OLT March/April Gear Check Me?

[DanShell]

Im in need of a significant life event so I have decided to take some leave and walk the OLT solo near the end of March or early April.

Im starting to get a bit of experience around Tassie in all sorts of conditions and Im pretty sure I've now done walks that are a lot tougher than the OLT physically but my only down fall is that i have never hiked more than 4 days in a row so there is a little bit of an unknown but I feel as though I am ready.
I haven't even done a solo hike but this time of year I doubt ill be alone up there

So with only about 6-9 weeks until I go (I haven't actually booked yet but theres plenty of spots) I still have a bit of time to refine my gear list but I was hoping I can get some criticism on my gear and see how I can add or lessen it for this particular walk.
Im hoping to squeeze one or two walks in between now and then on or around the OLT (within the guidelines of course) to eliminate the urge to do too many side trips while I am actually doing the walk.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I have been through this 'gear check me' thing before but now its quite specific for the OLT.

EDIT: Ive added some notes beside some of my gear to perhaps justify it or explain its weight.


Pack Weight
Osprey Aether 60 Modified 2020 g Its had some straps shortened
Cuben Pack Cover 36 g
Piece of closed cell foam 42 g I like this to sit on and kneel on
Gadget front Pockets 180 g These are my favourite latest thing, they hold the go pro, gps, camera/phone and snacks and maps
2278 g

Shelter
Tarp Tent Stratospire 1 With Stuff Sack 1040 g
Strong Tent Poles 242 g
Tent Pegs 150 g
Small piece of Tyvek 109 g I probably don't need this but I hate unpacking my tent in the wet when the ground is muddy or wet without it
1541 g

Sleeping
EE quilt 610 g
Thermarest Prolite 4 680 g
Air Pillow 5 g
Pillow Holder 102 g A luxury but it hold my pillow on my mat, I can't stand it slipping off all the time
Quilt Straps 45 g
1442 g

Cooking
Cup 62 g
Sharp Knife 69 g
Flint Lighter 17 g
Scourer 5 g
Cuben Bag 16 g
1.1ltr Titanium Pot 138 g
BRS 3000T Stove 25 g
Titanium Windshield 9 g
Alocs Folding Spork 32 g
373 g

Clothing
Gortex Hard Shell Jacket 635 g Its a long Jacket, I like it that way because I generally wear shorts even when its raining
Outdoor Research Wind Jacket 140 g Probably not needed but I like to use it when the wind is chilling bad and don't want the heat of my big gortex jacket when walking
First Ascent 100w Fleece Top 340 g
Camp Booties 141 g
Gaiters 138 g These are light softish set of gaiters, ill leave the heavier duty ones at home for the OLT
Poly Pro Glove Liners 31 g
Poly Pro Top 206 g
Poly Pro Pants 143 g
Water Proof Gloves 142 g
Hat 26 g
Spare Undies 45 g
Spare Socks 80 g
Beanie 56 g
Spare Shirt 199 g
Spare Pants 301 g
Neck warmer 50 g
Cuben Dry bag 14 g
2687 g

First Aid
Band Aids 6 g
Elastaplast 34 g
Emergency Blanket 50 g
Anti Inflams 7 g
Panadol 8 g
Anti Dia 2 g
Anti Hist 4 g
Water Tabs 13 g
Disp gloves 17 g
Stingoes 29 g
Compression bandage 24 g
Conforming bandage 14 g
Sterile wipes 11 g
Dressing 5 g
Cuben Pouch 5 g
229 g

Accessories
BD Head Torch 28 g
6v Battery 4 g
Duct Tape 10 g
Mini Leatherman 88 g
3mm Rope 40 g
AA batteries 49 g
Platform hooks 31 g
Thermarest repair kit 16 g
Cuben bag 4 g
Matches 5 g
Lighter 18 g
Cable ties 19 g
312 g

Personal & Hygiene
Saywer Filter Kit 56 g Probably not needed but its only 56g
Tooth Brush 9 g
Tooth Paste 28 g
Razor 5 g Probably not needed, i dot ill use it!
Insect Repelant 69 g
Sunscreen 65 g
Alcohol Hand Wash 34 g
Ear Plugs 1 g
Toilet Paper 89 g I think ill add some baby wipes for hygiene
Sunglasses 85 g
Towel 74 g
515 g

Safety & Navigation
Garmin 60CSX 209 g I didn't need the GPS of course but I like collecting my own data
Compass 32 g
Paper Map 53 g
RecueMe PLB 115 g
409 g

Electronics
Gopro with tripod and batteries 295 g
USB Power Pack 205 g
Iphone 174 g This is my camera also
Kobo Reader 230 g
904 g

Per Day Consumables
Gas 0 g
Water 0 g
Breakfast 0 g
Lunch 0 g
Dinner 0 g
Snacks 0 g
0 g

Total 10690 g

[icefest]

I'd suggest taking a real snake bandage. The rest looks pretty good.

