I just finished weighing the majority of my gear. Below is a spreadsheet of my projected PCT Equipment List. Right now it’s coming in at just under 170 lbs. This is encouraging since I’ve been told to limit Bootsie’s load to 150-175 lbs. This is squarely in that range, and will decline at about 8 or 9 lbs per day, meaning in 3 days we’re well below the 150 lb limit.
I tended overestimate the weights or round up an ounce, to give myself a cushion. This will be offset I’m sure by the missing items I’ve yet to weigh. Approximately 86 lbs of the load will be Bootsie’s feed, which is unfortunate. If I were truly doing it in the spirit of Fremont she’d have only what she could graze upon, and I’d have an additional 30 days worth of supplies I could bring! I’d only need to be resupplied every 6 or so weeks–now that would be a real expedition!
I’m not including anything that I will be carrying on my person, as it wont count towards my mule’s load. That amount I will determine at a later time.
| ITEM | OZ | ||||
| CLOTHING | |||||
| wool socks x 2 | 14 | ||||
| dyer moccasins | carried | ||||
| leggings | carried | ||||
| breech clout | carried | ||||
| silk leggings | 4 | ||||
| silk shirt | 4 | ||||
| long hunter shirt | carried | ||||
| wool stocking cap | 7 | ||||
| wide brimmed hat | carried | ||||
| belts | carried | ||||
| BEDDING | OZ | ||||
| canvas ground cloth–waterproofed | 64 | ||||
| sheep skin | 256 | ||||
| COOKING | OZ | ||||
| backpacking stove | 2 | ||||
| fuel canisters | 32 | ||||
| sealable tin pot | 16 | ||||
| tin cup | 6 | ||||
| spoon | 1 | ||||
| spatula | 1 | ||||
| steel wool/scrubby | 2.5 | ||||
| dish rag | 1 | ||||
| Water Filter | 11 | ||||
| wool cozy | 3.5 | ||||
| STORAGE | OZ | ||||
| gourd 1 | (filled) | 58 | |||
| gourd 2 | (filled) | 98 | |||
| haversack | carried | ||||
| tins | 56 | ||||
| wineskin | carried | ||||
| EQUESTRIAN | OZ | ||||
| feed sack | 13 | ||||
| hobbles | tbd | ||||
| 6 lbs feed/day | 1344 | ||||
| EQUIPMENT | OZ | ||||
| knife | carried | ||||
| whetstone | 1 | ||||
| flint | carried | ||||
| steel | 1 | ||||
| char paper | 1 | ||||
| trowel | tbd | ||||
| hatchet | carried | ||||
| folding saw | tbd | ||||
| needles | 8 | ||||
| sinew | above | ||||
| thread | above | ||||
| shears | above | ||||
| awls | tbd | ||||
| leather scraps | 36 | ||||
| fishhooks | 1 | ||||
| toothbrush | 1 | ||||
| spyglass | 13 | ||||
| compass | carried | ||||
| maps | carried | ||||
| journal | carried | ||||
| pens | carried | ||||
| lantern | 24 | ||||
| book lantern | 4 | ||||
| brass lantern | 4 | ||||
| lamp oil | 56 | ||||
| funnel | 1 | ||||
| lamp oil container | 1 | ||||
| FOOD FOR 14 DAYS | OZ | ||||
| pemmican A | 448 | ||||
| hardtack | 63 | ||||
| oats | 39 | ||||
| butter | 7 | ||||
| sugar | 11.2 | ||||
| 2714.2 | |||||
| TOTAL WEIGHT | 169.6375 | pounds | |||