[pct-l] base pack weight

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, JB,

One of my friends, Yogi, has a saying, “We pack for our fears.”  It must be
that I don’t fear a lot because my “average” PCT base weight is 8.4 lbs.
based upon a spreadsheet containing the exact weights of every item from a
postal scale, or in the case of very small items, from a powder scale.  I
weigh every item, regardless of how small.  It’s not that I care so much
about the weight of a postage stamp; it’s just that a print of my
spreadsheet is also the check-off list that I use to assure I don’t forget
anything.  I include trekking poles – if I take them – in what I wear rather
than as base weight.  Base weight also includes everything in the little
waist pack that I use in lieu of pockets.

I’ve hiked with as little as 4.7 lbs. but that necessitates leaving home a
few items that I want – like my camera.  If I bought a few new, ultralite
items I could probably get down close to 4 lbs. but that’s about the bottom
for me.  That would be appropriate for about 50% of the trail in good
weather.

In the first 20-25 preparation pages of my TrailJournal
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/ I discuss every item and include
its weight.

Enjoy your planning,

Steel-Eye
Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 6:14 PM, Jim Bravo <jimbravo at wildblue.net> wrote:

> I am preparing for a long 2010 PCT hike, and am having a hard time getting
> my "base pack weight" under 20 pounds. I keep hearing and reading about
> hikers with 10 or 12 pound packs. These questions keep coming to mind: (1) I
> am assuming base weight is everything you have in the pack, including the
> pack, except food, water, and stove fuel. Is this correct? (2) Am I the only
> hiker with a 20+ pack, or are there other 20-plussers just (wisely) laying
> low? (I know Mtn Ned digs a 60+ pounder, but I suspect he is in a class of
> his own, and a lot bigger and stronger than me) (3) Are people accurately
> reporting their pack weights or is there some margin of error or BS
> involved? (4) I have a lot of backcountry experience, but not multi-month
> trips. I suspect I may be taking too much "what if this happens" stuff out
> of conscious and subconscious fear.
>
> Any advice is appreciated, I am about to ditch a tiny MP3 player and my 5
> ounce digital camera (plus the !%*!#%! chargers).
>
> Jim
> (JB)
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