Biggest lessons learned in 2008:

1. There are some pieces of gear that I can live without, but that I prefer to have with me. My headlamp, for example, and my camp clogs. After several trips where I saved weight by leaving them at home, they are back in my kit for good.

2. Don't go hiking in the middle of a family crisis. The "quick getaway" doesn't work at all, and in this case turned into four days of abject misery. (Exacerbated by painful feet and a dead Photon Microlight, see #1, above.)

3. I really like hiking with my wife. Didn't have much time to do that until we shipped our kid off to college this year.


Not much new gear in 2008. Bought a Tarptent Double Rainbow, sold the original Rainshadow. Good for trips with my spouse. Got a Maccat Delux hammock tarp for the summer trip, to replace the stock HH tarp. I like both purchases. Other than that, I think I'm using the same gear as the last few years. It all works pretty well.