There always seems to be gear that you need that is hard to classify, and because of this, I lump this gear into the category, creatively called, "other gear." This is the kind of gear that you need, but the type you won't be bragging to your buddies about.

Gregory Long Haul Duffle

One of the unsung heroes of this trip was my Gregory duffle bag. This large, 10,944 cubic inch (both smaller and larger sizes are available) duffle, carried all of my gear for the entire two weeks I was gone, and even had enough room to bring back some souvenirs.

Although heavy when full of gear, the duffle was easy to move around, was tough (it didn't get damaged at all), and highly water resistant.

In the above photo, you may notice a large pile of luggage. As you can see, when participating in an adventure like this one, your bags will be susceptible to the weather, including rain. Because of this, it is important to ensure that whatever luggage you bring along, it should protect the gear inside it.

I did get a sour face from one of the people who had to carry my full, heavy duffle from each nightly lodging to the next, but there were others in our group who even got larger frowns than me. While I only had one heavy piece, some others had multiple, heavy pieces.

REI Travel Sack +55

While every place that we stayed had beds with bedding materials, some of them just didn't exude superior cleanliness. Because of the, I brought along my own sleeping sack. With the exception of a nice hotel we stayed at for several nights, I used the bag the rest of the time.

The REI Travel Sack is very comfortable, easy to ventilate, and packs up small and light. Many of the places we stayed at were trying to save expenses by keeping the heat to a minimum, but the Travel Sack, with and an occasional blanket, were enough to keep me warm. I never found it too hot.

Aquis Essentials Microfiber Towel & Washcloth

While some of our lodging did provide towels and washcloths, not all did, and those that did didn't always provide ones that I wanted to use. Because of this, I brought along a single towel and washcloth.

I like the Aquis brand because these towels are very thin, very soft, very absorbent, and very packable. Also, they dry overnight so I don't have to worry about packing wet towels around.

Julbo S-cape Glacier Glasses

Eyes need protection from the sun, especially at the altitudes we hiked in (from about 3,500 to 8,000 feet). I am really picky about glasses and I took a long time to find ones I really liked.

I ended up with the Julbo S-cape Glacier Glasses for several reasons, including: comfort, light weight, durability, photochromic lenses that darken in bright-light situations and lighten as it gets darker, and removable side shields to protect you from harsh glare.

These glasses, which I first tested on this trip, meet all my expectation. They protected my eyes well, and fogging was minimal.

Misc. Gear

I also want to mention some additional gear I brought along, although I won't provide many comments about them.

• Cheap, waterproof watch with alarm. I don't travel with my good watch because I don't want it damaged, and because it doesn't have an alarm. I bought a Casio from Wal-Mart for about twenty dollars, and it serves its purpose well.
  
   
• First Aid Kit. On this trip, I brought along my own home-made kit, carrying only the essentials, as the trip leaders brought along a full first aid kit for the group.
  
   
• LED Flashlight. Although I didn't need it on the trip, I like to carry a lightweight flashlight whenever I travel, just in case it is needed.
  
   
• Electrical Adapter/Converter. If you plan on using any electrical items, such as a recharger or shaver, you will need an adapter/converter. I won't mention the one I used because I didn't like it, and I am still seeking a better one.
  
   
• Camera and film/media. I use an Olympus 5050 digital camera, and I brought along two 128MB media cards, which allowed me to take over 200 photographs.

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