getting ready for Switzerland: the details

Between the two of us, Race and I have been on every continent. And of course Race's whole LIFE revolves around travel. When you are on the go this much, you learn how to pack. And you learn what you really need. And you learn what it's like to have to CARRY what you really need. But still,this was the hands-down absolute, HARDEST trip to prepare for ever.
We decided to accomplish our goal, and to make it as enjoyable as possible, we needed to carry everything on our backs. NO CHECKED LUGGAGE. For 2 weeks. Let me say that again: We had to carry everything that we would need for the next 2 weeks on our backs....through the alps. Now this, my friends, was perhaps the most difficult of all the struggles that we encountered. Race and I packed, and re-packed, and weighed our packs, and re-packed again countless times over the coming weeks. I even bought a NEW pack, but then decided against it, and went with my old, faithful Gregory Diva pack that has served me so well all these years. And that proved later on, to be a wise choice.
Besides packing, the only other preparations we made were to book our first two nights reservations, order our Swiss Rail Pass and to map out our trip. For mapping info on the alpine pass route the best web site that we found was this one: Alpine Pass Route. Excellent detailed info. and enough mapping gadgets and gizmos to satisfy a man who owns 7 GPS's. (I wish I were kidding) SO. After all was said and done this is my pack, all full and ready to travel. For 2 weeks.

I can see the looks of horror on your faces. I hear your doubtful murmerings. But I swear.....this.is.it. I took this picture the night before we left, after I SWORE that I would NOT unpack that damned bag again! And I didn't. But this all begs the question: What did I take??

My gear list:

Salomon hiking boots,Merrell flats, 2 pr hiking socks,1 pair black patagonia pants, 1 pr khaki cargo hiking pants, 1 brown prana skirt, 1 pr brown athleta polartech pants, 1 set of black, silk, long underwear, 2 cami's 1 black and 1 brown, 1 long sleeve, black Calvin Klein wicking T-shirt, and 2 short sleeved ones(one black one white), one brown/orange pull-over Mountain Hardwear sweater, 1 monkey woman fleece jacket, 1 Arcter'yx performance jacket, 1 pr Marmot fleece gloves, 1 North Face stocking cap , 1 pr black Marmot rain pants, 1 Go-Light rain jacket, 1 baseball cap and enough unmentionables to wash and wear. That's it for clothes! My friends, it was no small feat to whittle my clothing down to this masterful mix of function and fashion. Yes, the color scheme was drab, but with splashes of color here and there, I managed. Oh- and just so you know, I have not worn one. single. piece. of that clothing since I returned. (Except the Arcteryx jacket which just goes without saying, because I dearly love it.)

The only hitch came with the hiking poles. Now, we hike all the time here in the mountains of our fair state, but we have never used hiking poles. In fact, we have always sort of snickered a bit whenever we would see someone with them. But we had been told that they were indispensible in Switzerland, so we heeded that advice and bought some. HOWEVER, these are not allowed in carry-on luggage! So, in a fit of brilliance, we stopped, on the way to the airport and bummed a box off of one of the nearby outdoor stores, threw our poles in, taped it up, and wrote "hiking poles" all over the box! And checked it as luggage. Worked like a charm.

Soooo...what about hair and make-up???? Well, I owe it all to Bare Minerals(which IS airline safe) and Sephora, for sending me all those travel sized samples every time I palce an order! I packed 2 little Bare Minerals pots,1 tube of mascara, 1 eyelash curler(I know, I know...guilty pleasure, but you just can't go around with stick-straight eyelashes. You have to draw the line somewhere!) and travel sizes of make-up remover, moisturizer, Ojon hair shampoo, conditioner, and hair balm.....and my hair brush. I KNOW, RIGHT???? NO FLAT IRON??!!! NO HAIR DRYER??!!! And no. There just wasn't room, and the old pack was gettin pretty heavy as it was, so I had to leave them behind. And I'll be honest. I wasn't sure what that would be like....for 2 WEEKS?? And I was right. I missed them. I missed them dearly. Perhaps more than I missed my children. I exaggerate. I'm sure I missed the kids more than my hair styling tools...right?....Right?

The only other thing in my pack was several trail mix bars, my water bottle, my passport,ID, our Swiss Rail Pass and a small, but indispensable book by Kev Reynolds, "The Alpine Pass Route".
I needed every item in my pack at least once,and most of it was used a LOT. There was really nothing that I NEEDED that I didn't have. (Minus the aforementioned hair styling acoutrements) And most importantly.....I COULD CARRY IT!

Now, I ask you, what sort of parents would meticulously and single-handedly sculpt a childs education from 1st grade right on through highschool, only to dump him off at college and leave the country? Well apparently Austin has that sort of parents. Because that's what we did. Here I am standing with Austin on Move-In Day at the college. And there he goes. Running up the steps to his dorm as we drove away. No time for weeping. Cause We're going' to Switzerland, baby!!!

Cheers!

Melissa