It was a cool, cloudy spring morning on Snowbird Mountain heading to Max Patch. As I stopped for lunch, it began to rain. It didn’t stop until sometime in the middle of the night. Hours later, as I poured the water out of my Gore-Tex boots at a shelter, a thru-hiker asked me how they were working out for me. I looked at his trail runners and had to admit, I didn’t much like my boots at that moment. Those boots must have weighed five pounds apiece for the rest of the trip. Two days later in Hot Springs, while I was inspecting the blisters that the wet boots had left me with, I knew something had to change.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The old days, including chair. | |
I started out backpacking in winter. We didn’t care about how much weight we were carrying or how it felt; we had to take all the comforts of home: Gore-Tex boots, thick inflatable pads, and even relatively light aluminum folding camp chairs (with backs) that we got at Kmart. Man, those chairs were great for sitting around the fire or taking a break in the snow on the side of the trail. We knew that thru-hikers did all kinds of crazy stuff like drilling holes in their toothbrushes, but we were only out for three nights, and besides, we were tough and could handle all the weight. The more comforts you could stand to drag along, the cooler you were. Still, I can remember carrying a forty-eight pound pack six miles uphill on the first day out and wondering if we would ever get there.
On winter trips, being wet was not a problem because the cold air kept everything dry. But as we started going on more trips, I quickly learned that during warmer months in the Appalachians, it rains every day. And once everything is wet, it never dries. And when it’s not raining, the humidity makes you sweat so much you get soaked anyway. And the extra dry clothes and socks just become heavy wet clothes in your pack. I clearly needed different techniques for hiking in those conditions.
Although beautiful, climbing Big Bald with a 40-lb pack was the hardest day I have experienced. I sure could have used a smaller pack that day.
Ron, one of my hiking buddies, had discovered BackpackingLight.com and told the rest of us about it. One of the first articles I read was Water Weight Gain and Drying Characteristics of Lightweight Hiking Shoes after Submersion. It was just what I needed. I replaced the heavy boots with Montrail Hardrocks and went on a short overnighter. I was pleased to find that the bottoms of my feet didn’t hurt (more than normal) from the protruding rocks and roots that are common in our area. Also I felt like the flexibility of the shoe allowed me to get a better grip on the rocks and react to uneven terrain better.
Over the course of the next year, my buddies and I learned the techniques of lightweight backpacking, replaced key pieces of equipment in our kit, and scrutinized the clothes on our backs and everything that went in our pack. I probably saved five pounds by just removing unnecessary items. My attitude changed from “Could I possibly use this?” to “Do I absolutely have to have this?” The surprising thing was that I really didn’t miss anything that I didn’t have.
Now I just go straight up the mountain!
Each step along the way, we would go on another trip and challenge our limits further. Each time the trips got easier and more enjoyable. On one of these we rolled into camp for the last night at 2:00 pm after a fifteen-mile day. We knew then that it would be nothing to go the additional seven miles into town.
Finally, the transition was complete: Ron and I were ready to see how fast and how far we could really go with our lightened loads. We set out for a week on the Appalachian Trail from Springer, with no definite plans for how far to go or where to stop each night. The idea was to go as far as we felt like going each day. I started with a base weight of 13.7 pounds and a total weight of 24.2 pounds including food, fuel, and water. Ron had a similar pack weight.
Ron’s Gatewood cape, Opsrey pack, and patented sit pad.
The first sixteen miles went easily. That night we stayed with a couple of college boys who came in with two huge packs, bursting at the seams with all kinds of stuff tied on the outside. Even though they were young and in good shape, we never saw them again after leaving the next morning. It’s kind of thrilling for an old guy to blow by so many younger people and just give them the 'nice ascent' nod while doing it.
The next day we got to the Walasi-Yi Center in the early afternoon and, while enjoying a Coke, decided to move on to the next shelter, 23 miles total for the day, including the lovely 1.2-mile side trail to the Whitley Gap shelter. After 19 more miles the third day, we stopped at the Cheese Factory campsite. During that day we took a break with a granddad and two girls that were probably eight and ten years old. He had them packed right, in small external frame packs, and these girls were having the best time. They didn’t complain about a thing. It just made you feel good.
