As we head into the start of the competition season, I am struck, every year, by how hard it is to remember how to pack. Ever realize how packing for a race or a training camp takes almost as long as the race or the camp itself? The amount of crap we, as triathletes lug around the world? It’s staggering. It makes me long for the good ‘ol days of “suit, cap, goggles, towel”…...good to go. Aaaah, simpler times. Now, as a triathlete, the packing list reads like something just short of “War and Peace” and even then, you always forget something.
Well, I hereby promise to never complain again about how my luggage weighs more than I do. I got a post from an old high school friend who is preparing to climb Mt. Everest. And I thought I was nuts. Jamie and I went to high school together. We didn’t know each other really well, and had not kept in touch since high school, but thru the crazy world of Facebook, we reconnected and I’ve been fascinated with Jamie (I guess he’s “James” now)’s journey every since.
Jamie has climbed every major summit, and up next is the big one; Everest. In his most recent post, Jamie outlined what it’s like to pack to climb the world’s tallest peak and it makes my triathlon gear bag look like a wussy little fanny pack!
Here is Jamie’s post:
"I have spent the last 3 days under piles of equipment and expedition clothes making sure I have not missed anything. As I will be flying Emirates and Jet Air to Kathmandu, I know that the 31 Kilo limit will certainly be exceeded, so I have been working to ship a barrel to Kathmandu airport ...
Today it will leave--- exciting! Its a long list of things, totalling 42 Kilos and value is probably in excess of $3000.
So here is the list:
Down Jackets (2)
Down Pants (2 pair)
Dark Star -40 degree sleeping bag
Ice Axe
Crampons (2 pair)
Various ropes (prussiks, slings)
Harness
Carabiniers (5 locking gate, 3 non-lockers) Jumars (One left handed, One right handed) Thermarest Down Booties
3 insulated Nalgene Bottles (Filled with Power Bar Energy Drink Mix) Regulator & Mask from the 2005 expedition Gels & Power Bars (Power Bar & Cliff Bars)--- donated by Great Outdoor Provision Company Pack Towel Light Polypro underwear --- donated by Great Outdoor Provision Company Socks ( 8 pair thick, 5 pair wicking light layer) Fleece gloves (3 pair) Fleece Jacket Fleece Pants Goretex Top & Bottom Medium weight underwear (2 pair) Julbo Glacier Glasses (2 pair) Mittens, Hats, Balaclavas
2 Expedition Duffels
1 90 Liter Backpack
1 50 Liter Backpack
1 Basecamp tent --- donated by Great Outdoor Provision Company Solar cell--- charging batteries, cameras, and computer Stove Lantern Everest Millet Boots La Sportiva Trekking Boots One down Yeti sleeping bag -30 degrees
Electronics- Computer, Camera, Videocameras (2), Headlamps (2), GPS I will buy a base camp/ ABC Mattress in KTM ...
In total, all the equipment weight is 60 kilos...but I am only shipping 42 kilos.”
Right then. So if nothing else, I have learned that there is a sport that is more gear intensive than triathlon. That makes me feel better as I begin the packing process for my training camp which will include my first race! Leaving in a week. Tickety tock!
For more on Jamie’s progress, you can follow him at
http://www.jamesdewittwilde.com/ and what’s more cool, you can support Jamie’s foundation, The Wilde Foundation which supports Global H2O,
http://www.globalh2o.org/, a Clean Water Intiiative….because Jamie doesn’t have enough to worry about climbing Mt. Everest, he’s trying to use his expedition to bring clean water to the world.
Yep, I’m a slacker! Go Jamie! Be safe!!
