Thanks! You confirmed my hunch on the sleeping bags; I'll return them for some warmer ones. No, they aren't down, we can't afford it.

RE: snakes--yeah, I know, most bites are to the arms or hands of those silly enough to pick them up. I'm originally from outside LA and I've never seen one. Just got a little psyched out.

On the shoes I think I'll keep the trail runners (they were on sale), and try them on this three day test trip.

I'm not sure about the tarp tent business; it sounds intriguing but I've never seen one in person. Will consider.

Sorry they're hard questions to answer, Brian, your answers were good fwiw. I'm still trucking through things like the NOLS guide as a review; after I'll move onto a lightweight book.