Brand Ambassador Gear List - Heather "Anish" Anderson on the AZT
Next up in our series where we give you a look at what's inside of our Brand Ambassador's packs: Heather "Anish" Anderson and her gear list for her Arizona Trail self-supported Fastest Known Time.
The terrain on the AZT is very diverse and a surprising amount of the trail isn't the classic desert terrain one would expect. In fact, from the Utah border the trail immediately climbs to the Kaibab Plateau which is at 9000 feet. After going from rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, it traverses the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world which is at an elevation of 7000 feet before dropping off the Mogollon Rim into the mountainous southern half of the trail. Rugged mountain ranges in the Mazatzal and Superstition Wilderness provided nighttime wildlife sightings, including a mountain lion that watched her as she ate her snack. After the Superstitions the trail goes through the lowest elevations near the Gila River at 1100 feet. The southernmost 200 miles are dominated by the Sky Islands, ranges that take you from cactus to aspen in just one day.
Anish on the AZT
This set up took Anish through a wide range of environmental challenges from freezing sleet to 100 degree temperatures during her 19 day journey. She hiked the 800-mile trail southbound in the fall from October 4th to October 27th. Here is her gear list:
Anish AZT FKT Gear
| Gear | weight carried (oz) | weight worn (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa | 35 | |
| Loksack Opsack | 1.6 | |
| mace | 1.6 | |
| Bamboo spoon | 0.7 | |
| Ultimate Direction Body Bottle Plus | 1.7 | |
| extra batteries | 2.4 | |
| Black Diamond Icon headlamp w batt | 6.9 | |
| Gossamer Gear Nightlight Sleeping Pad | 6 | |
| Sawyer All-in-One Filter w inline Adapter | 3 | |
| Sawyer 64 oz pouches (2) | 2.8 | |
| Ibex Balance Bra | 1.7 | |
| Montbell U.L. Shell Gloves | 1.7 | |
| 3pr Point 6 extra light mini crew hiking socks | 3 | 1.5 |
| Gossamer Gear Polycryo Groundsheet | 1.5 | |
| Ultimate Direction Beanie | 0.7 | |
| Ultimate Direction Desert Hat | 2 | |
| dress | 4.3 | |
| bandana | 0.5 | |
| Point 6 compression socks | 2.6 | |
| Fleece sleep pants | 4.4 | |
| Altra Trail Gaiters | 1.1 | |
| phone | 5.2 | |
| Suntactics 5 cell solar panel | ||
| charger/cord | 8 | |
| Ultimate Direction Ultra Jacket | 5.3 | |
| ditties/first aid | 2 | |
| Platypus hoser bladder | 3 | |
| Altra Performance Half Zip | 3.6 | |
| sunglasses | 1 | |
| scorpion light | 3 | |
| trash compactor bag | 1.4 | |
| Zpacks Soloplex | 16 | |
| Gossamer Gear Umbrella | 8.5 | |
| Altra Paradigm shoes | 15.2 | |
| Zpacks sleeping bag | 16 | |
| Montbell Tachyon Jacket | 1.4 | |
| Total | 9.4 lbs. | 1.6 lbs. |
The only items that she would not have carried again were:
Scorpion flashlight: Used it, but never saw a scorpion. Probably a non-essential unless you're very allergic.
Suntactics solar panel charger: Not functional to use while walking since it needs VERY direct sunlight.
South Kaibab Trail
Mazatzal Wilderness
Arizona Trail at Picketpost Trailhead
The big finish- 19 days 17 hours 9 minutes, a new self-supported Fastest Known Time!
If you're interested in reading more about her adventures follow her on social media at @anishhikes or visit Run, Hike, Live, Love.
To learn more about the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit www.aztrail.org