I was pretty chipper eating lunch at Bly Gap, the GA/NC line, on the fourth day, knowing that many thru-hikers pass this spot on day six or seven. In all, we did 106 miles in six and a half days, ending up at Winding Stair Gap. The entire trip was validation that we could do this, and we could do it in comfort and style (there’s something very stylish about having a small pack with all your gear inside). I never could have made this trip with a traditional pack.
Cruising along after 15 miles.
We continue to refine our gearlists as lightweight backpackers do. This year we went 115 miles through Damascus and the Grayson Highlands. I have whittled my base weight down below 12 pounds, even though I still carry such luxuries as a water pump, Crocs, and an iPod.
For a fifty-something occasional backpacker, going light doesn’t seem like it would be that important. I mean, I’m not going on a 500-mile traverse of the arctic tundra. But actually, the less you are able to go, the more you need to get out of it when you DO go. See more, do more, and enjoy it more. I really love the hiking part - “moving on” along the trail and covering a lot of terrain. With a lighter load, I am able to keep gliding along all day and the trips are more enjoyable. After all, that’s what it’s all about.
Major equipment changes
| Item | From | (lbs) | To | (lbs) |
| Pack | Gregory Forester | 5.0 | GoLite Jam2 | 1.2 |
| Tent | Kelty Zen | 5.0 | Tarptent Rainbow | 2.0 |
| Sleeping bag | Marmot Wizard long | 3.5 | Marmot Atom | 1.2 |
| Sleeping pad | Thermarest Inflatable | 2.5 | Thermarest Ridgerest | 0.6 |
| Shoes | Zamberlain Mountaineering | 3.5 | Montrail Hardrock | 2.0 |
| Total | 19.5 | 7.0 |
Full gear list. Summer 2008, one week with resupply
| Clothing Worn | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Short Sleeve Shirt | REI | 7.3 | 0.5 |
| Shorts | Speedo | 4.5 | 0.3 |
| Underwear | Under Armor | 3.1 | 0.2 |
| Socks | Smartwool Lightwight Trail Runners | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Shoes | Montrail Hardrock | 31 | 1.9 |
| Hat | Scrunch Wear | 1.3 | 0.1 |
| Other Items Worn / Carried | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Trekking Poles | REI Peak UL Carbon | 12.5 | 0.8 |
| Watch | 2.3 | 0.1 | |
| Other Clothing | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Wind Shirt | Marmot Dri-Clime | 9 | 0.6 |
| Rain Jacket | Marmot Precip | 12.1 | 0.8 |
| Rain Pants | Sierra Designs | 8.1 | 0.5 |
| Camp Shoes | Crocs | 13 | 0.8 |
| Sleep & Shelter | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Shelter | Tarptent Rainbow | 32 | 2.0 |
| Sleeping Bag | Marmot Atom with Stuff Sack | 20.1 | 1.3 |
| Sleeping Pad | Thermarest 3/4 | 7.9 | 0.5 |
| Packing | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Pack | GoLite Jam 2 | 21 | 1.3 |
| Pack Cover | GoLite | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| Stuff Sack | Large Gray | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| Ziploc Bags | Assorted | 1.5 | 0.1 |
| Cooking & Water | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Stove, Alcohol | Etowah Stove with Windscreen | 4.4 | 0.3 |
| Fuel Bottle | Dasani 12 oz. Water Bottle | 1 | 0.1 |
| Cook Pot | Evernew .9 L Titanium | 4.3 | 0.3 |
| Utensil | Titanium Spork | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Cup | Evernew Titanium | 2 | 0.1 |
| Cleanup | Camp Suds & Scrubber | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| Water Hose | Platypus | 2.4 | 0.2 |
| Water Bottle | Platypus 1 L | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| Water Bottle | Platypus 1.8 L | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Water Bottle | Platypus 2.4 L | 1.3 | 0.1 |
| Water Treatment | PUR Hiker | 13.2 | 0.8 |
| Food Hanging Kit | Homemade | 4.6 | 0.3 |
| Other Essentials | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Maps | 0.0 | ||
| Light | Petzl Tieka XP | 2.9 | 0.2 |
