[pct-l] Front Packs

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

Happy Trails Jim  writes: Where's Switchback?  I think he's  a "wear a fanny 
pack in the front" advocate (?) ... I use ULA packs with hip  belt pockets - 
enough handy, 'front' storage for me personally...
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Switchback replies: I am always behind in reading  PCT-L posts and topics.  
Sorry about that.  Let's see now,  .........front backs.  Yes, I like taking a 
fanny back and turning it  around and wearing it as a belly pack.  I carry my 
water bottles that way  too on the belly pack belt.  I add several pouches to 
carry more water  there.  I have used this system in one form or another for 
40 years on the  trail.  But there is a problem.  
 
Water is heavy.  The belly pack/belt will slip  down as you walk or at least 
feel a little uncomfortable.  The fix is  simple.  I slip a long Velcro strap 
or other strap through my lower  backpack shoulder straps and attach to the 
belly pack.  Now I  have great holding power for the belly pack.  The waist belt 
is NOT  carrying the whole load.  For the belly pack I am using it has some 
strap  clips to hook into, so the process is very easy.
 
The other thing is that for the space you get with  the belly pack system, it 
is a little heavy.  But I think the convenience  and utility are well worth 
it.  I keep my backpack load to under 20 pounds  this way - I have LOTS of 
things in my belly pack.  I guess I am good for  3-5 days on the trail with food.  
May be more.  Depends on your needs  and if you have to carry a 2 pound bear 
canister, etc., etc.
 
My technique is carry only the 2 pound Bear Vault  Solo bear canister.  It 
has more than enough room for the Sierras or  anything else.  Unless you are 
going on a 3 week expedition in the Alaskan  or Canadian outback in grizzly 
country.  I can carry way more than enough  foods to get out to a Sierra resupply 
if I lose my other foods to a  bear.  In other words, I carry most of my foods 
in the canister where  required, but there is a little that I have to bear bag 
from a tree too.  I  have never lost any food to a bear and I have seen lots 
of bear attacks in the  Sierra.  Not just heard about them, but seen them up 
close and  personal.
 
I have lots of bear stories.  The first thing I  do after setting up camp is 
to go out to find some bears to  harass.  This is super fun, but enough  
already.
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