[DanShell]

I'd suggest taking a real snake bandage. The rest looks pretty good.

Can you elaborate? My first aid experience is limited to using a compression bandage for snake bite?

[horsecat]

Photography. I don't think I could manage doing the Overland without a proper camera...I'd go mad. Having said that, my camera gear weights plenty of kilos (probably around 10kg ) and takes up nearly 30L so you probably don't need to go to that extent but I would recommend a proper camera, even if it is a point and click or some other compact. You can get away with the GoPro still camera function but I'd save the battery power for vids (plus the GoPro isn't the best in low light) and I'd save the iPhone in case you need it as a...phone. Just a thought, as I've seen plenty of people not take pics on hikes but as you say it is "a significant life event" so I'd want to look back on it

[DanShell]

Ive thought long and hard about camera gear and to be honest I am not the best photographer composition wise so I feel as though the SLR is wasted on me.

The iPhone 6 takes 'nice enough' pics for me to look back on, along with the go pro videos I think I should have enough....hopefully.

I can understand an avid photographer cringing at me only using a phone for pics though. I have enough battery power with me to keep the phone and go pro going for 6 days if I am careful.

[dee_legg]

I'd add in either a strong pack liner so you leave some unnecessary items out of your main pack when heading off on a side trip or alternatively, take a small fold up day pack (I think the STS roll up style ones are fine) so you can leave the majority of your things in your main pack. I'm not overly familiar with the Osprey packs but if they have any zips then taking a few small carabiners is an effective and lightweight way of ensuring that the currawongs can't get into your bag when it's unattended.

Have fun!

Dee

[icefest]

Can you elaborate? My first aid experience is limited to using a compression bandage for snake bite?

BSAR did a nice article on snakebite bandages recently: http://www.bsar.org/setopress

TL;DR, crepe bandages are not the greatest as far as ease of use and coverage goes.
(Setopress weigh 59g)

[horsecat]

If this is one of the longer walks you have done I would recommend walking poles Dan. They certainly help the knees, reduce some of the strain on the legs and help with uneven ground with a large pack, especially if you get a bit weary towards the end and get the wobbly legs. Other uses for them if need be as well

[Overlandman]

+ 1 take at least 1 walking pole.
Take a pack liner if you can.
Put your toilet roll, sleeping bag in a seperate dry packs or plastic bags, as they are no use to you wet.
Hydration Bladder
Loo trowel
Money for a shower at Cynthia Bay

Just had a look at my list
Spare boot lace
Notebook & pen
Deep heat or rapigel
Parks / overland pass

Looking forward to the full report

[DanShell]

I'd add in either a strong pack liner so you leave some unnecessary items out of your main pack when heading off on a side trip or alternatively, take a small fold up day pack (I think the STS roll up style ones are fine) so you can leave the majority of your things in your main pack. I'm not overly familiar with the Osprey packs but if they have any zips then taking a few small carabiners is an effective and lightweight way of ensuring that the currawongs can't get into your bag when it's unattended.

Have fun!

Dee

Thanks Dee, Yes some small carabiners is on the to buy list for that very reason. I have a STS day pack but I no longer use it, my Osprey packs lid doubles as a day pack or bum bag if you like so I use that now for side trips. The only problems then of course is that it leaves the top of my pack only cinched up so I think I need to take a pack cover for some extra protection from the Currawongs. Thanks

BSAR did a nice article on snakebite bandages recently: http://www.bsar.org/setopress

TL;DR, crepe bandages are not the greatest as far as ease of use and coverage goes.
(Setopress weigh 59g)

Thanks for that and good point. I gather you carry two of these bandages then so you can compress a leg from toe to thigh? I think for around $30 its probably cheap insurance to know I can at least compress one of my own limbs properly if I am ever bitten. I have trod on a snakes tail in the past whilst stupidly messing around with my gps while walking, or so my walking partner excitedly said who was behind me, I was oblivious!