| First Aid | Homemade in Ziploc | 2.9 | 0.2 |
| Firestarting | Waterproof Matches, Case | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| Test Kit | Test Kit | 4.5 | 0.3 |
| Sit Pad | Homemade | 1.2 | 0.1 |
| Insect Repellent | Cutter | 2 | 0.1 |
| Hygiene | Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Contact Case, Comb | 5 | 0.3 |
| Emergency Snack | Smartees | 5.5 | 0.3 |
| Wallet | 2 | 0.1 | |
| iPod | 5 | 0.3 | |
| Consumables | |||
| FUNCTION | ITEM | (oz) | (lbs) |
| Fuel, Alcohol | 12 | 0.8 | |
| Food | 24 oz per Day | 96 | 6.0 |
| Water | 32 | 2.0 | |
| Weight Summary | |||
| Total Weight Worn or Carried | 63.6 | 4.0 | |
| Total Base Weight in Pack | 196.6 | 12.3 | |
| Total Weight of Consumables | 140 | 8.8 | |
| Total Initial Pack Weight (2) + (3) | 336.6 | 21.0 | |
| Full Skin Out Weight (1) + (2) + (3) | 400.2 | 25.0 |
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » Lightweight Testimony: Lighter, Farther, Faster
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
Companion forum thread to:
Lightweight Testimony: Lighter, Farther, Faster
(dynomo01) - MLife
After a 5 day 4 night backpacking trip I realize that my 35 - 40 lb backpack with all my creature comforts can be summed up in one phrase, "The enjoyment of backpacking is proportional to the weight of your backpack."
(Steve_Evans) - MLife
Locale: Canada
what is the "patented sit pad"?
(jshann) - F
Locale: Texas
no sit pad in gear list..hmmm
(sdwhitey) - F
Locale: Smoky Mountains
the gear list is his
the sit pad was his buddy's
(sjhinkle) - F
Locale: Southeast
Busted. We all carry one. A long time ago (30+ years) my other buddy Danny cut up a blue pad and "patented" it. It's great for sitting on mossy logs, damp ground, snow and standing on while changing clothes. The pad weighs 1 oz on my scale.
(jdw01776) - M
Locale: Southeast Texas
Steve:
Great article -- you captured one of the main reasons I (soon to be fifty) lightened my load. That feeling of gliding along the trail is addictive...
(bferriot) - F
Locale: Ohio
I've found that a few pieces of Velcro can turn a sit pad into a freezer bag cozy. Not patented, though... ;)
(jshann) - F
Locale: Texas
Steve, good article. Bill,great idea of making the sit pad multiuse. I do like my sit pad for those cold/wet stops.
(sschloss1) - F
Locale: New England
Enjoyed the article. I'd just add that very few AT thru-hikers go UL. I've done half the trail. With an 18 lb. base weight (this was before I went UL), I had a lighter pack than nearly every thru-hiker I met. Base weights of 20-30 lbs are typical on the AT, even though the shelters and the frequent resupply options make UL very easy and even comfortable. It's too bad that more AT hikers don't go UL--I suspect heavy packs are a major reason why so many people who attempt thru-hikes don't make it.
Edited by sschloss1 on 01/21/2009 08:25:13 MST.
(KG4FAM) - F
Locale: Upstate
A UL pack weight doesn't have a major correlation with finishing the AT. The people that finish are the ones that want it. A heavy pack will knock out those who casually thought hiking the AT would be fun quicker than those who have UL packs. If you want to finish the trail a few extra pounds on your back is not going to stop someone.
Also looks can be deceiving. I was hiking in Maine this summer with my dad. One girl that we hiked with was carrying a vapor trail and all kinds of UL crap. My dad was carrying a Kelty Trekker monster external frame and his total pack weighed less that hers. We both went into the 100 mile wilderness with 29 lbs (w/food, wo/water) ready for 10 days. My dad with the Kelty and me with a Dana.
(regultr) - MLife
Locale: www.jolly-green-giant.blogspot.com
Dang it. You beat me to the punch. One of us better jump on getting this idea to the market so we can earn our millions. I'd just like to say mine is thinner and manufactured with bigger butts in mind.
