Packing

So, departure date suddenly seems very close. At least we get two days back in Blighty before heading off on the winter leg of the trip, so the ski gear can be left in the house. Still - towards the latter part of the states leg, we may well encounter snow in Tuolumne. We'll be the only ones packing down jackets and boulder mats to Fiji.

As we're flying east to west, we're on the so-called '2-piece' luggage system. This means that each passenger is allowed - wait for it - two pieces of hold luggage, each weighing 32 kgs each. So for the two of us, that's a theoretical 128 kgs of gear to lug around. Shouldn't be hard to manage within that, one might think. However, the 2-piece system is just that. You can't take three pieces, totalling the same overall weight. This presents a problem in so far that we're due to visit Bishop in the states, and Castle Hill in N.Z - two of the foremost bouldering destinations in the world. A boulder mat weighs nothing in comparison - a couple of kgs, but due to its dimensions would have to be packed as one of the two pieces. Of course, you could pay extra to carry it, but the fee is 'per piece' not by weight, and the £100 it would set us back - per leg - vastly outstrips the cost of the pad. But still, we'd get 3 x 32 kgs + mat. Not too shabby, had it not been for the fact that climbing gear weighs loads and is bulky. Add tents, sleeping mats and bags, and you're almost there.

We'll be tradding in Yosemite and possibly Joshua Tree or Red Rocks, bolt clipping in Owen's River Gorge and NZ + the boldering. Ideally, I'd hope to not have to take both trad and sport ropes. I have two 8.5mm x 60m Mammut Genesis doubles - they really are the best ropes I've come across for trad, and a 9.5mm x 60 Mammut single. Seems like a no-brainer to take only the single, but many routes in Yosemite require multiple full 60m abseils to get off. Maybe we'll just have to give such routes a miss. Think that Bruno and Jen are only bringing one single.

For base camp we have our Antractica tent, two thermarests and two down bags. Stove, crockery and cutlery (naturally made from titanium, by Snowpeak. Accept no imitations). In terms of stove, can you get screw-top gas canisters for an MSR Pocket Rocket in the states, or NZ? I'd rather not lug around a Trangia for this. Moreover, airlines are apparently picky about allowing stoves on board, even if you don't pack any fuel.

Head torch and backup spare. Helmet, harness, rock boots, chalk bag, belay device - take a GriGri in addition to my trusty ATC-XP?

We have two large North Face base camp duffels and our two rucksacks, one of which will have to go on as carry-on, and can't contain climbing gear (apparently, quick draws can be used as 'restraints').

In terms of clothing, well, my normal approach is to grab a handful of what happens to be clean at the time. Two pairs of prAna climbing trousers, six or so dry-flo t-shirts, and two thin long-sleeved micro fleece or dry-flo tops. Two pairs of shorts. Underwear, socks. Soft shell, down jacket, baseball cap, fleece hat. My Salomon trainers and Chaco sandals. Like to bring running gear if there's space. Civilian clothes?

It's tempting to bring some gadgetry, but I think I'll limit it to my old digicam, as it takes AA cells, iPod + car charger and GPS (also takes AA cells). Two-way radios?