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Here is a close-up photo of my supplies as I work on my change in the tent. Fortunately, my output is fairly thick and things are mess-free if I wrap strips of paper towel around my stoma as I work. When it is cold or buggy, I usually change in the tent. I changed my appliance four times on the trip– once every four days. My spare ostomy supplies weighed about two pounds. It was tough figuring out how much food to bring, but we did well and only went home with a few spare energy bars.
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Fortunately they were a permitted food storage method in the Wind River Range (they are not yet approved for all public lands.) We brought four Ursacks full of food on our trip plus one additional stuff sack full to hang for the first few nights. They are bear- and rodent-proof and are much lighter to carry than regular plastic bear canisters. The white bags in this photo are called Ursack AllMiteys.
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Our 16-day trip in the Wind River Range involved hiking in black and grizzly bear country so special food storage regulations were in place. My sketchbook and small set of watercolors never stays home. I am quite sure I am never going to be carrying a 25-pound pack on any trip that is more than an overnighter. Mix the extra weight of these body-warmth necessities with the added ounces of spare ostomy supplies, the bear-proof food storage containers that are increasingly being required on public lands in the west and a few minor luxury items like my sketchbook, and the pounds add up. They are lightweight and allow me to safely cross streams without injuring my feet or getting my boots wet (which causes Raynaud’s Disease symptoms in my feet.) They also double as great camp shoes. The stylish rubbery red shoes I am wearing are Vivobarefoot Ultra 3s. Our trip in the Wind River Range included many river crossings. However, on our Wind River Range trip there were too many mosquitoes for that option. Often we will use the shelter without the inner netting which makes it even lighter. Also, we brought our pyramid shelter which is light but spacious (I dislike being crammed in a tiny tent.) It uses our hiking sticks for a center pole which saves weight. I had to sleep in every layer I brought along and eventually borrowed Doug’s jacket after several sleepless nights due to being teeth-chatteringly cold. It is a great lightweight bag, but wasn’t warm enough for me on this trip. At our Peak Lake campsite, Doug shakes out my 15-degree, 800-fill down sleeping bag. My fingers and toes become waxy-white and numb and are at an increased risk for cold injury such as frostbite. I also have Raynaud’s Disease which limits blood flow to my extremities when I am chilled. Though I have incorporated lightweight gear and packing strategies into my backpacking system, an extreme sensitivity to cold (I am wearing a hat and down jacket in my 68-degree home as I type this) means I must bring a higher-than-average amount of insulating clothing and a very warm down sleeping bag–even in the summer season. I am sure all my ultralight backpacking friends are cringing! However, depending on the season, my typical pack weight is still anywhere from 35-55 pounds on mountain trips that are over three days. Only 11 miles to go until camp! I made it, but it was a tough day. Famous Squaretop Mountain is in the background. I head out on day one of our 16-day trip with my 70-pound pack. This led to us both carrying very heavy loads: our packs on the first day of the trip were over 70 pounds. What made this trip unique is that it was unsupported we carried all of our food and fuel with no resupply along the way.
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The biggest of these trips was a 16-day, 90-mile-long backpack in the Wind River Range of Wyoming in August. A total of 25 nights were spent in the backcountry. In fact, Doug and I spent the most nights backpacking in the wilderness together this year than we have at any other point in our lives. This has been an incredible year full of many wonderful trips in the wilds. In fact, the reality has been quite the opposite. Just because I have been quiet doesn’t mean life has been void of adventures. It has been a long time since I’ve posted on the.