Winny,
I just bought a replacement GPS - got the Garmin foretrex101 that takes AAA cells. Last year I bought a camp grill and a new coleman lantern. Theres not a lot of gear I NEED. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

AND yes its about time that backpacking meant going hiking with yer stuff on yer back <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> instead of - wow I've got all this stuff <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Yippie now I need to TAKE <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />IT <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> camping. The gear seems to be more important than the trip its self. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Then people start bringing things on general principles, and their "base" weight goes up simply because they will have a couple of pounds of accumulated "must have junk" like a years supply of Tylenol and sunscreen for instance, or 4 pairs of gloves, r whatever.
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />