Minimalist by Plane and The Opposite by Car

Reading Time: 2 minutes
When I was flying between England and Switzerland regularly I packed so that everything would fit into a bag that I could take on board. When I travel by car I pack less effectively. Today I have two tents, two different types of sleeping bag, a sleeping mat, a Bare Dry suit inner suit, a single set of via ferrata stuff, crocs, hiking shoes and trail glove 7s on my feet.

In my own opinion I have overpacked but as it may be cold, and rainy the first night, and cold the second night it makes sense to have spares. If one sleeping bag gets soaked I have a backup. I also need to take two tents because I will lend one and use the other.

I want to use the smaller tent, because if I like using it, I will be able to use it for multiday hikes where I camp overnight.

In the past when I did this Via ferrata I needed two pairs of socks, two pairs of pants, the via ferrata kit, some food and water, and toiletries. This time I need that, and camping stuff. Camping stuff is bulky, and cold weather stuff is bulky.I had a thought that all of the stuff could fit in my diving bag, but that’s harder to fit in a smaller boot.

## The Five Year Break

I have reservations about the Leukerbad via ferrata for two reasons. The first is that I haven’t done that many via ferrata for six or seven years so my fear of heights has come back to some degree. The second reason is that I don’t climb and do via ferrata every Thursday night, or go to the gym three times a week. I’m also half a decade older than before. All of these have an effect. I will see how I feel on Saturday morning.

It is normal to have reservations the day before, and to feel fine once the day comes. I felt that way about plenty of dives. What’s new is having that feeling before a Via Ferrata.

## And Finally

It’s because I already spent four days in a hotel in St Moritz that I don’t want to spend another two nights in another hotel. Hotels are expensive. By testing the smaller tent I open up opportunities for multiday hikes, from one valley to another, or even one town or village to another. That type of hiking is nice. By using a tent I lower the budget requirement.

My over-packing is due to my desire to experiment, rather than out of fear of bringing the wrong thing. It’s going to be cold so I prefer to have more than I need, to remain comfortable, than not enough, and feel cold. We have heard of thru-hikers that sleep in cold conditions and wish they had had an extra two or three layers.