Edited by regultr on 01/21/2009 09:44:19 MST.
(sarbar) - F
Locale: In the shadow of Mt. Rainier
Pffffttt! If you were truly UL you'd use baby Velcro and put the other half on your pants rear. Then you'd have your sit pad ready to go :-D Just rip it off at dinner time.
lol....
(CaptainJac) - MLife
Locale: Southeast
Scott, it amazes me the things that AT hikers carry. Last summer I was hiking in Shenandoah with a ULA Circuit. Pack weight with 5 days of food and 2 liters of water was less than 25 lbs. A thru-hiker with a ULA Catalyst asked one of my hiking partners if I had every thing I needed. He was shocked to hear I was carrying even a tent.
Since that trip I attended WT1-RM and have gone to a ULA Conduit. I've cut my base weight to less than 10 lbs which would put me under 20 lbs. for the same trip.
(CaptainJac) - MLife
Locale: Southeast
Robert, three years ago I meet a number of those hikers who thought they could casually hike the AT. One I remember made the decision a week before departure. The last time I saw that hiker was somewhere before Tray Mountain.
My son and I are planning a thru hike in 2010. I am 56 and train daily to make sure I'm in the best condition I can be when the trip starts. I evaluate every hike I go on to lighten my pack and gear.
You are right that you have to want it, but a light pack sure makes it a whole lot easier!
(KG4FAM) - F
Locale: Upstate
Hiking the AT casually is fun as hell. Plenty of people finish the AT who started with a weeks notice. I have done 4 long hikes on the AT and never had more than two weeks serious though beforehand (its always in my head). Most of the folks that I enjoy hanging out with on the trail are the casual type(they usually end up being potheads). I had a buddy (this one was not a pothead) that I hiked with this summer who quit a engineering job with less than a month notice and started SOBO. He finished fine and is bumming around the country right now because he is going to hike the PCT later this year.
I have also seen plenty of people who have trained every day and carried the perfect gear and had their food planned down to a T who have failed.
You can't look at people who finish the trail and find any common ground between them except loving what they are doing and wanting to finish.
(CaptainJac) - MLife
Locale: Southeast
Robert, I agree with a lot of what you are saying. Especially planning to a “T” part. There is no one thing that will guarantee successfully completing the AT. However instead of hijacking this thread let’s start another and invite both section hikers and thru-hikers to list things that made their hike successful.
Hope you will continue your comments there.
The thread is under General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion;Looking for Help on How to Succeed on the AT
Edited by CaptainJac on 01/22/2009 11:39:57 MST.
(edude) - F
Locale: Just this side of loco
Who on earth needs a sit pad if you already have a sleeping pad. I can understand if you would'nt want to damage your inflatable pad, but for closed-cell foam users???
You REALLY don't have an excuse to bring a sit pad if you are using a torso pad!!!
-Evan
(DaveT) - F
yes, listen to evan. he will tell you that you are wrong to carry one, and there is no possible reason to do so.
oh wait, one reason might be that a longer sleeping pad might be packed into a tube shape in your pack withe everything else packed down inside, therefore not too fun to remove (and repack your whole pack) when you want to take a five minute break. another reason might be not wanting to get your sleeping pad muddy, dirty, covered in pine sap, etc. also, if it's only 1 oz, perhaps that really doesn't matter much, or is multipurpose as padding for a pack back. i am sure there are other reasons too. i don't use one, but i see little value to telling people that there is NO REASON to bring one and WHY ON EARTH would you do that, etc.
(pedro87) - F
I'm gonna have to disagree with you here, Evan. First, if you use your pad as a virtual frame it would be a pain in the ass to have to take it out to sit on at rest breaks and then have to fit it back in your pack. Second, even if you don't use your pad a virtual frame, it is much easier to pull out a small, conveniently packed sit pad than to dig out your sleeping pad. Also, your normal sleeping pad can be supplemented w/ your sit pad to increase the warmth and comfort of your sleep system.
EDIT: sry to repeat many of Dave T's points...i posted this before i saw his post
Edited by pedro87 on 01/22/2009 13:52:41 MST.