Brand Ambassador Gear List - Arlette "Apple Pie" Laan
Continuing our series on what's in our Brand Ambassador's packs, one of our new Ambassadors, Arlette "Apple Pie" Laan shares her gear list for her spring hike of the Hayduke Trail.
Arlette "Apple Pie" Laan
The Hayduke is one of the more challenging long distance trails I've hiked. There was hardly ever any actual trail to follow. I was mostly walking and scrambling in washes and canyons and when I was up higher it was often exposed terrain where a slip could be fatal.
Walking Tapeats ledges in the Grand Canyon
Sunrise in the Grand Canyon
There are no trail markers. Sometimes there would be cairns to follow but most of the times I had to pay close attention to the terrain and my maps. The track on my Gaia GPS made things a bit easier but in actuality I still had to pick which ledge to walk on and what boulder to scramble over.
Scrambling around a pouroff
There was also early snowmelt and high water because of rain which made some of the narrows challenging. Feet would become numb fording many cold streams and I found myself swimming in freezing water of the East Fork of the Virgin River to get around a boulder choked section.
On the flanks of Mt Ellen
Climbing the water pocket fold, stormy sky over Lake Powell
Luckily I had the company of two other hikers there as opposed to when I found myself in the Bull Valley Gorge trying to get up and over slippery boulders standing in cold knee deep water or sinking in mud. I surprised myself by managing the canyoneering moves required, hauling my pack out with a rope and making it out safely.
Dark Canyon
At Wire pass
Going a bit early in the season (start date March 1) the nights were freezing cold for most of the trip and there was the occasional snow storm. This meant that I had to carry more gear to keep me warm. The Mariposa backpack was perfect for carrying it all.
Zion NP
Finish at Lee Pass (Zion extension).
| Gear | weight carried (oz) | weight worn (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa | 35 | |
| Sea to Summit pack liner | 4 | |
| Six Moon Design Lunar solo | 25.3 | |
| Stakes | 3 | |
| Z-rest (minus two sections) | 11.6 | |
| Gossamer Gear Polycryo Groundsheet | 1.5 | |
| Saywer Squeeze filter plus syringe | 4.3 | |
| Stuff sacks x 3 | 3.7 | |
| Montbell Down Hugger | 34 | |
| Clothes | ||
| Sundress | 4 | |
| Merino wool long sleeve | 5.3 | |
| Patagonia Houdini | 3.6 | |
| Smart wool long johns | 6.5 | |
| Owl buff | 1 | |
| Icebreaker wool bra | 2 | |
| Silk dress | 2.8 | |
| Frogg Togg rain suit | 10 | |
| Champion compression shorts | 2.6 | |
| Patagonia down jacket | 9.2 | |
| Lightweight wool gloves | 1.9 | |
| OR over mitts | 3.4 | |
| Injinji socks 2 pairs | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| Thick sleeping socks | 4.5 | |
| Down booties | 5.3 | |
| Monster hat | 3.3 | |
| Gaiters | 0.9 | |
| Bandanna | 1 | |
| Hydro socks | 2.9 | |
| Visor | 1.6 | |
| Other | ||
| Suntactics 5 solar panel | 7.3 | |
| 2 pairs of sunglasses | 2.1 | |
| Umbrella | 5.4 | |
| Petzl head lamp | 3 | |
| Titanium spork | 0.3 | |
| Titanium cup 600ml | 2.8 | |
| P cord | 3.5 | |
| Shammy | 0.6 | |
| Inreach explorer | 7 | |
| Lumix camera | 17.6 | |
| Universal back up battery | 4.3 | |
| misc chargers/cords | 4.5 | |
| Knife | 0.5 | |
| Diva cup | 0.6 | |
| First Aid kit | 5 | |
| mp3 player | 2 | |
| Teva Tirra Sandals | 18 | |
| Altra King MT | 19.6 | |
| Back pack buddies sock dolls | 1.1 | |
| Iphone 6 | 6.7 | |
| Maps guidebook pages etc | ||
| Leki Trekking Poles | 18 | |
| Totals | 277.6 | 31.7 |