Rick. I am carrying a button compass already made by coleman and is combined with a thermometer. I am looking for a lightweight full function as described above. I am still convinced for my skill and the trail the gear list is being made for(trt) that a button compass should be more then adequate.

Sorry about that -- I didn't spot that in your gear list. For me the button style compass has been plenty good enough, too, so I can't recommend a more 'functional' one.

no problem Rick. I am now exploring other options for gear. Maybe someone can point me towards a more usefull lightweight option then what I have? Ahh decisions...

The Silva Guide 426 is a great compass that is only $20 and 1.2oz. It has a sighting mirror that can double as a signal and grooming mirror.

http://www.rei.com/product/408185

There are quite a few baseplate style compasses that don't cost much more that $10 and a so light that there is little excuse for not having one.

Hey Jeff,

You're a big boy at 300lbs. Make sure that the sleeping pad you get can support your weight. I would think foam pads are out.

I looked on the BA website and I couldn't find a max weight limit.

If your homemade quilt is going to be synthetic, 18 ounces might be a little too light of an estimate. Depends on the temperature range you expect to hike in...

jeff.

i'm happy people are chiming in with thoughts about safety and all that, but as i think you know, the tahoe tim trail is one of those that, without snow, you'd have to work VERY hard to get lost on. i'm planning on thru-hiking it again in july or so, and i'll probably bring the trails unlimited map, and no compass, gps, spot, or any of that. i mean, if i didn't need any of that in 2700 miles of the pct, i don't think i'll need it for 165 miles of super well graded, super well marked trail around tahoe.

"Whilst you might well go the entire rim without snow, there is not a month of the year that Tahoe does not have snow. "

given the snowfall (lack of), i sure think things will be pretty dang melted out by july for sure. there hasn't been significant rain/snow (other than a bit last weekend) in a coupla months. you might be able to find a patch on north facing shaded spots late in the season, but there are definitely a number of months with no snow on the ground in the tahoe basin. if you are there in june, you might find some for sure, but in july, i'm thinking not much!

the biggest hazard on the TRT (in my experience) is getting run over by mountain bikers going way too fast around blind corners!

i'll post my gear list when my trip gets closer. i'm trying to go really light. but yes, make sure you are ready for:

1. some longish stretches without water
2. mosquitoes (depending on when you go)
3. summer thunderstorms (most likely in the afternoon, but could rain in the evening also)

other than that, it's an easy, lovely trail.

cheers!

Edited by DaveT on 04/24/2008 11:12:48 MDT.

hey Frank, I had a BA pad and returned it looking for the new clear one thats a little lighter. The standard one was great but im always looking to lighten my load.

The quilt will be homemade and at present i am planning a 3/4 length because of the jacket im bringing. A few overnighters before the trip will help me dial in the sleep system.

Dave, Thanks for all the great info. Looking forward to reading your gear list. We might cross paths if my trip gets pushed back, never know how the work schedule goes... I am very familiar with the area as well since ive grown up in this area. I think a map(going to cut the lake out of the middle) and my button compass will be fine for me and my needs. I obviously can not recommend this for anyone else as your skills/motivation/technique may very. Safety is always at the top of my list and I do not feel im compromising MY safety on the trt with only a button compass.

Jeff & Dave,

Thanks for this post and your feed back.

It has really been education/insightful, as I am going on the same trip in Sept of this year.

Hopefully, when you are done, you can post a quick trip report of your experiences.

Enjoy your respective trips on the TRT and be safe.

-Tony

I am taking all kinds of notes about everything, have been revamping gear stuff on a daily basis. I am starting to home in on some of the big items. I will have a trip report, gear report and pics when I return. I am thankful for all the help i have received from everyone on this site. It is only fair of me to return the favor in any small way I can. Thanks for reminding me to update the gear list.

Jeff

Well I received my zip last week and was very disappointed that it didnt fit me well. The design and quality of the pack where top notch and everything I wanted. Just wasnt a good fit for my body. I would highly recommend this pack to anyone thinking about it. Ron makes great products. I have come to the conclusion that until my weight loss goals are reached my frame is not suitable for a frameless pack(I have tried a few out now). Last summer I took a z55 along on a weekend trip to yosemite and was very pleased with it. I returned the pack due to the volume and at the time, trying to cut the weight more. I have emailed gregory packs and was helped by their customer service rep George and was happy to find out the Z35 has the exact same frame and suspension as its bigger brother. I have come to terms with having to carry the pack for now and in the future it will do great duty when I need to carry a heavier load on any trips that warrant such pack weights.

I have finished my design for my quilt and will be ordering my material for it hopefully very soon.

Still trying to figure out what tarp and bug bivy setup to use. If funds arent permitted(see child just born) then I can always carry the extra weight of the lunar duo that I have.

Overall this trip is a great starting point for my long distance adventures. Even if a few of my items are "heavy" my overall load will be like carrying feathers compared to my old scout days. I remember carrying 40+ pounds for overnighters as a teen. Even with the heavier pack and tent I will still be hopefully well under 30 when packed full of food and water. I am ok with that.

Edited by JeffCadorin on 05/05/2008 20:04:45 MDT.

tony,

i'll post a gear list as it gets closer, and a trip report afterwards. i'm not sure when i'm going, but most likely later july or august. i'd like to do a long sierra hike in september. you'll have a great time if you do the TRT after labor day - no mosquitos, no people. i'm trying to do it really fast, so i want the longest possible days of sunlight.

one hint: for the parts of the trail that are open to mtn. bikes only on alternate days (the NE section i think), try to hike it on the no bikes day. of course, that didn't stop me from almost being COMPLETELY wiped out by a guy going about 30 mph around a blind corner on a No Bikes day, but it will limit the number you will encounter on that stretch of trail.

it's a beautiful trail.

