Date: 2012-07-16
From: Columbus

Miles today: 0.0

Entering a blog of sorts I sent to hiking friend. We're all having discussions and taking action on lessening our pack weight. This is what I shared with my pals as I got off the trail.One of my last thoughts this year, as I was lumbering through the narrow and rooty trails of Vermont, out of energy and a sore right quadriceps, was "my pack just weighs too darn much", it's killing me, and how can I get it down. I felt like a slave in the movie "The Ten Commandments" trudging up the pyramid with a load of bricks on my shoulders. I would like to blog a bit and share with you what I've done about it. I may have shared some of this with you previously. These are my perspectives for me, and what I've done to improve/lessen and control pack weight, yet still stay reasonably comfortable while on the trail. This dialog in no way suggests you all change what you're doing but if it suggests something you might consider, then up to you. In my eyes and on my back, I just had to improve in this area. So here goes my gabbing and what I do and have done since Vermont. Food: 3 meals per day and 4 snacks. If breakfast or dinner in town, don't carry it. The last night out in a shelter on my own, I dumped my food bag and threw away (far away from the shelter of course) probably 12-15 snack items. The animals ate well, and I burned the wrappers. Why was I carrying that stuff when resupply was just around the corner? Because it had value, it had worth. So I lost money but will profit in other ways in the future. I will carry no more than an extra snack cracker or two, and extra packets of decaf coffee. I got rid of my wind screen, never use it. I got rid of my extra lighter. I carry waterproof matches so I don't need an extra lighter and matches both. Cooking/ Eating: Got rid of extra butane canister.... carried it for three weeks! It too had value. Must have weighed a pound with 8oz of gas and the metal canister itself. Plenty of opportunity to resupply this item plus I do carry 2-3 esbit tabs. Will try to carry the 4oz canisters but I think most outdoor stores are going to one size. I don't want to run out so I will get a second canister but not until I really think I'm going to need it very soon or before I can get to another one. I have a small titanium pot with lid and titanium coffee cup (and pocket rocket). Eat and drink out of both. A short spoon and long spoon to mix and eat Mountain house. I carry Ritz in a plastic tube that keeps them from being crushed. I store my long spoon in the tube and a plastic knife. If I plan on soft tortilla shells for lunch, they go in the tube as well and on the outside of my pack. Lunch and snacks go in a baggy in a pocket on the outside of my pack, prepared the night before. Shelter: I thought I had done the right thing with getting a new tent a couple years ago, a Big Agnes Seedhouse II. I did save a pound or two with it but it still weighed in at 3.5 pounds (with 11 stakes and the support poles, repair tube, a couple extra stakes, and ground cloth) and I could feel that darn thing just pulling down on my shoulders as it was strapped to the bottom of my pack and I was walking up those pyramids. So, another investment in new shelter, a one person supported with a hiking pole and no poles come with it, and no footprint. The brand is Tarptent and the model is Contrail. You can look it up if you like on-line. There is a video on putting it up. Since I prefer shelters, this will work. How wind resistant is it? Probably enough. I haven't received it yet but I'm sure I can get used to it and like it. Weighs in at 24oz. Saved two full pounds. I pack a tyvek for extra protection under my neoair pad so I can use it as a ground cloth for the tent if I choose. BTW, the airpad weighs in at 12oz. I accept that as I can't get any sleep with a Thermarest eggshell pad. I'm good with my 32 degree down Western Mountaineering bag and a 4oz silk liner for added warmth if needed. Clothing: I think I can do more here to save a few ounces more. I carry one puffy jacket that doubles as a pillow (in stuff sack). I wore it a few time this past hike but not every day. One long sleeve shirt (wear it right out of the sleeping bag in the morning, and in the evening, too), two short sleeves plus a sleeveless. I can probably get rid of one of these short sleeves; two extra sets socks (liner and outer), leave one behind? Two hiking shorts (don't like damp clothes in the shelter; one pair of Patagonia shorts (not under ware) to wear while doing laundry. No long pants. Frog Togg rain jacket. This puppy kept me warm in the cold Vermont days walking through clouds and in the rain. Uphill, always sweat. No rain pants, just dealt with wet shorts and sometimes squishy, wet boots. No gloves (can use extra socks if needed to keep hands warm) or knit hat. Any ideas on this area? I'm thinking of switching out one hiking shorts for a long, synthetic bottom, wear under the Patagonia shorts in camp. Misc: not carrying extra batteries anymore. I did carry 4 AAA and a couple AA (3 oz) AA for camera and AAA for headlamp. Headlamps starts to get a little dim when batteries low, will replace then. AA for camera, will wait until they go out. My padded sit-upon, nice but six ounces, didn't realize that much. I have a small tyvek I use as tent vestibule ground cloth, that will work to at least keep my butt dry yet not padded. I can sit on something else in the tent. Toilet paper (very important). I do carry some extra.. had been carrying an entire role. Have trimmed that to a half role. Sunscreen, a two ounce tube is enough. Hand cleaner.... one 2oz bottle (none extra) in toilet paper bag where I also store my meds. I do use a dab before snacking, if I think about it. I carry a repair kit (under an ounce) for my air pad but am really cautious on shelter floors to make sure nothing there to poke a hole. Extra fine rope/line. I got rid of most of it but do carry some. Mostly I need this for my gaiters. Bear rope, I carry in my food bag. Very fine but strong. Can handle three food bags easily. This doubles as clothes line. Pack a small stuff sack for a rock to place the bear rope over a branch. Water: I try not to carry more than one liter at a time. 20oz Gatorade bottle in a pack-belt holster for on-trail pack-on drinking; 32oz plastic bottle in side of pack, start out half full; in-pack, an empty 2 liter platypus bag for shelter use (one trip to water source) or toting extra water to campsite. Pee bottle for use in tent or shelter if alone vs. having to get up and out to pee in the middle of the night. Other: Since, after adjusting to the above, and "repacking" a couple times, I've eliminated the top-cap thing (4.5oz)that goes on top of my pack, an extra compartment. I have room inside for everything now, and that include my food bag with 4 full days of food and coffee, plus what I put in the mesh slots on the outside of my pack. I have nothing strapped or dangling on my pack. New tent will go inside or outside in mesh side pocket.   I used to carry sunglasses, rain cover, toilet paper, first aid bag, toothbrush etc., and bug juice in the top cap but can get them all on top inside pack, and I still have extra room (maybe time to look at a smaller, lighter pack! I keep the rain jacket inside too, but close to the top. You all know I like to pack a little Black Velvet to mix with coffee and hot chocolate after the days hike, but I'm skipping that to save the weight. Can enjoy the libation next time in town. So, this afternoon, I repacked and came up with an unofficial bathroom scale weight of 22 pound including new tent and 4 days of food but no water. Figure a couple pounds for start out water (some days more or less) then, under 25 pounds of a compact and solid backpack. I feel like I've lost a couple bricks out of my carrier up the pyramid.