The last few years of the expedition we've focused more and more on preparing students for the trip by making sure they have the right clothing. On the one hand this helps make sure students are well dressed and ready to face the challenges of the expedition. On the other hand this gear-mania can at times be expensive and actually cloud the true purpose of the expedition.
For me the wonderful thing about backpacking is the freedom of wandering in the wilderness, seeing what the world is like at it's most basic and measuring myself against it. I see new things in myself and my companions when so much else is stripped away. There is a huge sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming uncertainty together.
Having the right clothes should be a tool that allows us this experience, not an end in itself. Back in the day we used to call folks with matching outdoor clothes, "Outdoor Fashion Slaves," and pride ourselves on the functionality and utility of our gear.
To this day I love the prep and packing and shopping for a new piece of equipment. But in all of this we must not loose sight of the reason for it, the utility of it, and the purpose behind it.
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