I started by pulling everything out of my suit case, pack (which was in the suitcase), and the bags o'food I assembled for each day and placed everything on the floor of the living room.
Next I piled like things - stove, fuel, lighter/matches, sit-pad, and food; clothing - rain gear, base layer, mid layer, underwear/bra, going to dinner clothing and shoes, wearing on the trail; first aid, bug spray, bug net, anti-itch cream; toiletries; electronics; trail hygiene, etc..
Then I proceeded to divide the clothing for what I need for the trail and will wear vs. what will go into the overnight bag.
I did the same with the food - one bag for the pack the rest into the overnight bag.
Having the majority of the items for the overnight bag I packed that up - food on bottom, extra hygiene and first aide supplies in the middle, clothing on top.
Next I packed up the dry/stuff sacks - rain gear, mid layer with hat and gloves, base layer, puffy jacket, backup clothing (socks, undies) in case I get soaked, stove, 1 days food and a few extra supplies, first aid, electronics and laptop, etc.
I was now ready to assemble the pack - in went the water system with sip tube; the thermos and silicone water bottle went into the side pockets; the collapsible cup and my SPOT GPS tracker were hung on carabineers on some of the pack loops; BBH and the days food put in the stretchy outside pocket; trail hygiene, head lamp, anti-bug spray, itch relief, electronic accessories, and bug net in the brain pocket on top; then the laptop and all of the other dry sacks went into the main compartment.
It took two tries to get it pack so I was happy where everything was placed but it's done. I grabbed the scale and weighed me then me and the pack and it come to (wait for it...) 21 pounds without the water bladder being filled and it will be lighten up as the day goes on due to the food and water being consumed. When I entered my gear into the LighterPack website it came out to 35 pounds thus proving that the changes I made to what I was planning to carry were correct in reducing my load.
And that folks is it - come Monday morning I will choose my clothing for the day, put my electronics in the brain pouch, fill my water bladder and head off down the trail. Stay tuned as there will be pictures and video!!
Speaking of Video, here is a link to the YouTube Playlist I created which is where you will find them, when I post them. There are 2 short ones there now of the area where Mike & Elisa live.