27 Days to Go....and Someone has a Bit of Time on his Hands....

Tom’s Steps to Packing Light
(stolen from a very bright online travel article)

Step 1.  Get a small bag. Note:  We've got this covered.  See August 14th entry.  The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry. It is helpful to have a bag that can be carried as a backpack, or as a shoulder bag depending on the circumstances. It is also handy if it has wheels. It is quite common to have to walk long distances, climb stairs and have to do many things at once, all while you
have your bag with you. Not checking bags means faster transfers and no lost luggage.

Step 2. Plan your wardrobe so that everything matches with everything else. This does not have to be monochromatic or boring. Rather, it suggests a minimalist approach to fashion. Ladies, one skirt and a single pair of trousers can be matched with a t-shirt, a fancy blouse or a tank top to make six different outfits--plenty of clothes for a week journey. You can get fancy with a scarf, bandanna, hat or other uniquely "you" wardrobe piece. If done right, you might be able to get
away with one load of laundry rather than 'darks' and 'lights'. Guys, just follow suit.

• Bring enough clean underwear so that you can get through at least 6 days of our journey without doing laundry. This also goes for socks, if you will be wearing those daily. Laundry opportunities will present themselves as we travel.
• Bring at least one pair of waterproof, dark hiking shoes. Short of a river crossing by foot, they won't get wet, they are incredibly durable, and are extremely comfortable. Best of all, you won't be carrying additional weight and sacrificing the big space taken up by another pair of shoes in your luggage. A second pair or shoes such as sandals, thongs, or slipper might be considered. We will NOT be visiting any dressy or formal locations.
• Consider your packing space carefully. Put items inside of other items, like those Russian nesting dolls. Roll clothes into small rolls to reduce wrinkling. Stuff socks into shoes.
• Pack your dry toiletries in the one bag and your liquid and gel toiletries in another. Remember to keep your liquids and gels to no more than 3 ozs.
• Keep your hand lotion, water, sunglasses, ear plugs, snacks, toothbrush, floss, hair brush/comb, a change of underwear, pen, notebook, camera, and any special medicines and necessary items you need in the top of your bag or organized in a sensible manner because you never know what may happen at the spur of the moment when you travel.
• Keep your ID, money, credit cards, in a security pouch. Keep some small currency in your pocket for little purchases (rather than pulling out everything each time). Carry photocopies of your ID, visas, and credit cards with you but in a separate compartment from the real ones (the idea being that if you lose one, you still have the other). Consider 'buddy packing' where your travel partner keeps your important photocopies and you keep theirs. This is a great idea.
• Electronics. Think wisely about this category. Obviously you’ll want your camera. Even if you are not in the habit of taking pictures, don’t leave this off your list.

• Cell phones. Unless you have a great international calling plan you’ll find that even the shortest call will be amazingly expensive. Even if you simply want to check email on your phone, you’ll pay significant roaming fees. Tom will have a cell phone with him for emergencies. You will have access to telephones everywhere there is cell service so seriously think about leaving yours behind. If you do bring it with you, make sure you have your charger and any plug adaptors required.
• Laptop. Even a small one with charger with adds several pounds to your bag. We will have internet service regularly during the trip. All hotels and resorts will have internet stations. Tom will have his laptop and you are welcome to use his when WiFi service is available.
• Fans, headphones, radios, alarm clocks, etc. all take up space. Think long and hard about what you really need.

Step 3. Make a packing list and visit it several times before your final pack. Practice packing your bag several times.  Roll clothing so they stay less wrinkled and pack tighter. Use corners and other cracks and crevices wisely. For example I always try to pack things in bags and inside of one another. It’s easier when I’m looking for something. I like the small and medium compression bags, not because you can get a lot of stuff in your luggage but because it keeps things firm so they don’t wrinkle. Putting like things together such as all shirts in one, pants in another, socks, underwear, toiletries, etc. makes it easier to find quickly what I want. Instead of having to unpack and repack 20 items, I am only moving four or five.  

Step 4. What you don’t bring you can buy. The first rule in packing is to layout everything you absolutely are certain you can’t leave home without and then put HALF of it back. I love this concept and travel even lighter these days than on earlier trips. There is always something along the way that I will want that adds to my wardrobe…and the weight I am carrying. So if I start off real light, then I can enjoy more space for souvenirs I would have otherwise passed by.   

