Packing Day

I leave for Africa, alone, Saturday morning.  I will be separated from everyone and everything I do not take with me. There are packing guidelines to follow, but that does little to ease the apprehension that there will be something I need that I do not remember.  I guess that is part of what this trip is about: separation from comfort and complacency.  I expect this separation will teach me a lot about myself and what is truly important. 

The guidelines sound simple enough: 33 pounds of gear can be given to the porter.  However the weight of the rental gear must be included.  I am renting a sleeping bag rated to -15 degrees F, an inflatable pad, a pair of rain pants and heavy mittens totaling 12 pounds.  I am left with 21 pounds plus what I can carry.  I am hoping to keep my day pack to about 15-18 pounds.  I trained with 25 pounds in the pack but I want the trek to be easier.

So I set everything out in my living room to go through my checklist.  Here is everything I am carrying with me:

I started with the day pack.  It is my carry on for the flights.  In case my checked bag is lost, I have to pack enough gear to climb Kilimanjaro. I plan to wear my hiking boots on the airplane. So I have to pack my polar fleece jacket (thanks for the loan of this item Mark).  Then I need to pack the bare minimum of clothes for the hike.  I can transfer some of the clothes over to the duffle once in Africa. To make things easier to locate, I put pants in one small bag, Shirts in another, underwear in a third and gloves and long underwear in a forth.  The polar fleece and rain gear just went in the bottom.  I also packed my toiletries and first aid kit.  I put two empty Naglene bottles in it as well. It ended up right at 20 pounds

I put everything else in the duffle bag and it weighed 20 pounds, so I am right at my weight limit.  I put the duffle bag into a large suitcase with the trekking poles since I think they won't let me carry them on the jet.  They let us check one bag at the lodge. I plan to leave some of the excess clothes for the Safari in the suitcase reducing the weight to within limits  I put photocopies of my passport in each bag in case my passport gets lost.  So I am done with packing.  

I have my passport and some cash in small denominations for tips and souvenirs.  I am as ready as I will ever be.  I land in Amsterdam Sunday morning. I may find time to post something while there.