On Jan 27 I get my left shoulder operated on for rotator cuff repair, bone debridement and 3 muscle tears repaired. At 66 I guess it's just accumulated wear & tear that I can no longer put off repairing. I may look 45 but my body is beginnin' to say I ain't.

Anyway I've paid my fee for yet another Grand Canyon backpacking trip on April 21st. I'll be carrying a (kinda)light pack of around 32 lbs. including 7 days' food & 2 liters of water on the 1st day. Mercifully it gets lighter each day, as we all know.

I think I'll be OK. So does my orthopedic surgeon after I explained that 80% of the weight will be on my padded hip belt.

Anyone have a similar operation? How did it feel when you hefted a full pack?

BTW, Here's a list of my BIG THREE items:

PACK> REI Cruise UL 60 - 3.5 lbs W/ side pockets

SLEEP SYSTEM> WM Megalite down bag (1.5 lbs) and old Thermarest Lite regular mattress at 18 oz. in sac

TENT> TarpTet Moment at 28 oz.

PLUS: SteriPen & chlorine dioxide tablets,
>Vargo Jet-Ti stove & one reg. canister,
>1 L. aluminum pot & lid,
>8"X10" cc foam sit pad,
>very light Gregory 2.5 L. hydration bag
>bike bottle & belt pouch(to carry electrolyte H2O)
>small 1st aid kit
>toilet kit (very small synthtic towel, camp suds, toothbrush & sm. tube of t. paste)
>poop kit (TP, SMC snow stake "trowel" & hand sanitizer)
>Panasonic Lumix digital camera in shoulder pouch
CLOTHES:
>1 long handled poly sleep shirt
>2 changes of socks & liners
>PacLite GTX rain parka
>200 wt. polartec fleece vest
>wide brimmed, mesh vented hat
>2 Leki walking poles

Th-th-that's it Folks Any suggestions?