This time however, I will not be going alone, nor will I be leaving Bo the dog at home. I can not tell you how excited I am to start this journey with my amazing girlfriend Stephie, and Bo. My mom told me now she has a 3 lives to worry about this time, which made me realize, I do to. But I am not worried, they are both as capable as anyone for this 487 mile trek through the Rocky Mountains from Durango to Denver, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.
This time, I know what I am doing, have the proper gear, some money saved up, and a few sponsors!
I work for Sports Authority as a graphic designer (When I'm not Snarffing around the mountains) and they have given me 1 month off to complete the Colorado Trail. They have also given us sleeping bags to product test, along with trekking poles, a sleeping pad, and some dehydrated Mountain House meals.
The Alpine Design sleeping bags are a male and female mummy type bag temperature rated at 40° and, a 20° "summer bag". We took them out car camping one weekend and when we got there we realized the car cigarette lighter was broken so we could not blow up our air mattress. So we slept on the ground and the temperature dropped down to about 40°. My bag was a little big (I'm 6'2", 190lbs), and I had it synched up around my head but was still chilly, until I took the excess bag and pulled it in closer to me which helped but I was not comfortable throughout the night. If the air mattress was under us I think we would have been just fine, but it was not so we were a little colder than we would have liked. A sleeping bag liner would have been a difference maker that night also.
The Alpine Design sleeping pad is great; except that it claims to be self inflating, which it is not. I set it out for about 4 minutes and it was still not really full, but with a couple breaths it filled right up and was quite comfortable, a bit heavy weighing in around a pound and a half though. So we will not be taking it with us, but perfect for car camping.
The Alpine Design trekking poles haven't been out yet but Stephie will be taking them with her, as I will be using a wooden walking stick again.
Honey Stinger has provided us with 3 cases of their waffles, and some energy bites. They are an all natural honey energy snack that tastes delicious, I look forward to the boost they will give us along the way.
Engage Bars sent us a case of all natural chia seed chocolate almond bars which we are saving for the trip, but by the description they sound delicious.
Bobo's Oat bars are non-gmo natural, organic bars from Boulder, CO. They too have sent us a case to sample, which we are also saving.
The bags aren't quite packed yet, there are still a few things to get, but the itch is about to get scratched. Gear list to come soon.
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