Packing for the Sahara
In my inimitable fashion, I find myself only 24 hours prior to departure for southern Morocco, scrambling, about to complete last-minute shopping. Because each racer will be required to carry all their necessary gear (estimated at between 15 and 20 pounds for an organized racer) for the duration of the event in daytime temperatures often exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit, it is critical to select the appropriate gear and food.

The bulk of the weight will consist of freeze-dried food and powdered electrolyte mix. I will have my teammate Chloe talk more about why we are eating what we are during the race. I am a basic steak-and-potatoes guy, and have to acquiesce to Chloe when it comes to designing an appropriate balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. One thing I have learned over the years it that it is a real challenge to carry the necessary calories that one consumes in this type of event (roughly 5,000 calories per day, plus 6 to 7 liters of water); with my high metabolism I would be smart to just strap the family refrigerator to my back and head west across the desert.

With the exception of food, I am truly a minimalist when it comes to packing for these races. For clothes, I will wear the same shorts and mesh T-shirt for the duration of the seven-day race. But let me put you at ease: There will be a nightly washing, assuming I have a sufficient water inventory.

With evening temperatures averaging 58 degrees Fahrenheit, each of us on the team will have specialized long-sleeve shirts and pants made by Terramar that are extremely warm, wind-resistant, and roughly one-third the weight of conventional wicking materials. They literally roll up into the size of my palm. Terramar has the most technologically advanced materials and clothing for extreme adventurers that I know. For further warmth, all four of us will be using lightweight sleeping bags (approximately 2 pounds); some racers use bivy bags, but the incremental weight reduction is not worth the discomfort during one's critical sleep, in my estimation. I'd rather cut luxury items--like soap!

Other clothing-related items include three pairs of double-layer, non-blister socks (to compliment my feet that have been soaked in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes each night for the past month to toughen them up), running shoes one size larger to accommodate the guaranteed swelling, face shield for anticipated wind storms, and glacier glasses to filter out the mirages.

Other items on the list are self-explanatory, but have slight alterations (e.g, toothbrush with handle sawed off for weight reduction, miniature wrist compass attached to my U.S. Army Watch, both with liquid tritium for self-luminous night vision).