ok, so i just did a dry run with my pack. packed in the equivalent of everything i'll be taking, including 2L of water. 40lbs with extra space. probably have another few pounds at most to add, and any food that i ahve with me, which won't be more than a few snacks worth. very happy about this. extra space to play aroudn with, or to save for stuff i buy and bring back. my pack ton my 2 week queen charlotte's trip was like 50 lbs. so this is less way, 4 months longer, and a much better suspension system on the pack. all smiles. there's only two main things that i'm worrying about right now. 3 things haven't shown up in the mail. my ipod case, but megan gave me hers for free. my ipod travel AC adapter, but i can always buy one last minute. and my water purifier. sketching aout about that, both because of its monumental importance, and its monetary value. i paid $130 including shipping and tax for it brand new on ebay. to buy it in victoria (the only other place in canada besides one place in Ontario), without taxes, is $230 (although the one in Ontario costs only $150). but i'll call them up, explain my situation, and hope that they'll let me buy one of there's and then give them my ebay for a refund when it shows up. and if need be, i'll give em $20 for their trouble. hopefully it's the same packaging, but it should work. also, one of the shirts i was taking to india has disappeared. long-sleeve, lightweight, quick dry, polyester. i got it used, but i have nothing like it and it was perfect. otherwise, everything is going smoothly. i've got a list of loose ends, but i've got at least 2 days to do that. not sure if i'll go to van on saturday or sunday. i spetn $660 at MEC yesterday, bringing my summer total to about $1500. it's crazy, but you ahve to consider that i'd spent less than $100 on any gear before that, and this gear, if it doens't get stolen, will last years and years, and it's primo gear. it's an investment that I'm happy to make, assuming it all makes it back to canada with me. If i didn't ahve such good gear, my weight would probably be over 50lbs and the pack would be a lot harder to manage, plus i'd get sweaty balls. nobody likes sweaty balls.