Well I finally bought my pack – a Gossamer Gear Mariposa. It weighs 1 lb 12 oz. Now I need to put some dead weight in it and try it out. So I stuffed in two heavy foam pillows each weighing 4 lbs as ballast.

Walked the Austin Lady Bird Lake trail today (10 miles) in 2:47 for a pace of 16:42 min/mile or 3.6 mph.

Update 9/6: To paraphrase and simplify a military creed about one’s rifle: “This is my pack. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my pack is useless. Without my pack I am useless.”