Jeff,

Good luck on your quest for the perfect pack for you.

Last year I a 50 mile trip in Yosemite and the 70 mile High Sierra Trail using the Z55, which was just a dream to carry the 35 lbs of gear that I had.

This year I am trying out the Jam2 to further cut weight.

Dave,

Thanks again for the tip on mountain bikers.

I'll have to find out which days are biking and non biking days.

My friend and I are planning to go after Labor Day in Sept, so we hope that there are as few people as possible.

We are thinking of doing two resupplies and going as light and fast as we can.

We are giving ourselves 10 days to finish, but hope to do it sooner.

How many resupplies are you planning for yourself and where?

I was not sure if we were going to try to mail ourselves a parcel of supplies to pickup in town or buying locally.

I checked out the TRT trip report that was on BPL, which had a link to a site with a video blog of the trail. Looks like it will be an amazing trip with a well groomed trail.

-Tony

tony,

in looking at the TRT page about mountain biking, it doesn't look like that section in the NE has the alternate days closure any longer. about 1/2 the TRT is open to bikes. most of the mountain bikers were very nice and polite... only had two that almost wiped me on going way too fast on blind corners.

i did the trail in 2003 in ten (or 9.5) days, and it was easy to do. i spent the first 3.5 days (going clockwise) doing 50 miles from echo lake to tahoe city at a leisurely pace (through desolation, etc.) with a friend. and then did the other 125 miles solo in 6 days, including a 27 on the last day (which was about 2x as far as i had hiked in a day prior to the trip!). it was a learning experience for me, prior to attempting the PCT. i planned for 12 days, but once i was by myself, i just started hiking all day and covering lots of ground. i guess it was just a paradigm shift or whatever.

if you are doing it in 10 days (clockwise), i'd suggest parking at the upper lot at echo lake, and doing a few days to warm up through desolation (including climbing mt. tallac) to tahoe city (50 miles). resupply at the store in tahoe city and eat some pizza / drink a beer. do the stretch around the lake (including christopher's loop side trail) to near heavenly (less water in this section). resupply at the little (i.e. convenience) store in town there. do the final stretch back around to echo lake (more water in this section). drive home! you can start with fewer miles, and end up with more each day. 10 days and 175 miles (with side trips) = 17.5 a day. no worries! you could also park at the longer term area (a church?) in tahoe city and do it from there... going up 50 or 80 probably doesn't matter to you.

i'm hoping to do the trail in 5 days (but we'll see!). 165 miles (no side trips) = 33 miles a day. i'll start at echo lake, going counter-clockwise (for a change from last time). 1.5 days to heavenly area, a couple days around to tahoe city, 1.5 days to echo lake. carry as little as possible in a golite ion.

i strongly suggest getting the Take It Outdoors! Tahoe Rim Trail map - it's all you need for the hike, and gives you mileages, water locations, good campsites, and a great elevation profile on the reverse (so you can see the climbs ahead of you!).

cool.

Edited by DaveT on 05/06/2008 11:16:09 MDT.

Dave,

Holy Cow man...that is some serious mileage there per day.

What do you think your pack weight will be?

I am hoping to get away with no more than 20 lbs total weight including 1 L water and 3 days of food.

I am experimenting with using a MLD Soul Side Zip Bivy and MLD Poncho Tarp to cut weight....if I am lucky, I can get away with using my Marmot Atom 40 degree 1 lb down bag.

The kicker is that it sounds like they require a bear vault of some sort, which just pains me at being over 2 lbs empty.

I am hoping that the URsack gets its conditional approval back.

At best, I only consider myself light weight with a base weight optomistically at 12.83 lbs, without any sort of bear vault.

Really appreciate the tips....I have the TRT Offical Book and a map of the trail, but not the one that you are talking about.

Will have to get it.

-Tony

tony,

i am not aware of any bear canister restrictions along the TRT, and unless something has changed, i sure don't plan to carry one (i only carry one when down in sequoia/kings canyon, etc. where you have to). you might want to consider a lightweight bear-bagging solution.

yes, the 5 day plan is probably a little excessive. i definitely don't think of myself in that ultra-runner, super-athlete category! just more like someone who likes to walk all day long (minus a little afternoon nap). i wouldn't want to do 33 mile days for two weeks, but i figure i can do it in the height of summer for 5 days (barring some kind of foot or knee problem). i guess it just sounds like a good mental and physical challenge to do it in 1/2 the time as my last trip.

i don't know what my base weight will be - i don't usually weigh all my stuff, just try to carry as little and as light as possible, and figure that's as good as it will get. but the current plan is an MLD poncho/tarp, WM caribou bag, the really thin thinlight pad, 0-4 lb of food food, 0-3L of watercamera, ipod nano, and not much else in a golite ion. it'll be fun!

Edited by DaveT on 05/06/2008 14:27:13 MDT.

I spoke with the Tahoe Management offices yesterday and they recommend PCT Bear Hanging methods on the TRT. Correct cannisters are not required - however they are heavily recommending hanging your food. Thus it sounds like they want you to hang so that they don't have to go to cannisters. They do provide cannisters (for a small fee - like Yosemite does).

I like the list. I think I could fit all that in my jam2. Modified it weighs 23 ounces and I love to carry it.

Martin,

Thanks for passing along the information on not needing to use a bear canister on the TRT.

There goes 2 lbs of dead weight that I can eject from my pack!

Now I just have to learn how to bear bag....typically, when I throw things up into the trees, they don't come down. :)

-Tony

Tony,

See some info on bearbagging at:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique.html

The "PCT Method" seems like the way to go. I wouldn't know - I haven't bearbagged anything in a long time!