[pct-l] backpack max weight limit

[Brian Lewis]

I'm hoping to thru-hike next ('08) year, but want to figure out my equipment
well in advance.   It's occuring to me that the max weight capacity of my
backpack is a challenge for the desert and the Sierras.

I reckon to add 3.3 pounds of extra clothes and a little gear for the
Sierras, plus a 2.7 pound bear can for a total whopping 6 pound increase.
Add to that the potentially long no-resupply stretch after KM (barring a
substantial side trip to somewhere like Lone Pine or Independence) and the
weight some folks might be carrying out of KM looks pretty high.
Back-of-envelope calcs take my base pack weight of 14+ pounds up to maybe 48
pounds out of KM if carrying 11 days of food.
Similar issues with water haulage in the desert, given that 8 - 10 liters
weigh ~18 - 22 pounds.

My Mariposa Plus pack has a suggested weight limit of 35 pounds.  I have a
ULA P2 that has a suggested limit of 35 - 40 pounds, and a "not to exceed"
limit of 45.   So it extends my range by 10 pounds, but weighs 2 pounds
more, so I really only gain 8 pounds net (plus a little more volume
capacity).

Question: do folks regularly exceed the listed max weight limits for
backpacks, and for those that have, what kind of issues do you have?
Discomfort?  Material failures?

I fear that I might reluctantly have to go from Campo to Echo Lake (41% of
total mileage) using the 2-pound heavier pack.  I really don't want to do
this, but there's a limit to what I'm willing to do to further whittle down
my base weight (or extra-stuff-for-Sierras weight).

Perhaps I should just resign myself to walk + hitch to Independence in the
Sierras in order to avoid this?  I recall reading someone's recommendation
to gut it out and do the whole Sierra stretch straight through if possible,
and that's what I'd rather do.

Apologies insofar as this has been thrashed out before (?), but I've not
seen any discussion of intentionally exceeding listed max backpack weight
limits.



         Brian Lewis