JUST GOT BACK: ABOUT ME: WENT SOLO, VERY FIT, QUIET NICE GUY, AMERICAN:
BRING: besides minimal clothes. and a total 18 pound pack (shoot for 14 lbs.)
IPOD--bunch of songs, suggest some podcast, worked for me...
GOOD HAT, GOOD SUNGLASSES, METAL WATER BOTTLE, I DID NOT USE WALKING STICKS...