I should:
A) leave the sleeping bag behind
B) Leave the tent behind
C) Leave the poncho and liner behind, and just deal with the lack of space in the backpack
D) buy a new backpack!

I'm personally leaning towards D, just guz I'm a gear [censored]. But the price is pretty taxing right now. Any thoughts on this?