If this is one of the longer walks you have done I would recommend walking poles Dan. They certainly help the knees, reduce some of the strain on the legs and help with uneven ground with a large pack, especially if you get a bit weary towards the end and get the wobbly legs. Other uses for them if need be as well

It will be the longest consecutive walk I have done. I have put in 20+ kay days in very hard terrain and walked over 30 and 40 kays in 2 consecutive days before but never 60-80 over consecutive days. I admit after a couple of big days on bad tracks my knees are screaming on any down hill sections by the end of the day.
I am not a fan of poles to be honest. I find them annoying 90% of the time so I now leave them home. However I take on board your advice and given the length of this walk and being a little bit of an unknown for me I might be well served by at least taking one. I can always keep it strapped to my pack for the times I don't feel I need it. Thanks.

+ 1 take at least 1 walking pole.
Take a pack liner if you can.
Put your toilet roll, sleeping bag in a seperate dry packs or plastic bags, as they are no use to you wet.
Hydration Bladder
Loo trowel
Money for a shower at Cynthia Bay

Just had a look at my list
Spare boot lace
Notebook & pen
Deep heat or rapigel
Parks / overland pass

Looking forward to the full report

Do you still recommend a pack liner if all my items within my pack are individually in there own dry bags? I have made my own cuben bags and love them
I do have a hydration bladder and have always used it in the past but was contemplating just using a water bottle and some collapsible bags for this trip for ease of refilling. Im getting a bit over the process of removing and replacing the bladder to refill on multiday walks, especially when theres plenty of water around to keep a smaller bottle topped up.

Yes I have a loo trowel but its huge, I want to buy one of those little titanium jobs..thanks for the reminder.

I have plenty of cord that can be used as a bootlace. Notebook and pen is a good idea, I usually electronically log my daily diary but battery power needs to be conserved so I put a notepad and pen on the list.
Hmmm deep heat, I've had a bad experience with deep heat in the past. I swore id never touch the stuff again but might be worth considering!
Yes of course, the parks pass is permanently in my nerd pouch but its not on the weight list.

Im looking forward to doing a report....which reminds me, my blog is so out of date I should spend some time updating it.

Thanks very much everyone for the advice. It now looks like I won't be able to get the time I need off work until well into April so there goes daylight savings

[skog]

on a side note, if you are interested in a walking partner, I am heading off around the same time

[corvus]

Rather than a Toilet roll I recommend several Kleenex pocket pack tissues 9 to a pkt 17gm and you can distribute the sealed pks and also take one on your side trips (have observed the disaster of a TR getting wet two days in could have sold some of my tissues for big bucks gave them away free) doubt you need both matches and a lighter especially if you have a flint and steel,what are the cable ties for,waterproof gloves overkill in that season as your poly pro liners should suffice,spare shirt and pants could be an overkill (what do you do do if both lots get wet ?) Dan have done this trip many times so if you feel like it PM me and I will give you my phone number.
corvus

[dingelberry]

Hey dan
I agree take one pole with you the track has heaps of tree roots in some sections if anything it will help with balance.Enjoy your trip its a great part ofthe world.

[DanShell]

Skog, Have you booked in already?

corvus, I like the kleenex pocket tissue idea, thanks. Without getting into too much detail on personal hygiene I prefer not to skimp in loo paper though! Knowing my luck ill catch gastro.....Im one of these people that opens door handles with my elbows in public places
You are correct I have too many forms of lighting my stove. In regards to the gloves, I bought them around April last year after I was up on the plateau and got caught out on a very windy and snowy night and had to walk out in it the following day with only wet poly pro's. I decided then and there that I didn't want to experience cold hands like that again!
Yes cable ties are probably a bit silly but in my industry (manufacturing) we have a factory held together by them, they are so handy so I have always made sure I have some. I don't know what ill use them for yet, but i know eventually I will find a use for them
You are again most likely correct about the spare pants and shirt, I have never had to use them in the past yet always carry them. Even when I was wet the clothing I wear dries so fast I haven't put the spares on. At the worst I have put my thermals on at the end of the day and thats about it. Food for thought, thanks.
Thanks for the offer of the phone call, I may take you up on that as the date gets closer and I have any last minute questions.

Thanks dingelberry.

The more I read about what Im up for on a daily basis the more I am thinking my biggest issue is going to making sure I have enough reading material to keep me occupied at the end of each day! Depending on the side trips, theres quite a few very short days.
Im starting to think the walk gets talked up a little at times in regards to the effort required to complete it but at the same time Im not going to be complacent because as I just said I have been caught out up around that area a few times now in some wild weather so if I was to get 7 days of that it could make a leisurely stroll and epic adventure!