Date: 2012-02-11
To: Utility not Fear
Miles today: 0.0

UTILTY NOT FEARIf you have read any of my previous journals then I think you will agree that I have prefaced them enough. I will no longer do that. What topic can cure the bla bla bla¢s for any future AT hiker better then the topic of gear? For me my goal is to take off from Springer with a pack less then 10 pounds. Well, goals are good. I think I am close.Here are some fun facts to know and tell about battery weight D = 4.9 ouncesC = 2.4 ouncesAA = 0.8 ouncesAA Lithium = 0.5 ouncesAAA = 0.4 ouncesAAA Lithium = 0.2 ouncesMag Light with 3 D batteries = 1 pound 14.7 ounces.Of course you won¢t carry a 1lb14.7 flashlight, right? Trust me; you will see someone with one during your hike. In fact, if someone has a fear of things that go bump in the night, chances are they will also be carrying extra batteries for it. It¢s clear that if you have a light that has a C or D battery, leave it home. Lithium AAA or less is the way to go.What light you carry is just one gear choice that can save you valuable weight. The fact is, this is a good example when fear = pack weight. The more you are unsure of being in the woods at night without the safety net of a light, the more weight you will carry to reach your comfort level. For me, my needs are simple. I am a fatalist by nature and therefore can easily get my mind rationally around most fears. Requiring minimal light at night is one of those. 99% of my lighting needs will involve the minimal use at a shelter or in my tent. Light is a utility, not a luxury. You should not feel the need to spot an animal making noise 100 feet away. If the source of noise is not in the shelter, your pack or tent, leave it alone and forget it. You are in their backyard and they normally have no need to see you.I hiked both previous hikes with the black diamond ion as my primary light and a photon with a clip that serves as my backup/pack light. I switched to the photon from the pulsar since it can be locked to an on position and offers an extremely bright light at a reasonable distance. Between the two lights I feel I would be able to hike out at night in the event of an emergency. The combined weight of the two lights is 1.2 ounces. This year I will even have a third backup that was not available to me in my previous hikes. With the addition of an iphone this year, I now have a flashlight app that turns my flash bulb into still another potential light source. This light is annoyingly bright. I never plan to use it so the weight of the iphone goes to my phone/camera/journal/email weight and not my lighting weight.My original ion light lasted my two hikes. Even though the light itself still works great, the rubber around the on/off button has simply worn out and is no longer water proof. Being water proof for any light is a must. I have a new ion that I purchased on sale at CampMor for $9.95 which includes the battery. The newer model now has two light settings and actually has a real beam to it. Much better then the original. The battery will easily last me well over 1000 miles. I will change it in Harpers just because. At night, I simply strap it to my wrist and it is immediately available if needed. The photon light never leaves my pack and is rarely used. It was just a bit more expensive at around $15.00 if I remember correctly (retail on the trail).Perhaps a great hiking lamp alternative is the newer Petzl Tikka Plus 2. At 2.3 ounces with lithium batteries plus the 0.3 ounces for the photon pack light, at 2.6 ounces of combined weight, it is a great alternative for those who feel they want a bit of extra light. But remember, there is twice the weight but is there twice the utility? Not sure. Also a great light at 1 ounce is the Petzl e+light. It has two white light levels with flasher plus a single red light for shelter use, which also flashes, not that you would need the flasher option. Again, great for shelter and tenting use which will be 99% of the need for light. Check the weight of your light. I think if you don¢t have two legitimate light options with you and the combined weight is more then 2.5 ounces, you are probably carrying more then you need.Grams to ounces. Ounces to pounds