'The Pack'

Packing 4.5 months worth of your life into a backpack is a manageable challenge. Here's a list of the items the made the cut:

• Tent
• Sleeping Bag (thanks Mom for the much lighter, smaller, and, simply put, much better bag!)
• Camping Pillow
• Sleeping Pad
• Sox (10 pair?)
• Boxers (7)
• T-Shirts (7 short, 3 long)
• Pair of Jeans and pair of Carharts
• Fleece
• Winter Shell
• Heavy-duty Poncho
• Head Lamp (w/ 2 extra sets of batteries)
• Asthma Inhalers (8 in total! 4 rescue, 4 day-to-day)
• Camera (w/ charger, extra memory card, and extra battery)
• Cell Phone (for local calls and emergency use)
• Cell Phone SIM Card (otherwise the cellphone is useless)
• iPod (w/ headphones and USB charger)
• 2 Electrical Converters for Chile and Argentina
• First Aid Kit (the basics)
• Advil & Tylenol PM
• Anti-Diarrheal ('Nuff said, right?)
• PASSPORT
• Wallet
• Duct Tape
• Safety Pins
• Tooth Paste
• Tooth Brush
• Gold Bond
• Ear Plugs
• Water Filtration Pump
• Extra Pair of Shoes
• Small Bag
• Chile Guide Book
• Argentina Guide Book
• Spanish-English Dictionary
• Journal
• Two Books for Reading (The Honorary Consul and Hopscoth)
• Pens
• Sunglasses
• Rubik's Cube (Be prepared for anything)
• Travel Itineraries
• Chile and Argentina WWOOF Host Lists

As of right now, it's all just barely squeezing into my bag. Pretty heavy pack, but manageable. If you are hoping for a souvenir when I get back, don't get too excited!