Tom’s Suggested Packing and Check List

In Daypack
Camera, battery charger, and plenty of memory cards.
Cell phone and charger if you decide to bring one.
Flashlight or headlight.
Binoculars (optional).
Pen and notebook.
Laminated Itinerary.
Sunglasses.
Extra eyeglasses.
Medications.
Sun block (can be purchased there).
Insect repellent (can be purchased there).
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In Backpack
Underwear and socks.
Four to five tops.
Two long pants.
Two short pants.
Swimsuit.
Rainwear.
Light gloves.
Extra shoes.
Toiletries (travel light).
Book (optional).
Travel games (optional).
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To Wear
Jacket.
Hat.
Heaviest Top.
Heaviest Pants.
Hiking Boots.
Money Belt
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Documents and Finances
Passport with Visas.
Shot record.
Driver’s License.
Credit & Debit Cards.
Cash.
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Can’t do withouts… you probably can...do without
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Now lay it all out and put back half of what you see. You’re all done. Put both pieces together and then weigh your pack. Decide if you really want to carry more than 25 pounds.

32 Days to Go - The Passports and Visas have Arrived!

Finally.....our passports and visas have arrived. Nearly six months in processing. We received a bulk package with the sorely needed documents yesterday. All appears in order and we are set and ready to go! We will be distributing them to the gang over the next several days. Only 20 days left before our big PRE-TRIP meeting and photo-taking workshop. Yippee!

Day 36 and Counting Down - A great Preparatory Day Hike...

This Sunday we gathered in Anchorage at the Potter Marsh trail head and hiked the ridge line toward McHugh Creek. This trail closely resembles one of the trails and terrains we will be covering on the Patagonia portion of our trip. We all carried at least 15 pounds in our packs and a great time was had by all. We have agreed to do the same route again next week and head out a bit further. It's getting close.

Thinking about Christmas Day . . .

We arrive in Buenos Aires following our Patagonia Trek on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning Denise and Andrea arrive and our group is complete. For the next 22 days we will be fourteen. Christmas Day in Buenos Aires is a family holiday with most shops, restaurants, and tourism venues closed. Coming up with an activity for the day has been a challenge. We could of course simply hang out in the hotel and enjoy the rest…but this group doesn’t like to sit still for long! Thus the challenge.

Well, after a lot of searching and telephone calls, we’ve found an amazing opportunity available for the day…and it’s going to be a big surprise. All we are going to tell our group is to enjoy a lazy morning, eat a hearty breakfast, and be in the hotel lobby no later than 12:45 PM and ready for a surprise half day adventure!

That evening we will meet at 8:00 PM for our holiday dinner and “Secret Santa” gift exchange!

45 Days to Go . . .

Some of our group have even less time to pack and get ready as they are leaving up to two weeks prior to our December 1st start date. Our passports and visas are complete and were mailed today. Our Alaska group has begun weekly hikes to get ready for the trek and all is on schedule. This coming week we head out from Anchorage and into the Chugach Mountains for a five mile hike carrying a 10 pound pack. It’s all getting very, very real….and all of a sudden a whole lot heavier!

We are so excited!

Disaster Followed by a Tremendous Upgrade . . .

On September 23^rd we were informed by Quark Expeditions that our icebreaker, Clipper Adventurer, ran aground in the Arctic on the Northwest Territory coastline.  With a hole in the hull, they were forced to cancel our Antarctica cruise scheduled for December 14^th.  This news of course was very distressing; so much time and so much planning.

After many emails and many telephone calls we were able to negotiate a different cruise date with upgraded accommodations as no additional cost.  The upgrade on the ship is great as we will all now have private double cabins with private baths.  The new cruise sails on December 4^th and is one day longer on a much nicer ship.  All of this meant a complete reworking of 48 flight segments (4 segments for 12 passengers), the canceling and rebooking of many hotel nights, the rescheduling of our Patagonia Trek to a later departure date, and the rescheduling of two private tours that were to take place on our free days….thank goodness for our free days!  Without them we would not have been able to accomplish the switch.  There was one casualty in all of this as Marie Jennings had to cancel her trip due to the date changes.  We will all miss her a lot as she is a valuable member of our little traveling tribe. 

After two weeks of negotiation and a lot of frustration the end result is an even better cruise that before in upgraded cabins.  All of these changes cost $643 per person.  We are currently in negotiation with Quark for reimbursement of this individual cost.  Bobbie says that this all worked out for the best as now we can eat a whole lot more on the cruise and then have the trek afterwards to work off the extra pounds!