[pct-l] New Ultra Light Gear

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

TesterJerry writes: Why would I want to double my base pack  weight?....   
;o) 
-----------------------------------------------
My humble apologies.  I forgot that  base pack weights are now sub 5 pounds 
and with food (several ProBars) and a  litter of water, folks are ready for 
their PCT thru hike.
 
I am an old timer backpacker and remember  the 60 pound pack weights as 
recently as the early 1990's --- pre Ray  Jardine.  And now only 15 years later 
everything has changed.  
 
But I understand there is a lot more  injuries on the trail, since the light 
weight era began --- carrying to much  weight with too flimsy gear and trying 
to hike too far each day.  The  macho, "I can do what the thru hikers do." Or, 
"Since I am light weight I can  start out hiking 12+ miles per day.  No 
problem.  It will not catch up  to me later in the hike.  I will just get stronger."
 
I figure poor beginning hike management is one of the  main reason folks fail 
later in their hike or get injured.
 
Now I feel better.  Switchback,  President of the American Short-Distance 
Hiker's Association
 
 




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